Labour Party Manifesto 2015 Hume Brophy Analysis
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Labour Party Manifesto 2015 Hume Brophy Analysis David Cameron offering ‘a good life’ for all Conservative Party leader David Cameron launched his party’s manifesto in Swindon today, with a three pledge message to voters; strong leadership a clear economic plan a brighter, more secure future The Tories are positioning themselves as the party of the workers, and are promising the Good Life. Observations from the media have construed this as political cross-dressing, after yesterday’s Labour manifesto focus on economic clout, and claims of being the party of fiscal responsibility. This manifesto gives a nudge to the Tories of the 1980s, with an extension of the Thatcherite, aspirational Right-to- Buy scheme, and an affirmation of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, Trident, but with a watered-down, Blairite element. Those on the right of the party might see this as lacking gusto, yet its upbeat rhetoric may be what the Conservatives need. This is a good time for them to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel after five years of austerity. This will appeal to those lower- income swing voters in the key seats that the Conservatives need to hold at the election on 7th May. Key Quotes “We are the party of the working people offering you security at every stage of your life” “We are on the brink of something special” “The next five years are about turning the good news in our economy into a good life for you and your family” Labour Party Manifesto 2015 Hume Brophy Analysis Main Announcements . Increasing spending on the NHS in real Economy and Finance terms every year . Running a surplus by 2018 so that the UK . Integrating health and social care, through "starts to pay down its debts" the Better Care Fund . Increasing the tax-free personal allowance . Taking action to reduce childhood obesity to £12,500 and continue to promote clear food . Increasing the level at which people pay information the 40p tax rate to £50,000 . To continue to foster research, innovation . No rise in VAT, national insurance and jobs in the life science industry contributions or income tax . Increasing investment in primary care . Completing the process of ring-fencing banks’ high street branches from Families investment arms by 2019 . Working parents of 3-4 year olds will be . Ensuring UK financial services is the best given 30 hours of free childcare a week regulated in the world . The building of 200,000 starter homes . A crackdown on tax evasion and the . Extending the Help to Buy Equity Loan "aggressive" avoidance of tax scheme until 2020 . Spending £100bn on infrastructure in the . Housing Association tenants to get the next Parliament "right to buy" their homes . Increasing the inheritance tax threshold to £1m by 2017 Energy . Supporting the safe development of shale Business & Employment gas . Creating a "Northern Powerhouse" . Start-up funding for new renewable through investment technologies . Increasing the State Pension by at least 2.5 . Halting the development of onshore per cent windfarms . Pension tax relief to be reduced for the highest earners Transport . A pledge to maintain the most competitive . No above-inflation rises in rail fares until business tax regime in the G20, and 2020 oppose Labour’s plans to increase . The party will push forward with plans for corporation tax. Crossrail 2, and continue with HS2 and HS3 . Creating two million jobs over the next . The Conservatives will invest over £200m Parliament, and three million more to make cycling safer apprenticeships . Abolishing national insurance Education contributions for young apprentices under . Introducing a national postgraduate loans 25 system . Minimum Wage to rise to £6.70 this autumn, increasing to over £8 by 2020 Europe . An in-out EU referendum by 2017 . Negotiating new rules with the EU so Healthcare people must earn in the UK for several . An extra £8bn a year for the NHS by 2020 years before they can claim benefit Labour Party Manifesto 2015 Hume Brophy Analysis Commentary "It's a measure of how much the Conservatives have run out of new ideas that the big idea on the day they publish their manifesto is a poor cover version of one of Margaret Thatcher's 1980s' hits.” Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat Leader “The Tory manifesto has £25 billion of promises which they can't say how they'll pay for and fails to rule out extending VAT to food & children’s clothes.” Ed Balls, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer “Cameron getting applause, enjoying it, smiling more. It's like he's slowly discovering that this manifesto they wrote is a good one.” Tim Stanley, The Telegraph “The question after this manifesto launch is raised by David Cameron's own rhetoric - do you really see him as leader of the workers' party? Do you believe that the Tories can deliver the Good Life?” Nick Robinson, Political Editor at BBC “Still the poor are blamed for the crises the very rich have caused. #ConservativeManifesto: socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor.” George Montbiot, The Guardian Hume Brophy Analysis Anna McCaul, Senior Account Executive Labour Party View This unfunded and unimaginative manifesto is in stark contrast to the fully costed Labour vision outlined by Miliband yesterday. The right to buy pledge will only act to exacerbate the housing crisis, just one policy amongst many that demonstrates the Tories' complete lack of understanding when it comes to the issues faced by ordinary people. Only one day after Miliband discovers his true Prime Ministerial potential, we are once again we are reminded of Cameron's weakness as he attempts to pander to the right of his party via policies on Europe, immigration and law and order Stephanie Reeves, Senior Account Director Conservative Party View The Conservative’s ‘good life’ manifesto launch today certainly showed a sunnier side to the Tories election campaign. Pledges on tax, childcare and right to buy in particular have been welcomed. However plans to review the UK’s nuclear strategic deterrent, the Human Rights Act and tackling Extremist preachers have been met with mixed reviews. Some promising stuff in here but also some notable absences including Labour’s commitment to increase private sector tenancy agreements. Same old Tories? Labour Party Manifesto 2015 Hume Brophy Analysis Andrew Gates, Senior Account Manager Liberal Democrat View While the Lib Dems plan to cut £50bn less than the Tories, Nick Clegg and his party have been publically sceptical of the Tory manifesto calling it a smokescreen. The flagship Thatcherite right to buy policy is full of flaws. The party line is that it will lead to less social housing and longer waiting lists for homes, doing nothing to tackle the country’s affordable housing needs. This will be especially poignant for Londoners and those across the South East struggling to get onto the property ladder. .