The manifesto of a British political party is more or less what we in America would call its platform. However in the UK, the manifesto is taken semi-seriously by the politicians. There are a couple of schools of thought on what a manifesto is for. The first says that it is about making promises that will win votes. The second says that it is a blueprint for what the party should do if it wins the election. In fact, both are true, and the difference is one of emphasis. After all, if a manifesto doesn’t win you any votes, there’s no point in putting it out. And if a party walks away from its manifesto while in government, the opposition will remind it during each and every parliamentary question time.
Today, the Labour Party issued its manifesto which it has dubbed, "A Future Fair for All."
The Labour Party says, "Labour believes our programme for further national renewal meets the big challenges facing Britain with proposals that are ambitious but affordable and which learn both from what Labour has done well and the lessons we take from our experience to date. It is a Manifesto to further our goal of a modern, progressive Britain, based on the values of fairness, respect, decency and openness." So let’s get to the details. I’ve read the whole thing, so you don’t have to. Here’s what I figure are the important bits.
The most important issue this election will be the economy, and this is tricky for Labour. After all, they’ve been in power for 13 years and before he succeeded Tony Blair as Prime Minister, Gordon Brown was Chancellor of the Exchequer – the dude in charge of the economy, the budget and all things money-related. So he’s really on the hook here; the meltdown happened on his watch, and he was the person looking after it all in the years previous to the disaster.
On the economy, Labour’s goal is to secure the economic recovery (which is anemic at best). At the same time, Labour promises fiscal rectitude by cutting the deficit by 50% before the end of 2013. The party will do this thanks to economic growth, "fair" taxes, and cuts in spending for lower priority issues. On taxes, Labour promises not to boost any of the rates on income tax, and the Value Added Tax (which is sort of like a national sales tax) won’t be extended to currently exempt items like food, children's clothes, books, newspapers and public transport fares. Taxes on business will be kept "as low as possible." Labour, which introduced the minimum wage in the last decade, promises to keep it rising in tandem with average earnings by the end of the next Parliament (up to 5 years off). Meanwhile, government will pay a "living wage," which is currently £7.60 (US$11.70) an hour, higher than the minimum wage
Healthcare is almost always a Labour strong suit. The single-payer National Health Service is considered a national treasure and not even the most ardent conservative wants to get rid of it. Labour has promised routine health checks for those aged 40 to 74, aimed at preventing heart attacks and strokes. Also, patients in England will be guaranteed to get results of cancer tests within a week (Scotland’s NHS is run separately). Most importantly is something Mr. Brown has always resisted, making every hospital part of a foundation trust. This is a decentralizing move within the single-payer system. The Brits have a few of these and the idea is to expand them to the entire system.
Education in the UK is largely seen to be broken. Labour wants to give parents new rights to initiate change in school leadership and to let under-performing schools be taken over by new, ideally better, managers. Labour will expand free nursery places for two-year-olds and offer 15 hours a week of flexible, free nursery education for three and four-year-olds. Along with that paid paternity leave will double from 2 to 4 weeks. Labour will guarantee to young people education or training until they’re 18, and the expectation is that 75% of the next generation will go on to higher education or workplace training before they’re 30. Labour also vows to create up to 70,000 advanced apprenticeships a year.
Political reform has emerged as a huge issue given the Liberal Democrats’ focus on this and the fact that they could hold the balance of power in a hung parliament. So, Labour is promising to create a system of recall for Members of Parliament and promising to ban them from working as lobbyists and to restrict their second job opportunities. Labour also promises referenda on alternative votes in electing MPs and on proportional representation in an elected House of Lords, before 2011. These come along with proposals for fixed-term parliaments (currently, the PM can call an election whenever he or she wants up to five years since the previous general election) and a free vote in the Commons on reducing the voting age to 16. A free vote means that the party will not tell MPs how to vote; usually a party will "whip" its votes. A one-line whip means vote for the party’s position. A two-line whip means vote for the party’s position or have a damned good reason why not. A three-line whip means get off your death bed and vote with the party. A free vote means there is no whip, and MPs can vote their conscience.
There is a hodge-podge of other issues that are of interest. Remember learning in American History about the Stamp Act that annoyed the Founding Fathers? You know, where you had to buy a stamp for all printed goods, including newspapers and playing cards. Well, the Brits still have something like that when it comes to deed to houses. Labour says it will not charge stamp duty for first-time buyers on all house purchases below £250,000 for two years. To pay for this, there will be a 5% rate (property tax) on homes worth more than £1 million. The Post Office will host a "People's Bank" to help to sustain the Royal Mail. Labour is committed to high-speed trains that would link London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Manchester, northern England and Scotland (remember that intercity trains in the UK were traveling at 125 mph back in the 1980s). And a personal favorite, Labour will ensure that supporters' trusts can buy stakes in football (soccer) teams – anyone following the fans versus owners saga at Manchester United will understand.
The document says, "The argument of this manifesto is that to deliver a future fair for all we need to rebuild our economy, protect and reform our public services as we strengthen our society and renew our politics. We, Labour, are the people to carry out this next stage of national renewal because of our values and our understanding of the role of government: to stand by ordinary people so they can change their lives for the better. It is our belief that it is active, reforming government, not absent government, that helps make people powerful." We shall see.
Tomorrow, the Conservatives unveil their manifesto, and I shall wade through all the Tory policies so you don’t have to.