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Manifesto:ForthemanynotthefewChapters
1. CreatinganeconomythatworksforallOureconomicstrategyisaboutdeliveringafairer,moreprosperoussocietyforthemany,notjustthefew.Wewillmeasureoureconomicsuccessnotbythepresenceofmillionaires,butbytheabilityofpeopletomakeendsmeet.Labourunderstandsthatwealthcreationisacollectiveendeavour–betweeninvestors,workers,publicservices,andgovernment.Eachcontributesandeachmustshareequitablyintherewards.Thismanifestoisaboutrebalancingtheeconomyandre-writingtherulesofariggedsystem,sothattheeconomyreallyworksforall.WorkingpeopleinBritaintodayareearninglessinrealtermsthantheydidtenyearsago–andsixmillionpeopleearnlessthanareallivingwage.Toomanypeopleareininsecureandlowpaidworkandcannotmakeendsmeet.Labourwillturnthisaround.Withaten-yearnationalinvestmentplantoupgradeBritain’seconomy,wewillbuildworld-leadingdigital,transportandenergyinfrastructureacrossthecountry–creatingthousandsofskilledandwell-paidjobs.ThroughourNationalInvestmentBankandregionaldevelopmentbanks,wewillcreatetheconditionsrequiredtoflourishandgrowbyeveryregionandnationofBritain.Aseverybusinesspersonknows,tosucceedandgrowitisnecessarytoinvest.ButafteryearsofConservativefailuretomodernisetheeconomy,Britain’sinfrastructureissecondrateandwearenotdoingenoughtonurturebusinessgrowth.Thegrowthcreatedbyournationalinvestmentplan,underpinnedbytheresponsibleeconomicmanagementembodiedinourFiscalCredibilityRule,willcreategoodjobs,driveuplivingstandards,andimprovethepublicfinances.ItisaplanthatwilldeliverLabour’svisionisofaneconomythatworksforthemanynotjustthefew–aBritaininwhichnooneisbeingheldbackeitherbypovertyorlackofopportunity.AfairtaxationsystemTaxationiswhatunderpinsourprosperity.Allofus,includingbusiness,benefitfromahealthy,educatedandskilledpopulationwithaccesstobasicservicesandsecurehousing.Webelieveintheobligationtocontributetoafairtaxationscheme–andwillcomedownhardonthosewhoseektoavoidtheirresponsibilities.ALabourgovernmentwillguaranteetoruleoutrisesinincometaxforthoseearningbelow£80,000ayear,onpersonalNationalInsuranceContributions,andonVAT.
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UnderLabour’splans95%oftaxpayerswillbeguaranteednoincreaseintheirincometaxcontributionsandeveryonewillbeprotectedfromanyincreaseinpersonalNationalInsurancecontributionsandVAT.Onlythehighest5%ofearnerswillbeaskedtocontributemoreintaxtohelpfundourpublicservicesthathavesufferedatthehandsofsevenyearsofToryausterity.Todatetoomanycutshavefallenonthosewithleast–andwehaveseenchildpovertyrisetoover4million,homelessnessrise,andthequeuesgrowatfoodbanks.Thiscannotcontinue.CorporationtaxintheUKisthelowestofanymajordevelopedeconomy,andsowewillasklargecorporationstopayalittlemorewhilestillkeepingUKcorporationtaxamongthelowestofthemajoreconomies.Businessestellusthattheyneedamoreskilledworkforcetoboostproductivityandgrowth–andsoextracorporatetaxrevenueswillcontributetoeducationandskillsbudgets.Wewillalsoprotectsmallbusinessesbyreintroducingthelowersmallprofitrateofcorporationtax.Wewillalsoexcludesmallbusinessesfromcostlyplanstointroducequarterlyreporting–andtakeactiononlatepayments.HMRevenue&Customs(HMRC)alsoneedstheresourcesandskillstocollectthetaxesowed.LabourwillgiveHMRCtheresourcesnecessarytoclampdownhardonthoseunscrupulousindividualsandcompanieswhoseektoavoidtheresponsibilitiesthattherestofusmeet.OurFiscalCredibilityRuleWeknowtheimportanceofmanagingpublicfinances,soourmanifestoisfullycosted,withallcurrentspendingpaidforoutoftaxationorredirectedrevenuestreams.ThismeansLabourwilleliminatethecurrentbudgetdeficitwithinfiveyears.Butgovernmentmustcareabouthowweearn,aswellashowwespend.Atthesametimeaseliminatingthecurrentdeficit,Labourwillinvestinourfuture,toensurefastergrowthandhelpustoearnourwayasacountryagain.Tomaintaingoodfiscalhealth,wewilltasktheOfficeforBudgetResponsibilitywithoverseeingourFiscalCredibilityRule,whichgivesusfreedomtoinvesttostrengthenoureconomyandboostgrowth.OurFiscalCredibilityRuleisbasedonthesimpleprinciplethatGovernmentshouldnotbeborrowingforday-to-dayspending,butthatinvestingforfuturegrowthmakesgoodsense.Itwasdesignedinconjunctionwith,andissupportedby,world-leadingeconomists.CompliancewiththerulewillbeoverseenbyastrengthenedandtrulyindependentOfficeforBudgetResponsibility,whichwewillmakeaccountabletoParliament.TheFiscalCredibilityRulewillcommitusontakingofficeto:
• Setoutaplantoeliminatethecurrentspendingdeficitonaforward-looking,five-yearrollingtimescale
• LeavedebtasaproportionoftrendGDPlowerattheendofeachParliamentthanatthestart
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• Whenconventionalmonetarypolicyishamperedbythelowerboundtointerestrates,suspendoperationoftheruleinorderthatfiscalpolicycanworkwithmonetarypolicytosupporteconomicrecovery
• MaketheOfficeofBudgetResponsibilityresponsibletoParliamentwithaclearmandateto“blowthewhistle”ongovernmentbreachingtheserules
InfrastructureInvestmentHistoricunder-investmentininfrastructureisamajorbarriertoproductivityandgrowth,andamajorcontributortothedisparitybetweenthesouth-eastandtherestofthecountry.Unlikepreviousgovernments,wewillensurethatinvestmentisfairlysharedaroundeveryregionandnationoftheUK.Labourwilltakeadvantageofnear-recordlowinterestratestoinvest£250billionovertenyearsinupgradingoureconomytoensurethatourtransport,energyanddigitalinfrastructureisfitforthe21stCentury.WewillmaintaintheNationalInfrastructureCommissiontoadvisegovernmentonourinfrastructureprogrammetoupgradetheBritisheconomy.IndustrialStrategyOureconomyissufferingfromdecadesofneglectbyGovernmentsrefusingtogivestrategicoversighttosupporttheindustries,businesses,workersandpeoplecontributingtoit.Weseethisinthewaythatinequalityhasballoonedastheeconomyhasshiftedtowardslow-paid,insecurejobs.InthedeclineinBritain’smanufacturingbaseandourover-relianceonthefinancialsector,centredaroundLondonandtheSouth-East,andthevastregionalandsectoralimbalancesthathavefollowed.WhiletheSouth-Eaststruggleswitharisingcostoflivingcrisis,manynorthernandcoastaltownshaveseentheireconomiesandcommunitiesleftbehind.Britain’sfailuretogetallourregionalandlocaleconomiesworkingcanbeseeninthedeteriorationofthecurrentaccount,weakproductivitygrowthandunderinvestmentininfrastructure.Keytoaddressingthesechallenges,andcreatinganeconomythatisprosperous,stableandinclusive,isaboldandproperlyresourcedindustrialstrategy.TheConservativeshaveadoptedourlanguage,butunderneaththeyareofferingmoreofthesame,withoutthefundsneededtotransformoureconomy.Britaincanonlybestrongerifeverynationandregionisgiventheresourcesandsupporttosucceed.OnlyaLabourgovernmentwithacredibleindustrialstrategycandeliverprosperitytoeverycornerofourcountry.Ourindustrialstrategywillbebuiltonobjective,measurablemissionsdesignedtoaddressthegreatchallengesofourtimes.Inmeetingthesechallenges,wewillmovebeyondthenarrowapproachesofthepastandmobilisethetalentsandresourcesofourwholecountrytodeliveraneconomyfitforthefuture.Labour’sinfrastructureinvestmentandmission-ledindustrialstrategywillmakeBritainabetterplacetodobusiness,andgivebusinessestheconfidencetoinvestinBritain.Wewillalsoencourageprivateinvestmentbyremovingnewplantandmachineryfrombusinessratecalculations.
