Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled the long-awaited Labour manifesto outlining the key policies for a future government, including raising £8.6 billion in new taxes. With his jacket off and sleeves rolled up, he pledged to make wealth creation the “number one priority”, with a leadership that is “pro-business and pro-worker” in an effort to win over disaffected Tory voters angry at a flatlined economy under prime minister Rishi Sunak. Sir Keir warned voters that “challenges don’t disappear overnight if Labour wins” as he claimed the manifesto he was presenting today was not a quick fix but a long-term plan for change. Labour’s plans involve keeping tax inflation low, curbing NHS waiting lists, implementing a border security command, creating Great British Energy and cracking down on antisocial behavior. The leader was heckled by a climate protester as he opened his speech, but Sir Keir responded that Labour stopped being the party of protest five years ago as it sought to be a “party of power”. Referring to Reform UK’s new leader, he said if voters wanted “politics as pantomime” they should go to see Nigel Farage in Clacton.
Labour manifesto – latest: Starmer sets out ‘wealth creation’ election policies as Sunak calls plan ‘tax trap’
Moment Keir Starmer heckled by climate protester as he sets out Labour manifesto
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Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled the long-awaited Labour manifesto outlining the key policies for a future government, including raising £8.6 billion in new taxes.
With his jacket off and sleeves rolled up, he pledged to make wealth creation the “number one priority”, with a leadership that is “pro-business and pro-worker” in an effort to win over disaffected Tory voters angry at a flatlined economy under prime minister Rishi Sunak.
Sir Keir warned voters that “challenges don’t disappear overnight if Labour wins” as he claimed the manifesto he was presenting today was not a quick fix but a long-term plan for change.
Labour’s plans involve keeping tax inflation low, curbing NHS waiting lists, implementing a border security command, creating Great British Energy and cracking down on antisocial behaviour.
The leader was heckled by a climate protester as he opened his speech, but Sir Keir responded that Labour stopped being the party of protest five years ago as it sought to be a “party of power”.
Referring to Reform UK’s new leader, he said if voters wanted “politics as pantomime” they should go to see Nigel Farage in Clacton.
Key Points
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Labour manifesto at a glance
NHS and healthcare: Cut waiting lists, 40,000 more NHS appointments each week, ban branded vapes, double cancer scanners numbers, 8,500 additional mental health staff, bring back the “family doctor”, create new “Dentistry Rescue Plan”.
Economy: £1.8bn to upgrade ports and build supply chains, £1.5bn to new gigafactories, £2.5bn to rebuild the steel industry, reduce energy, food and house prices.
Foreign policy and defence: Keep Nato committment, recognise Palestinian state, rebuild UK-EU relationship, mantain current support to Ukriane.
Energy, environment and climate: Set up a new Great British Energy to “cut bills for good”, £1bn to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture, £500m to support the manufacturing of green hydrogen, £6.6bn investment to energy efficiency in homes.
Tax, pay pensions and benefits: No increase to National Insurance, income tax or VAT. Raise £8.6bn in tax revenue by closing non-dom loophole, status will be abolished. Corporation tax capped at the current level of 25 per cent.
Housing: To build 1.5m new homes over the next five years. Deliver the “biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation”
Immigration: Create new Border Security Command to crackdown on small boats and people smugglers. Labour also vowed to “reduce net migration”.
Crime: Introduce a new Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to restore patrols in local communities.
Education: Recruit 6,500 new expert teachers in key subjects. Free breakfast clubs. High-quality apprenticeships and specialist technical colleges.
The Labour manifesto during the launch event at Co-op HQ in Manchester (PA)
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 13:16
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Tory minister defends government amid hospital waiting lists rise
Conservative minister Laura Trott has defended the government over NHS waiting lists despite rise in recent figures.
Asked about the waiting lists for routinge hospital treatment, the Treasury minister replied: “Look, we all know, everyone at home who’s got a family on waiting lists, we want them to come down, and we’re desperately working hard to make that the case.”
She said waiting lists have gone down “overall over the past seven months”, and the government is “throwing everything at it to try and make them come down further”.
Ms Trott added that waiting lists in “Labour-run Wales” are “even higher”, and accused the opposition of “just carping from the sidelines about a problem rather than trying to fix it”.
