Labour
description
Transcript of Labour
The Labour Party is the principal centre-left political party in the United Kingdom. It is one of the United Kingdom's three main political parties and is currently the party of
government in the United Kingdom. It describes itself as a Democratic Socialist
party and is a member of the Socialist International. Under the leadership of Tony
Blair it won by a landslide victory in the 1997 general election, and formed its first
government since the 1979 general election. It retained its position with two
further large victories in the 2001 and the 2005 general elections. Under Blair's leadership, the party has adopted a
number of neoliberal policies.
Will reduce asylum numbers by tougher rules on settlement and more deportations; electronic register of all crossing borders; skills-based points system for
permanent immigrants.
Patients able to choose their NHS hospital; waiting times down to 18 weeks; 100 new hospital schemes; 2,700 GMP premises to be improved; no "cut price"
hospital cleaning contracts.
Dedicated policing teams for every area; record police numbers already; plans total of 25,000 community support officers; 1,300 more prison places; double
cash for drug treatment.
Parents can select specialist schools; 200 new City Academies; new powers to control truancy and
disruption; university top-up fees up to £3,000, with grants for poorest students.
Use benefits savings to design system with basic state pension at core; state pension age stays same; lump sums/higher payments for those
working longer; special help for poorest.
Takes credit for low mortgage rates, more jobs; would reform the "unsustainable" council tax; say spending plans affordable without tax rises; tax
reliefs for "hard working families".
Want adoption of proposed EU constitution after referendum; support joining the single currency if five economic tests show it is in UK interests; UK
should be at "heart" of Europe.
Spending in 2015 to be 60% up on 1997; rail reorganisation so ministers set strategy and
Network Rail owns all track; road building but car sharing lanes/road use charge plans too.