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Wewilldeliveruniversalsuperfastbroadbandavailabilityby2022.Fewthingsaremorecrucialtobusinessesandoureconomythanafastandreliableinternetconnection,but3millionhouseholdsandbusinesseshavebeenleftincapacitatedbyslowinternet.Wewilldeliverauniversalsuperfast30mbpsserviceavailabilitytoallhouseholdsby2022.TheConservativecommitmenttojust10mbpswillseethe400,000smallbusinessesandnearlytwomillionhomesleftwithsubstandardbroadbandwellintothenextdecade.InDecember,theNationalInfrastructureCommissionrankedtheUK54thintheworldfor4Gcoverageandsaidtheaverageusercouldgetasignal“barelyhalfthetime”.Thatisn’tjustfrustrating,itisincreasinglyholdingBritishbusinessbackasmoreandmoreofoureconomyrequiresaconnectedworkforce.Labourwillimprovemobileinternetcoverageandexpandprovisionoffreepublicwi-fiincitycentresandonpublictransport.Wewillimprove4Gcoverageandwillinvesttoensureallurbanareasaswellasmajorroadsandrailwayshaveuninterrupted5Gcoverage.WewillappointaDigitalAmbassadortoliaisewithtechnologycompaniestopromoteBritainasanattractiveplaceforinvestmentandprovidesupporttostartupstoscaleworldclassdigitalbusinesses.TheUKlagsbehindothercountriesintheextenttowhichourcompaniesscale-up,withresearchsuggestingthatmanyofourcompanieshavestagnantgrowthdespitetheirbestaspirations.OECDresearchfoundthatwhiletheUKranksthirdforstart-ups,itranksonly13thforthenumberofbusinessesthatscaleupsuccessfully.Byoneestimate,ifexpandingsmallbusinesseswereboostedbyjust1%,theycouldgenerate238,000newjobswithinthreeyearsandanextra£38billionfortheeconomy.OurDigitalAmbassadorwillhelptoensurebusinessesarereadytogrowandprosperinthedigitalage.ANationalInvestmentBankLabourwillestablishaNationalInvestmentBankfinancedwithaninjectionofinitialpubliccapitalwhichwillbeleveragedusingadditionalprivatesectorfinancetogive£250bnoflendingpoweroverthenextdecade.Thebankwillfillexistinggapsinlendingbyprivatebanks,particularlytosmallbusinesses,andbyprovidingpatient,long-termfinancetohigher-risk,R&D-intensiveinvestments.Itwillalsobetaskedwithhelpingtodeliverourindustrialstrategy,byprioritisingspendinginlinewithitsmissionsandobjectives.ThefirstmissionssetbyaLabourGovernmentwillbeto:
• Ensurethat60%oftheUK’senergycomesfromloworrenewablesourcesby2030• Createaninnovationnationwith60(?)%ofjobshighskilledand3%ofGDPonR&D
InordertocreateafertilegroundforbusinessestobeabletogalvaniseandachievethesemissionsLabourwilltakeactionacrosstheareasweknowarenecessaryforbusinessandindustrytogrow:
• Skills–bycreatingaNationalEducationService• Infrastructure–byinvesting£250billionoverthenext10years• GrowUKsupplychains–bytargetinggovernmentsupportwheretherearegaps• Trade–bynegotiatinganewdealwithEuropethatputsjobsandtheeconomyfirst• Procurement–byrequiringthebeststandardsongovernmentcontracts• ResearchandDevelopment–bycommittingextraresearchinvestment
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• Energycostsandsecurity–bycappingcostsandinvestinginnewpubliclyownedenergyWhileourindustrialstrategyisastrategyforgrowthacrossallsectors,LabourrecognisesthatcertainsectorsareofstrategicsignificancetotheUKeconomyandoftenunderpinwiderindustry,bothestablishedandgrowing.ForeachstrategicindustrythenextLabourgovernmentwillestablishaCouncilmodelledonthehighlysuccessfulAutomotiveCounciltooverseeitsfuturesecurityandgrowth.Over1,000highstreetbankshaveclosedinthelast18months,yettheBigFourbanksmadeover£11bnprofitfromhighstreetbanking.Branchclosuresthreatenourhighstreets,deprivingcommunitiesofanessentialserviceanddamagingthelocaleconomy.Labourwillchangethelawsothatbankscan’tcloseabranchwherethereisaclearlocalneed,puttingtheircustomersfirst.Banksarealsolettingdownbusinesses,andsoinadditiontotheNationalInvestmentBank,Labourwillcreateregionaldevelopmentbankstosupportlocalbusinessesandregionalindustrialstrategies.AnewdealforbusinessThemajorityofbusinessesplaybytherules:theypaytheirworkersandtheirtaxesfairlyandontime;theyoperatewithrespectfortheenvironmentandlocalcommunities.Thatiswhyitisvitalthatgovernmentensuresthatbusinessesdoingtherightthingarerewardedratherthanundercutoroutbidbythoseunscrupulousfewthatcutcorners,whetherontaxesorworkers’conditions.ScandalssuchasBHSshowhowthelong-termgrowthofacompanycanbesacrificedforthesakeofaquickbuck.Shareholdinghasbecomeashort-termactivity.TheaveragelengthofshareholdinginFTSEcompanieswasaboutsevenmonthsinthe2000s,butwas5yearsinthemid-1960s.Whenshareholdersarelookingforquickshort-termreturntheyencouragecompaniestocutcorners.ThisalsodamagesBritain’sinvestmentandproductivityrates,whicharewaybehindthoseofothercomparableeconomies.Reformingcorporategovernancemakesgoodbusinesssense.Bytacklingshort-termisminourbusinessculture,ourshakeupofcorporategovernancewillimproveinvestmentandproductivity,andensurethatbusinessesarerunforthelong-termbenefitofthemanyratherthantheshort-terminterestsofafew.Atpresentdirectorsoweadutytopromotethecompanyforthebenefitoftheshareholders,andmustonlyhaveregardtoemployees,suppliers,theenvironmentetc.LabourproposestoamendtheCompaniesAct2006sothatdirectorsoweadutydirectlytothesegroupsandwillconsultonwhothedutywillbeowedto.Wewantlong-termgrowthandstabilitynotshort-termprofits.Labourwillamendthetakeoverregimetoensurethatbusinessesidentifiedasbeing‘systemicallyimportant’areprotectedfromhostiletakeovers,andensurethatwhenacompanyisboughtthereisaclearplaninplacetoprotectworkersandpensionersLabourwillalsolegislatetoreducepayinequalitybyintroducinganexcessivepaylevyoncompanieswithhighnumbersofstaffonveryhighpay.
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ThenextLabourgovernmentwillusetheleverageofthe£200billionnationalandlocalgovernmentspendsintheprivatesectortoupgradeoureconomy,creategoodlocaljobsandreduceinequality.Thiswillincluderequiringbestpracticefromfirmsgovernmentdoesbusinesswithon:
• payingtax• workers'rights• equalopportunities• environmentalprotection• trainingandapprenticeships• payingsuppliersontime;and• boardroomexcess,bymovingtoa20:1limitonthegapbetweenthelowestandhighest
paidforgovernmentcontractsSmallandmediumsizedenterprises(SMEs)arehugelyimportanttotheUKeconomy,providing60%ofprivatesectorjobs.Theyarekeyindeliveringameaningfulindustrialstrategy.Labourunderstandsthatmanystart-upsandSMEsfacesignificantchallengessuchasaccesstofinanceandbusinessadvice,latepayments,relativelyhighadministrativeburdens–allofwhichposesignificantbarrierstogrowth.InordertoprovidethesupportmanysmallbusinessesneedaLabourGovernmentwill:
• MandatethenewNationalInvestmentBank,andregionaldevelopmentbanksinevery
regiontoidentifywhereotherlendersfailtomeettheneedsofSMEsandprioritiselendingtoimprovethefundinggap.
• Reinstatethesmallbusinesscorporationtaxrate.• Introduceapackageofreformstobusinessrates–includingswitchingfromRPItoCPI
indexation,exemptingnewinvestmentinplantsandmachineryfromvaluations,andensuringthatbusinesseshaveaccesstoaproperappealsprocess–whilereviewingtheentirebusinessratessysteminthelongerrun.
• Scrapquarterlyreportingforbusinesseswithaturnoverofunder£83,000.• Declarewaronlatepaymentsby:
o UsingGovernmentprocurementtoensurethatanyonebiddingforaGovernmentcontractpaysitsownsupplierswithin30days.
o DevelopingaversionoftheAustraliansystemofbindingarbitrationandfinesforpersistentlatepayersfortheprivatesector.
Labourunderstandsthatmanysmallbusinessesmaystrugglewiththehigherreallivingwagethatwewillbringin.Byringfencingtheextraproceedsfromtaxrevenuesandlowereligibilityforin-workbenefits,wewillestablishanewemploymentallowanceforbusinessthatstruggletopayahigherlivingwage.SustainableEnergyLabour’senergypolicyisbuiltonthreesimpleprinciples:
• Toensuresecurityofenergysupplyand‘keepthelightson’• Toensureenergycostsareaffordableforconsumersandbusinesses• Toensurewemeetourclimatechangetargetsandtransitiontoalowcarboneconomy
TheUKenergysystemisoutdated,expensiveandpolluting.Privatisationhasfailedtodeliveranenergysystemthatdeliversforpeople,businessesorourenvironment.
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One-in-tenhouseholdsareinfuelpoverty,yetaccordingtotheCompetitionMarketsAuthoritycustomersareoverchargedanenormous£2billioneveryyear.Labourunderstandsthatmanypeopledon’thavetimetoshoparound,theyjustwantreliableandaffordableenergy.SothenextLabourGovernmentwill:
• Introduceanimmediateemergencypricecaptoensurethattheaverageduelfuelhouseholdenergybillremainsbelow£1000peryear,whilewetransitiontoafairersystemforbillpayers.
• Takeenergybackintopublicownershiptodeliverrenewableenergy,affordabilityforconsumers,anddemocraticcontrol.Thenewpublicsystemwillincludethreekeyelements:
o Centralgovernmentcontrolofthenaturalmonopoliesofthetransmissionanddistributiongrids,andofresponsibilityforthepolicyandinformationfunctionsoftheregulator.
o AtleastonepubliclyownedenergycompanyineveryregionoftheUK,thatisalocallyrun,democraticallyaccountableenergysupplier,workingtotacklefuelpoverty,returnprofitstocustomersviareducedtariffs,supportcommunityenergyprojectsandhavedrivelargerenergycompaniestolowertheirpricesinthearea.
o AnewLocalEnergyTaskForcewillprovidehelpandadviceforlocalpeopleandbusinessestostartupCommunityEnergyCooperatives.
Labourwillinsulatefourmillionhomesasaninfrastructureprioritytohelpthosewhosufferincoldhomeseachwinter.Thiswillcutemissions,drivegrowth,improvehealth,increaseenergysecurity,saveonbillsandreducefuelpovertyandexcesswinterdeaths.Homeownerswillbeoffered0%loanstoimprovetheirproperty,andwewillintroducerevenueneutralstampdutyincentivestoencourageagoodenergyefficiencystandardatthepointofsale.Forrenters,LabourwillimproveuponLandlordEnergyEfficiencyregulationsandre-establishtheLandlordEnergySavingAllowancetoencouragetheuptakeofefficiencymeasures.ALabourgovernmentwilllegislatetoenforcethehighestmodernstandardsfor‘zerocarbon’buildingsthatgenerateasmuchenergyonsiteastheyuseinheating,hotwaterandlighting.Thetechnologyisthere.Labourwillbanfracking.Toallowfrackingwouldlockusintoanenergyinfrastructurebasedonfossilfuels,longafterthepointin2030whentheCommitteeonClimateChangesaysgasintheUKmustsharplydecline.Emergingtechnologiessuchascarboncaptureandstoragewillhelptosmooththetransitiontocleanerfuelsandwillhelptoprotectexistingjobsaspartofthefutureenergymix.TheUKistheworld’soldestnuclearindustry,andnuclearwillcontinuetobepartoftheUKenergysupply.Wewillsupportfurthernuclearprojectsandprotectnuclearworkers’jobsandpensions.Thereareconsiderableopportunitiesfornuclearpoweranddecommissioningbothinternationallyanddomestically.Tacklingclimatechangeisnon-negotiable,yetrecentyearshaveseenafailuretoprogresstowardsourtargets.ALabourGovernmentwillputusbackontracktomeetthetargetsintheClimate
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ChangeActandtheParisAgreement.Buildingacleaneconomyofthefutureisthemostimportantthingwemustdoforourchildren,ourgrandchildrenandfuturegenerations.ThelowcarboneconomyisoneoftheUK’sfastestgrowingsectors,creatingjobsandprovidinginvestmentacrosseachregion.Itemployedanestimated447,000employeesintheUKin2015andsawover£77billioninturnover.WithbackingfromaLabourgovernmentthesesectorscansecuredominantsharesofglobalexportmarkets.CurrentlytheUKbuysandsellsenergytarifffreefromEurope,anarrangementwhichsavesfamiliesandbusinessesmoneyandhelpsbalancethepowergrid.AspartoftheBrexitnegotiationsLabourwillprioritisemaintainingaccesstotheinternalenergymarketandwillretainaccesstoEuratom,toallowcontinuedtradeoffissilematerial,accesstoandcollaborationoverresearchvitaltoournuclearindustry.
