Labour announces economic and education plans

The Labour Party stepped up its election campaign today with the release of its manifesto policies on the economy and education.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown held a press conference to launch a new six-point pledge card, outlining Labour's plans for the economy.

The card, entitled 'Our pledge to deliver rising prosperity for you and your family', lays out Labour's economic pledges, which include plans to keep inflation at 2% and mortgage rates "as low as possible"; create one million new homeowners and 30,000 apprenticeships, as well as help one million more people into work through the New Deal scheme; raise the minimum wage to £5.35 per hour; and increase education spending to £5,500 per pupil.

Mr Brown stressed the success of the economy under the Labour government, claiming that inflation, interest and mortgage rates were half the average rates under the previous Conservative government, while unemployment was also at half the level it was during the Conservatives' time in power.

He said: "Mrs Thatcher's central claim to competence - the economy - was not even mentioned by Mr Howard in his opening statement of the Tory campaign. It is because of our values, our belief in opportunity for all and our ambitions for a stable prosperous Britain that Labour is, and at every point will be, on the side of hard working families."

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly also unveiled Labour's education manifesto today. The plans include: the expansion of the Sure Start children's centres; refurbishment or rebuilding of thousands of schools and increased opening times of ten hours a day; tougher measures for schools that fail the grade; the introduction of new specialised diplomas; and a guaranteed place for every teenager in sixth form training or an apprenticeship.

Mrs Kelly said: "When Labour says education is our number one priority, it is more than just words. It is a description of the driving ambition behind our party: to build a Britain where all can reach the pinnacle of their ability; where the talents of each are valued, recognised and fulfilled; where there is no glass ceiling which holds people back. That is why we are making record, sustained investment in schools. It is why our manifesto commits us to continue to increase the proportion of national income devoted to education."

Mrs Kelly continued: "What a contrast with the Conservatives who would put at risk Labour's investment in teachers, schools and colleges with their voucher plan to take up to £2 billion out of state schools."

Education was also at the heart of the Liberal Democrats election campaign, as the party unveiled plans to recruit 21,000 teachers and reduce the sizes of primary school classes. Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy commented: "High quality education for our children is essential – for the sake of our society, for the sake of our economy and for the sake of each individual's personal fulfilment. Education is the key to so many of the opportunities that our society offers. And it is the best investment that our generation can make on behalf of the next."

(KmcA)