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 14:58
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Labour joins ‘the conspiracy of silence’
Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), has accused Labour of being part of a “conspiracy of silence” along with the Tories and Lib Dems on the fiscal challenges which means there are spending cuts to come, David Maddox reports.
He said: “Delivering genuine change will almost certainly also require putting actual resources on the table. And Labour’s manifesto offers no indication that there is a plan for where the money would come from to finance this.”
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 14:53
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Pictured: Rachel Reeves weeps during Labour manifesto launch
Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, cries during the launch of Labour’s general election manifesto (Getty Images)(Getty Images)
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 14:49
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Labour’s former shadow chancellor describes manifesto as a ‘straitjacket’
Labour’s former shadow chancellor Ed Balls has described the manifesto as an economic “straitjacket”, Kate Devlin reports.
On his podcast he predicted that “people will look back on this manifesto – which is now seen as cautious and careful – and think of it as being something which was very constraining, and a potentially risky thing to do for Labour because this manifesto is absolutely boxing Labour in.”
He added: “It will be seen as a straitjacket, with tough fiscal rules and limits on borrowing, big commitments not to raise income tax or VAT or national insurance.”
He said Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves were facing huge expectations but with “no money, little room for manoeuvre, inherited plans which are very tight and an economy which isn’t growing”.
He added: “This manifesto makes the first year in government for Labour very difficult.”
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 14:40
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IFS: ‘Labour manifesto has no plan to pay for promised change’
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has given its analysis to the Labour manifesto.
The think tank has declared that the set of promises had provided “no indication that there is a plan for where the money would come” to deliver the promised change.
Director Paul Johnson said: “This is a manifesto that promises a dizzying number of reviews and strategies to tackle some of the challenges facing the country.
“That is better than a shopping list of half-baked policy announcements. But delivering genuine change will almost certainly also require putting actual resources on the table.
“And Labour’s manifesto offers no indication that there is a plan for where the money would come from to finance this.”
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 14:29
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Terminal cancer patient forced to wait 100 days for treatment opens for Starmer at manifesto launch
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 14:20
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Think tank: Labour’s economic plans ‘sets the scene’ for tax hikes and spending cuts
The Resolution Foundation has warned that Labour’s tax plan and spending could cause tax rises and cuts in public services if elected.
The think tank claims plans to raise taxes by £8.6billion per year would leave housolds facing a £1,100-a-year tax rise.
Mike Brewer, the Resolution Foundation’s interim chief executive, said Labour’s approach “sets the scene for a parliament of tax rises and spending cuts for unprotected departments”.
He added: “Even then, a modest dose of bad economic news could force a fresh round of tough fiscal choices if the debt rule is to be met.”
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 14:19
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Pledge to ban trail-hunting and hunt trophy imports
It also pledges to end puppy smuggling and farming, along with the use of snares in England. Scotland and Wales have already banned the use of snares to trap wildlife.
Trail-hunting would be banned (Getty Images)
Jane Dalton13 June 2024 14:16
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Starmer given 100 days by trade unions to make good on promises
Keir Starmer will have just 100 days to make good on his promises to Britain’s workers, TUC president Matt Wrack has said.
The Fire Brigade Union (FBU) general secretary said he and other union leaders will hold Starmer’s “feet to the fire” over the commitments in his manifesto, David Maddox reports.
In a statement, Mr Wrack said: “The Fire Brigades Union has fought hard for this manifesto to deliver for firefighters, by committing to national standards for the fire and rescue service and defending collective bargaining in our sector.
“For fourteen years, workers have faced constant attacks on their pay, pensions and public services under Conservative rule.
“Labour’s commitment to strengthening workers’ rights has the potential to improve the lives of millions. Reversing recent draconian anti-trade union laws will be a vital first step in undoing the damage of the last decade.
“It will be our duty to ensure that a new Labour government makes good on these promises within the first 100 days of taking power. We will hold Labour’s feet to the fire.”
TUC president Matt Wrack (PA Wire)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain13 June 2024 13:55
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-manifesto-2024-general-election-starmer-sunak-tax-b2561647.html