2. NegotiatingBrexitLabouracceptsthereferendumresultandaLabourgovernmentwillputthenationalinterestfirst.Wewillprioritisejobsandlivingstandards,buildaclosenewrelationshipwiththeEU,protectworkers’rightsandenvironmentalstandards,providecertaintytoEUnationalsandgiveameaningfulroletoParliamentthroughoutnegotiations.WewillendTheresaMay’srecklessapproachtoBrexit,andseektounitethecountryaroundaBrexitdealthatworksforeverycommunityinBritain.WewillscraptheConservatives’BrexitWhitePaperandreplaceitwithfreshnegotiatingprioritiesthathaveastrongemphasisonretainingthebenefitsoftheSingleMarketandtheCustomsUnion–whichareessentialformaintainingindustries,jobsandbusinessesinBritain.Labourwillalwaysputjobsandtheeconomyfirst.ALabourGovernmentwillimmediatelyguaranteeexistingrightsforallEUnationalslivinginBritainandsecurereciprocalrightsforUKcitizenswhohavechosentomaketheirlivesinEUcountries.EUnationalsdonotjustcontributetooursociety:theyareoursociety.Andtheyshouldnotbeusedasbargainingchips.ItisshamefulthatthePrimeMinisterrejectedrepeatedattemptsbyLabourtoresolvethisissuebeforeArticle50wastriggered.Asaresult3millionEUnationalshavesufferedunnecessaryuncertainty,ashavethe1.2millionUKcitizenslivingintheEU.AConservativeBrexitwillweakenworkers’rights,deregulatetheeconomy,slashcorporatetaxes,sidelineParliamentanddemocraticaccountability,andcutBritainofffromourclosestalliesandmostimportanttradingpartners.LabourrecognisesthatleavingtheEUwith‘nodeal’istheworstpossibledealforBritainandthatitwoulddodamagetooureconomyandtrade.Wewillreject‘nodeal’asaviableandnegotiatetransitionalarrangementstoavoidacliff-edgefortheUKeconomy.Theissuesthataffectourcontinentnowwillcontinuetodosointhefuture–andLabourwillcontinuetoworkconstructivelywiththeEUandotherEuropeannationsonissuessuchasclimatechange,refugeecrisesandcounter-terrorism.WewillbuildaclosecooperativefuturerelationshipwiththeEU,notasmembersbutaspartners.
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ALabourgovernmentwillensurethattheUKmaintainsourleadingresearchrolebyseekingtostaypartofHorizon2020andbywelcomingresearchstafftotheUK.WewillseektomaintainmembershipofEuropeanorganisationswhichofferbenefitstotheUKsuchasEuratomandtheEuropeanMedicinesAgency.WewillseektoensurethatBritainremainspartoftheErasmusschemesothatBritishstudentshavethesameeducationalopportunitiesafterweleavetheEU.WewilldroptheConservatives’GreatRepealBill,replacingitwithanEURightsandProtectionsBillthatwillensurethereisnodetrimentalchangetoworkers’rights,equalitylaw,consumerrightsorenvironmentalprotectionsasaresultofBrexit.ThroughouttheBrexitprocess,wewillmakesurethatallEU-derivedlaws–includingworkplacelaws,consumerrightsandenvironmentalprotections–arefullyprotectedwithoutqualifications,limitationsorsunsetclauses.Wewillworkwithtradeunions,businessesandstakeholderstoensurethereisaconsensusonthisvitalissue.ALabourapproachtoBrexitwillensuretherecanbenorollingbackofkeyrightsandprotectionsandthattheUKdoesnotlagbehindEuropeinworkplaceprotectionsandenvironmentalstandardsinfuture.TheEUhashadahugeimpactinsecuringworkplaceprotectionsandenvironmentalsafeguards.ButweallknowthatformanyBrexiteersintheToryParty,thiswaswhytheywantedtoLeave–totearupregulationsandweakenhard-foughtrightsandprotections.ALabourGovernmentwillneverconsidertheserightsaburdenoraccepttheweakeningofworkers’rights,consumerrightsorenvironmentalprotections.WewillintroducelegislationtoensuretherearenogapsinnationalsecurityandcriminaljusticearrangementsasaresultofBrexit.Labourrecognisethevitalrolethatcross-borderagenciessuchasEurojustandEuropolhaveplayedinmakingBritainsaferandthatEuropeanArrestWarrantshavebeeninvaluable.ALabourgovernmentwillseektoretainmembershipoftheagenciesandcontinueEuropeanArrestWarrantarrangements.LabourwillseekaBrexitdealthatdeliversforallregionsandnationsoftheUK.Wewillintroducea‘presumptionofdevolution’wherepowerstransferredfromtheEUwillgostraighttotherelevantregionornation.Formanypeopleandformuchofourcountry,powercanfeeljustasremoteandunaccountableinBrusselsasitdoesinWestminster.SoaLabourgovernmentwillseektoputpowersasclosetoyouaspossible.LabourwillguaranteetocoveranyshortfallinEUStructuralFundingthatoccursasaresultofBrexit.ThiswillbeguaranteedthroughoutthecourseofthenextParliament.ThiswillalsoapplytothefundingofpeaceandreconciliationprojectsinNorthernIreland.WewillalsoimproveengagementanddialoguewiththedevolvedadministrationsandseektoensurethefinalBrexitdealaddressesspecificconcerns.InparticularLabourwillensurethereisnoreturntoahardborderbetweenNorthernIrelandandtheRepublicofIrelandandthatthereisnochangeinthestatusorsovereigntyofGibraltar.WhereTheresaMaywantstoshutdownscrutinyandchallenge,Labourwillwelcomeit.WewillworkwithParliament,notagainstit.OnanissueofthisimportancetheGovernmentcan’thidefromthepublicorParliament.
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ALabourapproachtoBrexitalsomeanslegislatingtoguaranteethatParliamenthasatrulymeaningfulvoteonthefinalBrexitdeal.ImmigrationLabourwillnotmakefalsepromisesonimmigrationnumbers.Oureconomyneedsmigrantworkerstokeepgoing.TheConservativegovernmenthasscapegoatedimmigrantstodivertfromfortheirownfailingsandhavemadeboguspromisesonimmigration.Whenpoliticiansfantheflamesoffearithasrealconsequencesonbothrecently-arrivedandlong-settledcommunities.Weseethisintheappallingriseinhatecrimes,whichshameusall.Labourunderstandsthehistoriccontributionofimmigrantsandthechildrenofimmigrantstooursocietyandeconomy.Today,theNationalHealthService,oursocialcareprovidersandprivatecompaniesacrossmanysectorsdependonthelabourofmigrantworkers.Wevaluethoseworkersandwewillneverdenigratethem.WealsounderstandtheimportanceofmoreskillstrainingforBritishnationals,whatevertheircolourorcreed.Labourbelievesinfairrulesandreasonablemanagementofmigration.Webelievefairrulesmeanthatadistinctionshouldbemadebetweenfamilyconnectionsandmigrantlabour.Wedonotbelievefamilylifeshouldbeprotectedonlyforthewealthyandsoweproposetoreplacetheincomethresholdsforfamilyattachmentswithanobligationtosurvivewithoutrecoursetopublicfunds.Labourwillreplacethefinancialthresholdtestforfamilyreunion.Wewillworkwithemployerswhoneedtorecruitfromabroad,butwewillcrackdownonanyemployerthatexploitsthesystemtounderminewagesandconditions.Weincreaseprosecutionsandpenaltiesforemployersnotpayingtheminimumwage,stopemployersfromrecruitingonlyfromoverseas,andmakezerohourscontractsillegal.Labourwillengagewithemployersandtradeunionsintheconstructionandagriculturalsectorsespecially,wheremanyoftheseillegalpractisespersist.Wewillsupporttradeunionrightsandfreedomsasthemosteffectivewaytostopexploitationintheworkplace.WewillestablishaMigrantImpactFundforpublicservicesunderadditionalpressureinhostcommunities,fundedbytheexistingvisalevyandanadditional,proportionatecontributoryelementfromresidencevisasforhighnetworthindividuals.ALabourgovernmentwillneverscapegoatrefugeesandasylumseekers.WewillupholdallourresponsibilitiesundertheRefugeeConventionandofferasafehaventothosefleeingfrompersecutionandwar.
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Thecurrentarrangementsforhousinganddispersingrefugeesarenotfitforpurpose.Theyarenotfairtorefugeesortoourhostcommunities.Wewillreviewthesearrangements.ALabourgovernmentwillalsowelcomeinternationalstudentswhobenefitandstrengthenoureducationsector.Theynowgeneratemorethan£25billionfortheBritisheconomyandprovideasignificantboosttoregionaljobsandlocalbusinesses.InternationaltradeLabourispro-tradeandpro-investment.TheUK’sfutureprosperitydependsonminimisingtariffandnon-tariffbarriersthatpreventusfromexportingandcreatingthejobsandeconomicgrowthweneed.Labourwillbringforwardanintegratedtradeandindustrialstrategythatboostsexports,investmentanddecentjobsinBritain.LabourwillsetourprioritiesinanInternationalTradeWhitePapertoleadanationaldebateonthefutureofBritain’stradepolicy.Wewillensurepropertransparencyandparliamentaryscrutinyofallfuturetradeandinvestmentdeals.TheEUaccountsfor44%ofourcurrentexportsandwillcontinuetobeaprioritytradingpartner.AsourtradingrelationshipwiththeEUchangesitisvitalthatweretainunrestrictedaccessforourgoodsandservices.ThroughourJustTradinginitiativelaunchedin2016,Labourwillworkwithglobaltradingpartnerstodevelop‘best-in-class’freetradeandinvestmentagreementsthatremovetradebarriersandpromoteskilledjobsandhighstandards.Wewillensureallfuturetradedealssafeguardtherighttoregulateinthepublicinterestandtoprotectpublicservices.Labouriscommittedtotherules-basedinternationaltradingsystemoftheWorldTradeOrganisation(WTO).WewillrejointheGovernmentProcurementAgreement,whilstsafeguardingthecapacityforpublicbodiestomakeprocurementdecisionsinkeepingwithpublicpolicyobjectives.Labourwillbuildhumanrightsandsocialjusticeintotradepolicy.Wewillensurethattradeagreementscannotunderminehumanrightsandlabourstandards,andthatUKExportFinancesupportisnotavailabletocompaniesengagedinbriberyorcorruptpractices.WewillworkwithotherWTOmemberstoendthedumpingofstate-subsidisedgoodsonourmarkets.TheConservativesconsistentlyblockedEUeffortstorespondtodumpingwiththedutiesneededtodefendoursteelindustry.Labourwilldevelopthefullrangeoftraderemediesnecessarytosupportkeysectorsaffectedbytheseunfairpractices.LabourwillchampiontheexportinterestsofSMEs,ensuringallnewtradeagreementsincludeacommitmenttosupporttheirmarketaccessneeds.WewilldevelopanexportincentiveschemeforSMEsbasedoninternationalbestpractice,andwewillring-fenceTradeshowAccessProgrammegrantstohelpSMEsreachnewcustomersaroundtheworld.Labourwillusethefullrangeofexportcredit,finance,insuranceandtradepromotiontoolstoboostBritishexportsandsupportpriorityindustrialsectors.
