Labour launch election manifesto

Tony Blair launched Labour’s election manifesto today with pledges to increase spending on education and the health service, alongside promises not to increase the basic or top rates of income tax.

Mr Blair, who was joined by Chancellor Gordon Brown and the other members of his Cabinet for the launch in London, also announced that the next general election, which will be held on May 5, will be his last as Labour leader.

The 112-page manifesto, entitled ‘Britain: Forward not back’, stresses a number of key issues including: maintaining economic stability; tackling crime; reducing hospital waiting lists; and improving education standards.

Launching the manifesto, Mr Blair said: "Our vision is clear: a country more equal in its opportunities, more secure in its communities, more confident in its future."

The pledges in the 23,000 word document include: a 2% inflation target; no increase in the basic or top rate of tax; an increase in the minimum wage to £5.35 per hour next year; spending of £180 billion on transport by 2015; more money for school meals; making every secondary school a ‘specialist college’; ensuring every child masters education basics; the introduction of a violent crime reduction bill; an immigration points system; a reduction of hospital waiting times to 18 weeks by 2008; pensions reform; 100 new hospitals; an 2 million increase in home ownership; and nine months maternity leave.

Mr Blair said that the manifesto had “specific, costed, detailed policy” and described it as “quintessentially New Labour”. He said: “It has at its core the traditional value that we should stand up for the many, not the few, breaking down the barriers that hold people back, allowing everyone, not just those at the top, to fulfil their potential. But it also deals in modern reality, in a fast changing world. Opportunity and security for all in this world of change.”

Mr Blair added: “I believe this country is better, stronger and fairer than the one we inherited in 1997. But we can do so much more.”

However, the manifesto did not mention National Insurance, which Labour opponents believe will need to be increased to match the party’s spending plans.

The Conservatives warned that if National Insurance was raised by 3%, it would cost a couple on average earnings an extra £1,000 per year.

Conservative leader Michael Howard said that Labour’s manifesto was “all talk” and “more of the same”. He also warned: “If Mr Blair gets in again, taxes will go up again.”

Conservative Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin, whose own economic plans came in for heavy criticism from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats earlier this week, said: “The promises made in their manifesto will be based on their plans to borrow, spend and tax. Because they are planning to spend more and borrow more than we are, they will have to tax more.”

Commenting on the Labour manifesto, Liberal Democrats Deputy Leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: “All the promises and all the pledges in this manifesto will not cure the profound sense of distrust so many people have about Labour. On May 5, Labour will be judged not by what they say, but by what they have done.”

The Liberal Democrats are due to launch their manifesto tomorrow. The launch, which was scheduled for Tuesday, had to be postponed due to the birth of leader Charles Kennedy’s son.

(KMcA/GB)