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Wewillcreateanetworkofregionaltradeandinvestmentchampionstopromotetheexportandinvestmentinterestsofbusinessesacrossthecountry,andwewillincluderegionalrepresentationonoverseastrademissions.Labouriscommittedtogrowingthedigitaleconomyandensuringthattradeagreementsdonotimpedecross-borderdataflows,whilstmaintainingstrongdataprotectionrulestoprotectpersonalprivacy.Aspartofourcommitmenttoalowcarbonfuture,wewillactivelysupportinternationalnegotiationstowardsanEnvironmentalGoodsAgreementattheWTO.LabourwillusetradenegotiationstoboostmarketaccessforBritishenvironmentalgoodsandservices,alongsidesupportforinvestmentintonewgreentechnologiesandinnovativelow-carbonproducts.LabourwilldevelopcapitalinvestmentschemesandotherincentivestoencourageinvestmentintotheUK,especiallyintotargetareasidentifiedbytheindustrialstrategy.WewillchampiontheUKasasafeinvestmentenvironment.Labourwillreviewourhistoricinvestmenttreatieswithothercountries,ensuringtheyarefitforpurposeforthe21stcentury.Labouropposesparallelinvestor-statedisputesystemsformultinationalcorporationsandwewillopenadialoguewithtradingpartnersonalternativeoptionsthatprovideinvestorprotectionwhilstguaranteeingequalitybeforethelaw.
3. TowardsaNationalEducationServiceEducationiswhatempowersusalltorealiseourfullpotential.Whenitfails,itisn’tjusttheindividualthatisheldback,butallofus.Whenweinvestinpeopletodeveloptheirskillsandcapabilities,weallbenefitfromastrongereconomyandsociety.Atatimewhenworkinglivesandtheskillsoureconomyneedsarechangingrapidly,governmentshavetheresponsibilitytomakelifelonglearningarealitybygivingeveryonetheopportunitytoaccesseducationthroughouttheirlives.Tomeetthisresponsibility,LabourwillcreateaunifiedNationalEducationService(NES)tomovetowardscradle-to-gravelearningthatisfreeatthepointofuse.TheNESwillbebuiltontheprinciplethat‘EveryChild-andAdult-Matters’andwillincorporateallformsofeducation,fromearlyyearsthroughtoadulteducation.Whenthe1945LabourGovernmentestablishedtheNHSitcreatedoneofthecentralinstitutionsoffairnessofthe20thCentury.TheNESwilldothesameforthe21st,givingpeopleconfidenceandhopebymakingeducationarightnotaprivilege,andbuildingbridgeswheretheConservativesbuildbarriers.EarlyYearsCurrently,thereisagapbetweentheendofmaternityleaveandbeginningoffulltimeschooling.Thisgapcanmakeitdifficultforparents,particularlywomen,toreturntowork,unlesstheyhaveaccesstoinformalchildcaresupport.Thereisalsoextensiveevidencethatearlyyearseducationhasamajorimpactonchilddevelopment,andthattimeinaformaleducationsettingforyoungchildrencanimproveperformanceatGCSEandbeyond.
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LabourwouldseektorollouteducationalprovisionforearlyyearschildrenaspartofaNationalEducationServicethatistrulycradle-to-grave.Labourintroducedfreechildcarehoursforparents,whichwerefullyfundedandresourced.UndertheConservatives,thefreehoursentitlementischronicallyunder-funded,withprovisionpatchyandhardtonavigate.Manyprovidersnowsimplyrefusetoparticipateinthescheme.Theresultisthatmanyparentsaren’tevengettingthehoursthey’reentitledto.Labourwould:
1. Overhaultheexistingchildcaresysteminwhichsubsidiesaregivendirectlytoparentswhooftenstruggletousethem,andtransitiontoasystemofhigh-qualitychildcareplacesinmixedenvironmentswithdirectgovernmentsubsidy.
2. Maintaincurrentcommitmentsonfreehoursandmakesignificantcapitalinvestmentduringourfirsttwoyearsofgovernment,toensurethattheplacesexisttomeetdemand.
3. Phaseinsubsidisedprovisionontopoffreehourentitlements,toensurethateveryonehasaccesstoaffordablechildcarenomattertheirworkingpattern.
4. Transitiontoaqualified,graduate-ledworkforce,byincreasingstaffwagesandenhancingtrainingopportunities.Thiswillbenefitstaff,whoareamongourworst-paidworkers,andimprovechild-development.
5. Extendthe30freehourstoall2yearoldsandmovetowardsmakingsomechildcareavailablefor1yearolds.
SchoolsConservativecutsarestarvingschoolsofthefundingtheyneedtodeliver.Cripplingunder-fundingisdrivingupclasssizesandforcingschoolstocutcorners.Anarrowcurriculumandacultureofassessmentisdrivingawayteachers,creatingarecruitmentandretentioncrisis.Labourschoolspolicywillbebuiltonthefollowingfourfoundations:
1. Investment–wewillmakesureschoolsareproperlyresourcedbyreversingtheConservatives’cutsandensuringthatallschoolshavetheresourcestheyneed.Wewillgivetransitionalrelieftoschoolssettoloseoutunderthenewfundingformula.
2. Quality–wewilldriveupstandardsacrosstheboard,learningfromexamplesofbest
practice,suchasLabour’sLondonChallenge,toencouragecooperationandstrongleadershipacrossschools,trustinteachers’professionalism,andrefocusteacherworkloadonwhathappensintheclassroom.
3. Accountability–theConservatives’obsessionwithstructureoverqualityisleadingtothe
disintegrationofschools.Labourwouldallowlocalauthoritiestoopenschools,andtorequirejoinedupadmissionspoliciesacrossschools.Thiswouldenablecouncilstofulfiltheirresponsibilitiesonchildplaces,simplifytheadmissionsprocessforparents,andensurethatnochildslipsthroughthenet.
4. Inclusion–wewillnotimprovestandardsattheexpenseofnarrowingthecurriculum.Every
childisuniqueandaLabour-lededucationsystemwillenableeachtofindtheirpaththroughabreadthofchoiceincoursesandqualifications.
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Togiveallchildrenthebeststartinlife,wewillreduceclasssizesunder30forall5,6,and7yearolds,andseektoextendthatasresourcesallow.Toaidattainment,wewillintroducefreeschoolmealsforallprimaryschoolchildren,paidforbyremovingtheVATexemptiononprivateschoolfees.Wewillabandonplanstoreintroducebase-lineassessmentsandlaunchacommissiontolookintocurriculumandassessment,startingbyreviewingkeystage1and2SATs.Theworld’smostsuccessfuleducationsystemsusemorecontinuousassessment,whichavoidsteachingforthetest.Wewilltackletheteacherrecruitmentandretentioncrisisbyendingthepublicsectorpaycap,givingteachersmoredirectinvolvementinthecurriculum,andtacklingrisingworkloadsbyreducingmonitoringandbureaucracy.Wewillalsoconsultonintroducingteachersabbaticalsandplacementswithindustrytoencourageinteractionbetweeneducationandindustryandintroducebroadexperiencesintotheclassroom.WewillreintroducenationalpaybargainingandtheSchoolsSupportStaffNegotiatingBodyandnationalpaybargaining.Wewillput£150millionbackintosupportingourchildreninschoolsbyscrappingtheConservatives’nonsensicalplansforschoolstopaytheapprenticeshiplevy.Wewillextendschools-basedcounsellingtoallschoolstoimprovechildren’smentalhealth,atacost£90mperyear.AndwewilldeliveraSENDstrategybasedoninclusivity,andembedSENDmoresubstantiallyintoinitialteachertrainingsothatstaff,childrenandtheirparentsareproperlysupported.SkillsAtatimewhentechnologyischangingdemandfordifferentkindsofskills,andevolvingpatternsofworkmeanthatpeoplearemorelikelytopursueseveralcareersoveralifetime,itiscrucialthatoureducationsystemenablespeopletoupskillandretrainovertheirlifetimes.Aspartofourdynamicindustrialstrategy,lifelongtrainingwilldeliverproductivityandgrowthtothewholeeconomywhiletransformingthelivesofindividualsandcommunities.ToensurethatwedeliverforeverypartoftheUK,wewilldevolveresponsibilityforskillswhereverthereisanappetite.FurtherandAdultEducationDespiteclaimingtobecommittedtodeliveringhighqualitytraining,theConservativeshaveruthlesslycutfundingforFEcolleges–ourmainproviderofadultandvocationaleducation–andreducedentitlementsforadultlearners.Thishasledtodiminishingnumbersofcoursesandstudents,andplungedthesectorintocrisis.Labourwouldintroducefree,lifelongeducationinFEcolleges,enablingeveryonetoupskillorretrainatanypointinlife.Ourskillsandtrainingsectorhasbeenheldbackbyrepeatedreorganisation,whichdeprivesproviders,learnersandemployersoftheconsistencytheyneedtoassessquality.Labourwould
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abandonConservativeplanstoonceagainreinventthewheelbybuildingnewTechnicalColleges,redirectingthemoneytoincreaseteachernumbersintheFEsector.WesharethebroadaimsoftheSainsbury’sReviewbutwouldensurevocationalroutesincorporatetheservicesectoraswellastraditionalmanufacturing,workingintandemwithourbroadindustrialstrategytodeliverforthewholeeconomy.Wewillimprovecareersadviceandopenuparangeofroutesthrough,andbackinto,education,strikingabalancebetweenclassroomandonthejobtraining,toensurestudentsgainbothtechnicalandsoftskills.ToimplementSainsbury’srecommendations,wewouldcorrecthistoricneglectoftheFEsectorbygivingthesectortheinvestment–inteachersandfacilities–itdeservestobecomeaworld-leadingproviderofadultandvocationaleducation.Morespecifically,wewould:
• Bringfundingfor16-18yearoldsinlinewithkeystage4baselines,whileensuringthatthebudgetisdistributedfairlybetweencollegesandschool6thforms
• RestoretheEducationMaintenanceAllowancefor16-18yearoldsfromlowerandmiddleincomebackgrounds
• ReplaceAdvancedLearnerLoansandupfrontcoursefeeswithdirectfunding,makingFEcoursesfreeatthepointofuse.
• DriveupqualityandconsistencyintheFEsectorby:o Encouragingcooperationandleadershipacrosscollegesand6thforms,improving
curriculumbreadthandqualityo Settingatarget,backedupbyfunding,forallFEteachingstafftohaveateaching
qualificationwithinfiveyears• Inrecognitionoftheroleplayedbyprivatesectorproviders,wewouldextendsupportfor
trainingtoteachersintheprivatesector• IncreasecapitalinvestmenttoequipcollegestodeliverT-levelsandanofficialpre-
apprenticeshiptraineeprogrammeApprenticeshipsEmployer-ledtrainingisthemosteffectivewayofmeetingourgrowingskillsgap.Laboursupportstheapprenticeshiplevy,butwilltakestepstoensurethateveryapprenticeshipisofahighquality.Labourwill:
• MaintaintheapprenticeshiplevywhiletakingmeasurestoensurehighqualitybyrequiringtheInstituteforApprenticeshipsandTechnicalEducationtoreportonanannualbasistotheSecretaryofStateonqualityoutcomesofcompletedapprenticeshipstoensuretheydeliverskilledworkersforemployersandrealjobsforapprenticesattheendoftheirtraining.
• SetatargettodoublethenumberofcompletedapprenticeshipsatNVQlevel3by2022• Giveemployersmoreflexibilityinhowthelevyisdeployed,includingallowingthelevytobe
usedforpre-apprenticeshipprogramme• GuaranteetradeunionrepresentationinthegovernancestructuresoftheInstituteof
Apprenticeships.• Settargetstoincreaseapprenticeshipsforpeoplewithdisabilities,careleaversandveterans
andensurebroadrepresentationofwomen,BAME,LGBTanddisabledpeopleinallkindsofapprenticeships
• Coverapprentices’travelcosts,whichcurrentlyruntoanaverageof£24aweek–aquarterofearningsifapprenticesareontheminimumwage
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• Consultonintroducingincentivesforlargeemployerstoover-trainapprenticeshipstofillskillsgapsinthesupplychainandthewidersector
• ReversecutstoUnionLearn• SetupaCommissiononlifelonglearningtaskedwithintegratingFEandHE
HigherEducationLabourbelieveseducationshouldbefree,andwewillrestorethisprinciple.Nooneshouldbeputoffeducatingthemselvesforlackofmoneyorthroughfearofdebt.Thereisarealfearthatstudentsarebeingpricedoutofuniversityeducation.Lastyearsawthesteepestfallinuniversityapplicationsforthirtyyears.SincetheConservativescametopower,universitytuitionfeeshavebeentrebledtoover£9,000ayear,andmaintenancegrantshavebeenabolishedandreplacedwithloans.Theaveragestudentnowgraduatesfromuniversity,andstartstheirworkinglife,withdebtsof£44,000.Labourwillreintroducemaintenancegrantsforuniversitystudents,andwewillabolishuniversitytuitionfees.UniversitytuitionisfreeinmanynorthernEuropeancountries,andunderaLabourgovernmentitwillbefreeinBritaintoo.
5. Fairwork
Workshouldprovidepeoplewithsecurityandfulfilment.Butfortoomanypeopleworkisinsecureanddoesnotmakeendsmeet.TheConservativesboastabouttherecoveryofemployment,butourlabourmarketisfailing.Realtermspayisstilllowerthanbeforethecrash,andjobsareincreasinglylowskilledandinsecure,withtherisingproportionofzerohourcontractsandagencywork.Labourwilltakedecisiveactiontoclampdownonexploitativepractices.ALabourgovernmentwillinvestinenforcementthroughanewMinistryofLabour,andempowerworkersandtheirtradeunions,becausewearestrongerwhenwestandtogether.Atthesametimeasstrengtheningworkers’rights,wewillmakeworkmorefulfillingbyusingpublicinvestmenttoupgradeoureconomyandcreatehighqualityjobs.WhiletheConservativesstandbackandallowinsecureworktospread,andbusinessestostruggle,Labourwillacttoguaranteegoodjobsandstrongbusinesses.RightsatworkThenextLabourgovernmentwillbringina20pointplanforsecurityandequalityatwork:
1. Giveallworkersequalrightsfromdayone,whetherpart-timeorfull-time,temporaryorpermanent–sothatworkingconditionsarenotdrivendown
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2. Banzerohourscontracts–sothateveryworkergetsaguaranteednumberofhourseachweek
3. Ensurethatanyemployerwishingtorecruitlabourfromabroaddoesnotundercutworkersathome-becauseitcausesdivisionswhenoneworkforceisusedagainstanother
4. RepealtheTradeUnionActandrolloutsectoralcollectivebargaining–becausethemosteffectivewaytomaintaingoodrightsatworkiscollectivelythroughaunion
5. Guaranteetradeunionsarighttoaccessworkplaces–sothatunionscanspeaktomembersandpotentialmembers
6. Introducefournewpublicholidays–bringingourcountrytogethertomarkourfournationalpatronsaints’days,sothatworkersinBritaingetthesameproperbreaksasinothercountries
7. Raisetheminimumwagetothelevelofthelivingwage(expectedtobeatleast£10perhourby2020)–sothatworkpays
8. Endthepublicsectorpaycap–becausepublicsectorworkersdeserveapayriseafteryearsoffallingwages
9. Amendthetakeovercodetoensureeverytakeoverproposalhasaclearplaninplacetoprotectworkersandpensioners–becauseworkersshouldn’tsufferwhenacompanyissold
10. Rolloutmaximumpayratiosof20:1inthepublicsectorandcompaniesbiddingforpubliccontracts-becauseitcannotberightthatwagesatthetopkeeprisingwhileeveryoneelse’sstagnates
11. Banunpaidinternships–becauseit’snotfairforsometogetalegupwhenotherscan’taffordto
12. Enforceallworkers’rightstotradeunionrepresentationatwork–sothatallworkerscanbesupportedwhennegotiatingwiththeiremployer
13. Abolishemploymenttribunalfees–sothatpeoplehaveaccesstojustice.14. Doublepaidpaternityleavetofourweeksandincreasepaternitypay–becausefathersare
parentstooanddeservetospendmoretimewiththeirnewbabies15. Strengthenprotectionsforwomenagainstunfairredundancy–becausenooneshouldbe
penalisedforhavingchildren16. Holdapublicinquiryintoblacklisting–toensurethatblacklistingtrulybecomesandremains
athingofthepast17. Giveequalitiesrepsstatutoryrights–sotheyhavetimetoprotectworkersfrom
discrimination18. Reinstateprotectionagainstthirdpartyharassment–becauseeveryonedeservestobesafe
atwork19. Usepublicspendingpowertodriveupstandards,includingonlyawardingpubliccontractsto
companieswhichrecognisetradeunions20. Introduceacivilenforcementsystemtoensurecompliancewithgenderpayauditing–so
thatallworkershavefairaccesstoemploymentandpromotionopportunitiesandaretreatedfairlyatwork
Aswellaslegislatingagainstzerohourscontracts,therearemanymoreworkersonshorthourscontracts(someonlyguaranteedsixtoeighthoursperweek),butwhoregularlyworkfarmore.Wewillstrengthenthelawsothatthosewhoworkregularhoursformorethan12weekswillhavearighttoaregularcontract.Workersneedstabilityandsecuritytoplantheirlivesandtheirfinances.WewillalsoscrapthechangesbroughtinbytheConservativesin2014toTUPE,whichweakenedtheprotectionsforworkerstransferringbetweencontractors.LabourwillmaintaintheACASEarlyConciliationSystemtotrytosolveworkplaceissuesquicklyandamicably.
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Wewillconsultwithemployersandtradeunionsonlegislatingforstatutorybereavementleave,fortimeoffworkafterthelossofclosefamilymembers.Wewillalsoconsultontougheningthelawagainstassaultingworkerswhohavetoenforcelawssuchasage-relatedsalesorticketingarrangements,andwhofaceregularabuse.Labourwillalsoconsultwithemployersandtradeunionsonpermittingsecureonlineballotingforindustrialactionvotes.WorkersinBritainareamongtheeasiestandcheapesttomakeredundant,meaningwhenmultinationalcompaniesaretakingdecisionstodownsizeBritishworkersareatadisadvantage.WewillconsultwithtradeunionsandindustryonreviewingredundancyarrangementstobringworkersinBritainmoreintolinewiththeirEuropeancounterparts.LabourwillprotectthecurrentcompromiseonSundaytradinghours.Self-employedworkersSelf-employmentcanbringmanybenefits,freedomsandflexibilitiestopeople–andisavitalandoftenentrepreneurialsectorofoureconomy.Butthereisalsomountingevidencethatworkersarebeingforcedintoself-employmentbyunscrupulousemployerstoavoidcostsandtheirdutiestoworkers.Labourwillclampdownonbogusself-employmentby:
• Shiftingtheburdenofproof,sothatthelawassumesaworkerisanemployeeunlessthe
employercanproveotherwise.• Imposingpunitivefinesonemployersnotmeetingtheirresponsibilities,helpingtodeter
othersfromdoingthesame• Involvingtradeunionsinenforcement,e.g.bygivingthemaseatontheexecutiveboardof
thenewMinistryofLabour• GivingtheMinistryofLabourtheresourcestoenforceworkers’rights• Banningpayrollcompanies,sometimesknownasumbrellacompanies,whichcreateafalse
structuretolimitemployers’taxliabilitiesandlimitworkers’rights• Givingemploymentagenciesandend-usersjointresponsibilityforensuringthattherightsof
agencyworkersareenforced• Rollingoutsectoralcollectivebargainingandstrengthentradeunionrights,because
empoweringpeopletoclaimtheirownrightsintheworkplaceisthemosteffectivemeansofenforcement.
Wewouldalsoextendtherightsofemployeestoallworkers–somethingthatwillmakeasubstantialandimmediatedifferencetothequalityoflifeofpeopleininsecurework.Buttherearerealconcernsthatrapidchangestotheworldofworkarerenderingexistingemploymentcategoriesoutdated.Labourrecognisesthatthelawoftenstrugglestokeepupwiththeever-changingnewformsofemploymentandwork,sowillsetupadedicatedcommissiontomodernisethelawaroundemploymentstatus.Newstatutorydefinitionsofemploymentstatuswouldreducetheneedforlitigationandmakeimprovecompliance.
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Thecommissionwillbeledbylegalandacademicexpertswithrepresentationfromindustryandtradeunions.SocialsecurityAftersevenyearsofrisingpovertyandinequality,Labourwillrebuildandtransformoursocialsecuritysystem.LiketheNHS,oursocialsecuritysystemisthereforallofusinourtimeofneed,providingsecurityanddignityinretirementandthebasicsinlifeshouldwebecomesickordisabled,orfallonhardtimes.DignityforPensionersLabourwillalwaysbeonthesideofpensionersandhelpensuresecurityanddignityforolderpeopleinretirement.AstheConservativesabandontheircommitmentstoolderpeople,Labourwillguaranteethestatepension“triplelock”throughoutthenextParliament.Itwillrisebyatleast2.5%ayearorbeincreasedtokeeppacewithinflationorearnings,whicheverishigherThewinterfuelallowanceandfreebuspasseswillalsobeguaranteedasuniversalbenefits.WewillprotectthepensionsofUKcitizenslivingoverseasintheEUorfurtherafield.Womenborninthe1950shavehadtheirstatepensionagechangedwithoutfairnotification.Thesewomendeservebothrecognitionfortheinjusticetheyhavesufferedandsomekindofcompensationfortheirlosses.Wewillextendpensioncreditto1950s-bornWASPIwomenwhosawtheirpensionagequietlypushedbackleavingmanyoftheminpoverty.Thismustneverhappenagain.SoLabourwilllegislatesothataccruedrightstothebasicstatepensioncannotbechanged,butfuturebenefitscan.Pensionageisduetoriseto66bytheendof2020.LabourrejectstheConservatives’proposaltoincreasethestatepensionageevenfurther,andwillcommissionanewreviewofthepensionage,specificallytaskedwithdevelopingaflexibleretirementpolicytoreflectboththecontributionsmadebypeople,thewidevariationsinlifeexpectancy,andthedifferentnatureofworkinglives.We’llrestoreconfidenceintheworkplacepensionsystemandputpeopleratherthanprofitatitscentre.Labourwillendripoffhiddenfeesandchargesandenablethedevelopmentoflargeefficientpensionsfundswhichwillmeanmorecashforschememembersandlowercostsforemployers.ALabourgovernmentwillcommittoanimmediatereviewofmineworkerspensionschemeandBritishCoalsuperannuationschemesurplussharingarrangementsbetweengovernmentandschemebeneficiaries.Dignityforthosewhocannotwork
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PovertyinBritainisrising–duetotheConservatives’attemptstobalancethebooksonthebacksofthepoorest.Theyhaveslashedsocialsecurityoverthelastsevenyears,leavingmorepeopleinpoverty,subjecttoapunitivesanctionsregime,andreliantonfoodbanksforsupport.LabourwillactimmediatelytoendtheworstexcessesoftheConservativegovernment’schanges.Wewill:
• Scrapthepunitivesanctionsregime• Scrapthebedroomtax• Reinstatehousingbenefitforunder-21s• Scrapbereavementsupportpaymentcuts
WewillalsoreviewthecutstoworkallowancesinUniversalCredit,andalsoreviewthedecisiontolimittaxcreditandUniversalCreditpaymentstothefirsttwochildreninafamily.TheTorieshavecompletelyfailedontheirpromiseofmakingworkpay,oftacklingthebarrierstoworkfacedbydisabledpeople.Laboursupportsasocialmodelofdisability.Peoplemayhaveaconditionoranimpairmentbutaredisabledbysociety.Weneedtoremovethebarriersinsocietythatrestrictopportunitiesandchoicesfordisabledpeople.WewillbuildonthepreviousLabourgovernment’scommitmenttodisabledpeoplein2009assignatoriestotheUNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities,andincorporateitintoUKlaw.LabourwillrepealthefollowingcutsinsocialsecuritysupporttodisabledpeoplethroughanewSocialSecurityBillpublishedinourfirstyearofofficeto:
• IncreaseESAby£30perweekforthoseinthework-relatedactivitygroupandrepealcutsinUCLCW
• Upratecarer’sallowanceby£11tothelevelofJobseekersAllowance• ImplementthecourtdecisiononPIPsothatthereisrealparityofesteembetweenthose
withphysicalandmentalhealthconditions.• ScraptheWorkCapabilityandPersonalIndependencePaymentassessmentsand
replacethemwithapersonalised,holisticassessmentprocesswhichprovideseachindividualwithatailoredplan,buildingontheirstrengthsandaddressingbarriers.
• Endthepointlessstressofreassessmentsforpeoplewithseverelong-termconditions• CommissionareportintoexpandingtheAccesstoWorkprogramme
Wewillchangethecultureofthesocialsecuritysystem,fromonethatdemonisespeopletoonethatissupportiveandenabling.AswellasscrappingtheConservatives’punitivesanctionsregime,wewillchangehowJobcentrePlusstaffareperformancemanaged.Labourwillstrengthenaccesstojusticefordisabledpeoplebyenhancingthe2010EqualityActenablingdiscriminationatworktobechallenged.WewillensurethatundertheIstanbul
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Convention,disabilityhatecrimeandviolenceagainstdisabledwomenisreportedannuallywithnationalactionsplanstoaddressthese.SecureHomesforallHomeisattheheartofallofourlives.It’sthefoundationonwhichweraiseourfamilies,thebedrockforourdreamsandaspirations.Butfortoomanypeople,thehousingpressurestheyfacearegettingworsenotbetter.Britainhasahousingcrisis–acrisisofsupplyandacrisisofaffordability.Aftersevenyearsoffailure,theConservativeshavenoplantofixthehousingcrisis.Since2010,housebuildinghasfallentoitslowestlevelsincethe1920s,roughsleepinghasriseneveryyear,rentshaverisenfasterthanincomes,therearealmost200,000fewerhome-owners,andnewaffordablehousebuildingisata24yearlow.Itdoesn’thavetobelikethis.Labourwillinvesttobuildoveramillionnewhomes.BytheendofthenextParliamentwewillbebuildingatleast100,000councilandhousingassociationhomesayearforgenuinelyaffordablerentorsale.LabourwillestablishanewDepartmentforHousingtofocusontacklingthecrisisandensurehousingisabouthomesforthemany,notinvestmentopportunitiesforthefew.Labour’snewhousingministrywillbetaskedwithimprovingthenumber,standardsandaffordabilityofhomes.WewilloverhaultheHomesandCommunitiesAgencytobeLabour’shousingdeliverybodyandgivecouncilsnewpowerstobuildthehomeslocalcommunitiesneed.Wewillprioritisebrownfieldsites,andprotectthegreenbelt.WewillstartworkonanewgenerationofNewTownstobuildthehomesweneedandavoidurbansprawl.Wewillmakethebuildingofnewhomes,includingcouncilhomes,aprioritythroughour[nationalinfrastructurefund],aspartofajoinedupindustrialandskillsstrategythatensuresavibrantconstructionsectorwithaskilledworkforceandrightsatwork.Labourwillnotonlybuildmore,wewillbuildbetter.Wewillinsulatemorehomestohelppeoplemanagethecostofenergybills,reducepreventablewinterdeaths,andtomeetourclimatechangetargets.Wewillconsultonnewrulestoprevent‘rabbithutch’homes.Whetherforrentortobuy,Labourwillimplementminimumspacestandardsfornewdevelopments.Wewillensurethatlocalplansaddresstheneedforolderpeople’shousing,ensuringthatchoiceanddownsizingoptionsarereadilyavailable.WewillkeeptheLandRegistryinpublichands,whereitbelongs.HomeownershipThenumberofhome-owninghouseholdshasfallenbyalmost200,000since2010,andby900,000forunder-45s..Labourwillbackfirst-timebuyerstobuythatspecialfirsthome.Thenumberofaffordabletohomestobuyhasplummetedbytwo-thirdsundertheConservatives,sowewillbuildthousandsmorelow-
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costhomesreservedforfirst-timebuyers.WewillguaranteeHelptoBuyfundinguntil2027togivelong-termcertaintytobothfirst-timebuyersandthehousebuildingindustry.Wewillalsogivelocalpeoplebuyingtheirfirsthome‘firstdibs’onnewhomesbuiltintheirareatogivethemconfidencethatnewhomeswillbeavailabletothemandtheirfamilies.AftersevenyearsoffailureundertheConservatives,Labourwillbuildthenewhomesfirst-timebuyersneed–justasLabourcouncilshavebeendoingrightacrossthecountry,buildinganaverageofnearly1000newhomesmorethanConservativecouncils.Wewillbackthosewhoowntheirhomes,includinghome-ownerswhoowntheirhomeasleaseholdersandwhoarecurrentlyunprotectedfromrisesin‘groundrents’fromdevelopersormanagementcompanies.ALabourGovernmentwillgiveleaseholderssecurityfromrip-offgroundrentsandendtheroutineuseofleaseholdhousesinnewdevelopments.PrivaterentersWewillendinsecurityforprivaterentersbyintroducingcontrolsonrentrises,moresecuretenanciesandnewconsumerrightsforrenters.Soaringrentsarearealproblem–leadingtomorefamilieslivingintemporaryaccommodation,moreroughsleeping,andmanynothavingenoughmoneytosaveupforadepositorforarainyday.Labourwillmakenewthree-yeartenanciesthenorm,withaninflationcaponrentrises.GiventheparticularpressuresinLondonwewilllookatgivingtheMayorofLondonthepowertogiverentersinLondonadditionalsecurity.Wewillalsoempowertenantstocalltimeonbadlandlordsbygivingrentersnewconsumerrights.Rentersarespending£9.6billionayearonhomeswhichthegovernmentclassesas‘non-decent’.Aroundaquarterofthisispaidbyhousingbenefit.ALabourgovernmentwouldintroducenewlegalminimumstandardstoensurepropertiesare‘fitforhumanhabitation’andempowertenantstotakeactioniftheirrentedhomesaresub-standard.Wewillreversethecrueldecisiontoabolishhousingbenefitfor18-21yearolds,whichrisksputtingevenmorevulnerableyoungpeopleonourstreets.CouncilandsocialtenantsUndertheConservatives,affordablehousebuildinghasfallentoa24yearlow.Labourwillbuildthegenuinelyaffordablehomestorentandbuythatthecountryneeds.Wewillremovegovernmentrestrictionsthatstopcouncilsbuildinghomesandbeginthebiggestcouncilbuildingprogrammeforatleast30years.WewillditchtheConservatives’banonlong-termcounciltenanciestogivecounciltenantssecurityintheirhome.Wewantmorepeoplehaveasecuretenancyinahomebuilttohighstandards.Labourwillscrapthepunitivebedroomtax,whichhascausedmanypeopletobeevictedfromtheirhomeandtheircommunitybythiscruelandunnecessarymeasure.MorecouncilhomeshavebeensoldoffundertheConservatives,onlyoneinfivehavebeenreplaced,despitelonghousingwaitinglists.Labourwillsuspendtheright-to-buytoprotect
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affordablehomesforlocalpeople,withcouncilsonlyabletoresumesalesiftheycanprovetheyhaveaplantoreplacehomessoldlike-for-like.HomelessnessHomelessnessisnotinevitableinacountryasdecentandwelloffasours,butsince2010thenumberofpeoplesleepingroughinshopdoorwaysandonparkbencheshasmorethandoubled.Thisshamesusall.Therecanbenoexcuses–itmustend.Fullstop.ThisgrowinghomelessnessshamestheConservativesmostofall.ThespirallingriseinstreethomelessnessresultsdirectlyfromdecisionsmadebyMinisterssince2010onhousing,andonfundingforcharitiesandcouncils.LabourwillsetoutanewnationalplantoendroughsleepingwithinthenextParliament,startingbymakingavailable4,000additionalhomesreservedforpeoplewithahistoryofroughsleeping.Wewillalsotakeactiontotackletherootcausesofhomelessness,includingsafeguardinghomelessnesshostelsandothersupportedhousingfromcrudeConservativescutstohousingbenefit.HealthcareforallNHSIn1945,intheaftermathofwarandnationalbankruptcy,itwasaLabourgovernmentthatfoundtheresourcestocreateaNationalHealthService–ourproudestachievement,providinguniversalhealthcareforallonthebasisofneed,freeatthepointofuse.LabourwillinvestinourNHS,togivepatientsthemodern,wellresourcedservicestheyneedforthe21stCentury.LabourwillensurethatNHSpatientsgettheworldclassqualityofcaretheyneed,andthatstaffareabletodeliverthestandardswhichpatientsexpect.WewillguaranteeandupholdthestandardsofservicetowhichpatientsarelegallyentitledundertheNHSConstitution.Byguaranteeingaccesstotreatmentwithin18weekswewilltakeonemillionpeopleoffNHSwaitinglistsbytheendoftheParliament.WewillguaranteepatientscanbeseeninA&Ewithinfourhoursandhelpanothermillionpeopleeachyear.ByproperlyresourcingtheNHS,Labourwillstoptheroutinebreachofsafelevelsofbedoccupancyandwewillendthescandalofmixedsexwards.WewilldelivertheCancerStrategyforEnglandinfullby2020,helping2.5millionpeoplelivingwithcancer.Andbyproperlyresourcingambulanceserviceswewillendthescandalofslowingambulanceresponsetimes.Labourwillfocusresourcesoncommunityservicestodelivercareclosertohomeanddeliveratruly21stCenturyhealthsystem.Wewillworktowardsanewmodelofcommunitycarewhichtakesintoaccountnotonlyprimarycarebutsocialcareandmentalhealthaswell.WewillincreasefundingtoGPservicestoensurepatientscanaccessthecaretheyneed.Andwewillhaltpharmacyclosuresandreviewprovisiontoensureallpatientshaveaccesstopharmacyservices,particularlyindeprivedorremotecommunities.LabourwilltacklethegrowingproblemofrationingofservicesandmedicinesacrossEngland,takingactiontoaddresspostcodelotteriesandmakingsurethatthequalityofcareyoureceivedoesnotdependonwhichpartofthecountryyoulivein.WewillensurethatNHSpatientsgetfastaccessto
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themosteffectivenewdrugsandtreatments.WewillinsistonvalueformoneyagreementswithpharmaceuticalcompaniestoensureNHSpatientsgetfastaccesstonewmedicines.TomakesurethatautisticpeopleareabletoaccessthewholeoftheircommunityandendsocialisolationLabourwillsettheambitionofmakingtheUKautism-friendly.Wewillensurethateveryonewithalong-termcondition,suchasthosewithdiabetes,willhavetherighttoaspecialisedcareplan,andaccesstoconditionmanagementeducation.Wewillensurehighquality,personalisedcareforpeopleapproachingtheendoftheirlife,whereverandwhenevertheyneedit.PublichealthForourhealthandcareservicestobesustainableinthelongtermweneedarenewedcommitmenttokeepingpeoplefitandwell.Labourwillfocusoureffortsonchildren’shealth,protectingthewellbeingofthenationforthedecadestocome.Labourwillinvestinchildren’shealth,bringinginanewGovernmentambitionforBritain’schildrentobethehealthiestintheworld.Wewillfighthealthinequalitiestobreakthescandalouslinkbetweenchildillhealthandpoverty.WewillintroduceanewIndexofChildHealthtomeasureprogressagainstinternationalstandardsandreportannuallyagainstfourkeyindicators:obesity,dentalhealth,under5sandmentalhealth.Wewillsetupanew£250mChildren’sHealthFundtosupportourambitions.AspartofadriveonhealthpreventionLabourwillincreasehealthvisitorandschoolnursenumbers.Wewillpublishanewchildhoodobesitystrategywithinthefirsthundreddays,withproposalsonadvertisingandfoodlabelling.WewillmakeaconcertedefforttowardsaddressingpoorchildhoodoralhealthinEngland.Wewillimplementastrategyforthechildrenofalcoholicsbasedonrecommendationsdrawnupbyindependentexperts.LabourwillimplementaTobaccoControlPlan,focussingonissuesofmentalhealthandchildrensmokers,alongwithgroupsinsociety,suchasBAMEandLGBTcommunities,withhighprevalenceoftheuseoftobaccoproducts.Lonelinessisanincreasingproblemforoursociety,andasJoCoxputit,“youngorold,lonelinessdoesn’tdiscriminate”.ALabourgovernmentwillcreateamoreequalsocietyforthemanybyworkingwithcommunities,civilsocietyandbusinesstoreduceloneliness.Labourwilladdresshistoricpublichealthinjustices.Wewillholdapublicenquiryintocontaminatedblood.Wewillholdapublicinquiryintomedicines,medicaldevicesandmedicalproductslicensingandregulation,includingValproate.ALabourGovernmentwouldmaintainourcommitmenttoimprovesexualhealthservices,especiallyHIVserviceswhichwillincludereducingtheratesofundiagnosedandlate-diagnosedHIV,endingthestigmaofHIVinsociety,andpromotingtheincreasedavailabilityoftestingandtreatment.NHSstaffToguaranteethebestpossibleservicesforpatientsLabourwillinvestinourhealthandcareworkforce.ALabourgovernmentwillstepinwithalongtermworkforceplanforourhealthservicewhichgivesstaffthesupporttheyneedtodothebestfortheirpatients.
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LabourwillscraptheNHSpaycap,putpaydecisionsbackintothehandsoftheindependentpayreviewbodyandgiveourNHSworkersthepaytheydeserve.LabourwillprotectpatientsandlegislatetoensuresafestaffinglevelsintheNHS.Labour’slongtermambitionisforourhealthsystemtohavethebesttrainedstaffintheworld,readytodealwithwhatevertheyfaceintheyearstocome.Labourwillre-introducebursariesandfundingforhealthrelateddegrees.Labourwillsupportdoctorstodeliverthebestcarepossiblebyinvestingintraining,educationanddevelopmentofdoctorsthroughouttheircareers.LabourwillimmediatelyguaranteetherightsofEUstaffworkinginourhealthandcareservices.LabourwillsupportNHSwhistleblowerstomakesurehealthservicestaffareabletospeakupinsupportofthebestpossiblestandardsforpatients.LabourwillmakeitacriminaloffencetoattackNHSstaff.NHSfundingLabourwillcommittoover£6billionextrainannualfundingthroughincreasingincometaxforthehighest5%ofearners,byincreasingtaxonprivatemedicalinsurance,andwewillfreeupresourcesbyhalvingthefeespaidtomanagementconsultants.LabourwillgiveboostcapitalfundingfortheNHS,toensurethatpatientsarecaredforinbuildingsandequipmentwhicharefitforthe21stCentury.AndwewillintroduceanewOBRforHealthbodytooverseehealthspendingandscrutinizehowitisspent.LabourwillhalttheNHS“SustainabilityandTransformationPlans”whicharelookingatclosinghealthservicesacrossEnglandandasklocalhealthgroupstoredrawtheplanswithafocusonpatientneedratherthanavailablefinances.Wewillcreateanewquality,safetyandexcellenceregulator-tobecalled"NHSExcellence".ThenextLabourgovernmentwillreverseprivatisationofourNHSandreturnourhealthserviceintoexpertpubliccontrol.LabourwillrepealtheHealth&SocialCareActthatputsprofitsbeforepatients.WewillreinstatethepowersoftheSecretaryofStateforHealthtohaveoverallresponsibilityfortheNHS.WewillintroduceanewlegaldutyontheSecretaryofStateandonNHSEnglandtoensurethatexcessprivateprofitsarenotmadeoutoftheNHSattheexpenseofpatientcare.TowardsaNationalCareServiceALabourgovernmentwillsecureafinanciallysustainablefutureforsocialcare.WewillprovidefundingtodealwiththeimmediatecrisisandputinplacethebuildingblocksforaNationalCareServicetoensuredignityandcareforall.TheConservativeshaveleftasocialcaresystemthatisincreasinglyfragileandunfitforpurpose.Despiterisingdemand,theConservativeschosetocutcouncilbudgets,meaning£4.6billionwascutfromadultsocialcare.Therearenowhalfamillionfewerpeoplegettingpublicly-fundedcarethanin2010and1.2millionolderpeoplehaveunmetcareneeds.Carecostshaveescalatedinnursingorresidentialcare.Self-fundersarenowsubsidisinglocalauthorityfundedresidentsbyaround40%.Oneintenpeopleover65nowfacelifetimecarecostsofover£100,000.Muchoftheburdenofcareisnowfallingonunpaidfamilycarers.
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Labourwillnotstandbyandleavethemostvulnerableinoursocietytofendforthemselves.Toaddresstheimmediatefundingcrisisinsocialcarewewillprovideanadditional£8billionoverthelifetimeofthenextParliamentforsocialcare,including£1billioninthefirstyear.Thiswillstabilisethecaresectorandensureproviderscanpayareallivingwagewithoutcuttingthequalityofcare.Wewillalsodriveupthequalityofcarebyworkingwithcouncilstoend15-minutecarevisitsandtotackletheexploitationofstaffonzero-hourscontracts.Wewillensurecareworkersarepaidtraveltime,givenaccesstotrainingandanoptiontochooseregularhours.Fortoolong,thecontributionthatunpaidcarersmakehasbeentakenforgranted.Asafirststep,LabourwillincreasetheCarer’sAllowanceforunpaidfull-timecarerstoalignthebenefitwithJobseeker’sAllowance.Thechallengesofourageingpopulationdemandabolderambitionforsocialcare-aNationalCareServicerootedinthetraditionsofourNationalHealthService,providinghighqualitycareforall.Inourfirstterm,followingpublicconsultationandinpartnershipwithprovidersandcommissioners,wewillreviewoptionstocreateaNationalCareServicefittomeetthedemographicandsocietalchallengesofourmodernage.Thiswillincludeconsultingonoptionsforsustainablefundingtoensurefundingisfairinitsimpactupondifferentgenerations,aswellasbetweenpeoplewithvaryinglevelsofwealth.MentalHealthMentalillhealthisthebiggestunaddressedhealthchallengeofourage.AroundoneinfourpeopleintheUKwillexperienceamentalhealthproblemeachyear.Yet,since2010mentalhealthfundinghasbeencut,thenumberofmentalhealthnurseshasfallenby6,600,andremainingmentalhealthbudgetshavebeenraidedtoplugholeselsewhereintheNHS.LabourwillworktoreversethedamagetomentalhealthservicesunderthisTorygovernment.Inordertoprotectservices,wewillring-fencementalhealthbudgetsandensurefundingreachesthefrontline.Wewillendthescandalofchildrenbeingtreatedonadultmentalhealthwardsandstoppeoplebeingsentacrossthecountry,awayfromtheirsupportnetworks,tosecurethetreatmenttheyneedbybringingforwardtheendingofoutofareaplacementsto2019.Labourwillalsobringanendtotheneglectofchildren’smentalhealth.Halfofpeoplewithmentalhealthproblemsasadultspresentwithsymptomsbytheageof14.Yet,acrossEnglandonly8%ofmentalhealthfundinggoestoservicesforchildrenandyoungpeople.InrecentyearsreferralstoChildandAdolescentMentalHealthServiceshaveincreasedbytwo-thirdsandthenumberofyoungpeoplepresentingtoA&Eunitswithpsychiatricconditionshasdoubled.Suicideisnowthemostcommoncauseofdeathforboysagedbetweenfiveandnineteen.
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Labourwillinvestinearlyinterventionbyincreasingtheproportionofmentalhealthbudgetsspentonsupportforchildrenandyoungpeople.Wewillensurethataccesstoacounsellingserviceisavailableforallchildreninsecondaryschools.Givingmentalhealththesamepriorityasphysicalhealthmeansnotonlyensuringaccesstoservices,butalsomakingimprovementtothoseservices.ChoiceisimportantinamodernNHSandpatientswhoreceivetheirtherapyofchoicehavebetteroutcomes.LabourwillthereforeaskNICEtoevaluatethepotentialforincreasingtherangeofevidence-basedpsychologicaltherapiesonoffer.SaferCommunitiesPolice&CrimeLastyear,therewereanestimated6.1millionincidentsofcrimeexperiencedbyadultsinEnglandandWalesalone.Almosteverypoliceforceinthecountryrecordedanincreaseincrimeoverthelastyear,withworryingrisesinsomeofthemostviolentoffences,includinggunandknifecrimeandhomicide.OnTheresaMay’swatch,policenumbershavereducedby20,000.Cutstothepoliceforceendangercommunitiesandendangerpoliceofficerstoo.Labour’sapproachtopolicingcrimewillbedifferent.Wewillsupportthepoliceintheperformanceoftheirduties.Wewillprovidetheequipmenttheyneedandthenumberstheyneed.Wewillworkwiththemtoensurethatourcommunitiesaresafer,forallofus.Wewillchampioncommunitypolicingpoliciesandincentivisegoodpolicingpractise,workingwithPoliceandCrimeCommissionersthroughoutthecountry.Labourwillrecruit10,000morepoliceofficerstoworkoncommunitybeats,equivalenttoatleastonemoreforeveryneighbourhoodinthecountry.Aneffectiveanti-terrorismstrategyhastocommandtheconfidenceofallcommunities.ButthecurrentPreventstrategyhasthepotentialtodriveawedgebetweentheauthoritiesandentirecommunities.SomefeeltheyhavebeenunfairlytargetedandsingledoutbecauseofsomefailingsinPrevent.IngovernmentLabourwillconductamajorreviewofthePreventprogramme.BordersBordersecurityisvitalinpreventingseriouscrimesincludingchildabduction,peopletrafficking,drugsmugglingormoderndayslavery.ContrarytotheConservativegovernment’srhetoric,theyhavenottakencontrolofourbordersorstrengthenedoursecurity.Instead,theyhavesuppressedtheindependentinspector’sreportshighlightingweaknessesinourbordersbecausetheyhavecuttheBorderForcebythousandsofpersonnel.Theywanttoreplaceourborderguardswithprivatesectorlandlords,teachers,medicalstaffandotherpublicsectorworkers,forcingthemtoprovideinformationtotheauthorities.
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Labourrecruit1,000moreborderguardstoaddtooursafeguardsandcontrols.JusticeWeallneedaccesstothejusticesystemtoprotectourrights,andtopunishthosewouldtakeawayourrightsandfreedoms.LabourwillsetouttomakeBritainafairsocietywithlibertiesforall,governedbytheruleoflaw,andinwhichthelawisupheldandenforcedequally.Justiceisbecomingthepreserveoftherich.Thosewhocanaffordalawyerandtogotothecourts.Fortheordinarymanorwoman,forthefootballfan,thestrikingworker,theenvironmentalactivist,thetradeunionist,thedisabilitybenefitclaimant;forthem,forus,alltoooften,justiceisdeniedandthetruthiscoveredup.Labourwillcampaignforfullinquiriesintohistoricinjustices,aswedidforHillsborough,andingovernmentwewillopeninquiriesintothescandalofcontaminatedblood,Orgreave,blacklisting,andwewillreleaseallpapersrelatingtotheShrewsbury24.Justiceisalsobeingerodedbythepoordecisionsofprivatisedassessmentsofdisabledpeople,bythewithdrawaloflegalaid,bytheremovalofappealrights,bythedelaysarisingfromover-crowdedcourtsandtribunals,andbythecostsoffeesactingasabarriertojustice.TheConservativeshavethreatenedtotearupourHumanRightsActandwithdrawfromtheEuropeanConventionofHumanRights.Labourwillpromoteaccesstojustice,seekpromptresolutionofdisputesandretainthestatutoryunderpinningsthatprotectusall,includingtheHumanRightsAct.Eligibilityforlegalaidhasbeenwithdrawnacrossawholerangeoflegalareas,indifferentjurisdictionsunderdifferentprocedures.Ithasproducedachillingeffectonthedeliveryoffairdecisionsinaccordancewiththelaw.WewillconsidertherecommendationsoftheAccesstoJusticeCommissionestablishedbyLordBach.Wewillimmediatelyre-establishentitlementstolegalaidintheprivatelawarenaofthefamilycourts.Theconsequencesofwithdrawalhavebeenshameful,includinganewrequirementforvictimsofdomesticabusetopaydoctorsforcertificationoftheirinjuries.Ourplanswillremovethatrequirement.Thejusticesystemcanbebewilderingandimposing.Therearemanyimprovementsthatcanbemadeinboththelawandinthecourtprocesses.ALabourgovernmentwillintroduceano-faultdivorceprocedure.WewillalsoreintroducelegalaidprovisionsforthepreparationofJudicialReview.Judicialreviewisanimportantwayofholdinggovernmenttoaccount.Webelievethatjudgesshouldnotbedeniedtheopportunitytocheckexcessiveabuseofexecutivepowerbytheestablishmentforthesakeofafewpounds.Labourwillextendtheprovisionoflegalaidentitlementtojudicialreview.
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ALabourgovernmentwillconsultonestablishinganenvironmentaltribunalLabourwillnotprohibitthecourtsfromraisingmoniestoprovideservices,butwewillintroducearatiotoestablishthemaximumdifferencebetweenactualcostsandchargeslevied.PrisonsOurcriminaljusticesystemisnotworking.Prisonsareovercrowdedandre-offendingratesaretoohigh.TheConservativestalkedofarehabilitationrevolution,andthenpromptlygaveup.Theirproposalnowistolockupmoreandmore,ignoringtheevidencethatourprisonsaretoooftendumpinggroundsforpeoplewhoneedtreatmentmorethantheyneedpunishment.Prisonshouldalwaysbealastresort,ourmostextremesanctionforunacceptablebehaviour.Itshouldneverbeasubstituteforfailingmentalhealthservices,orthewithdrawaloffundingfromdrugtreatmentcentres.TheToriesclaimtheywillbuildbigger,privatelyowned,privatelymanagedprisons.TherewillbenoprivateprisonsunderLabour.Westillneedtobetoughoncrimeandtoughonthecausesofcrime,too.Whatwedon’tneedistobeistoughontheworkersinthecriminaljusticesystem.Prisonandprobationofficershavetoughjobs.Theyneedtheresourcestodotheirjobs.Violenceagainstprisonofficersisincreasing.Riotsanddisturbancesinourprisonsareincreasingandrisingprisonescapesfrightenlocalpopulations.Ourproposaltoliftthepublicsectorpaycapshouldhelptoincreasetherecruitmentandretentionofprisonofficers.Labourwillalsohire3,000moreprisonofficers,whilereviewingthetrainingandprofessionaldevelopmentavailable.LeadingRicherLivesLocalcommunitiesCouncilsdelivervitallocalservicestoourcommunities,buttheirbudgetshavebeenslashedbyConservativecuts.Thishasledtoadeteriorationoflocalservices,frombincollectiontoroadrepair,andthelossofimportantcommunityassets,suchaslibraries,youthcentres,andwomen’srefuges.Labourbelievesindevolvingpowertolocalcommunities,butthatrequiresthenecessaryfundingfollows.Youcannotempowerlocalgovernmentifyouimpoverishit.Labouristhepartyofdevolutionandwebelieveinhandingbackpowertocommunities.Wewilldevolvepowersovereconomicdevelopment,completewiththenecessaryfunding.
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Itisthroughtheplanningsystemthatcommunitiescanshapethekindsofhighstreets,homesandamenitiesthattheywant.ButundertheConservatives,planninghasbeenender-resourcedanddisempowered,withdemocraticplanningauthoritiesunabletostanduptobigdevelopers.Asaresult,planningdecisionshavebecometooinfluencedbynarroweconomicconsiderations,withdevelopers’profittakingprecedenceovercommunitypriorities.ALabourgovernmentwillproperlyresourceandbolsterplanningauthoritieswithfullerpowerstoputpeopleandcommunitiesattheheartofplanning.Wewillupdatecompulsorypurchasepowerstomakethemmoreeffectiveasatooltodriveregenerationandunlockplanneddevelopment.UndertheConservativesnearly£400millionhasbeencutfromyouthservicesandover600youthcentreshaveclosed.Labourwillendthecutstoyouthservices.SureStart,andthesupportitgivestovulnerableandhard-to-reachmothers,wasoneofthegreatachievementsofthepreviousLabourgovernment,butundertheConservatives1,200SureStartcentreshavebeenlost.LabourwillprotectSureStartandensurethatnomorecentresclose.Wewillcontinuetosupportalltrainingroutesforsocialworkers,includingFrontline,andwillpreventtheprivatesectorrunningchildprotectionservices.Wewilldeliverearlierprotectiontovictimsofabusebystrengtheningmandatoryreporting.Andwewillrefocussocialcaretoworkwithfamiliesinlocalcommunities,topreventchildrenbecomingatriskofcare.Labourwillsupportfurtherregulationofcommercialfosteringagencies,aswellascommissioningareviewintoestablishinganationalfosteringservice.Labourwillfundchildburialfeesforbereavedparents.Librariesarevitalsocialassets,valuedbycommunitiesacrossthecountry.Wewillensurelibrariesarepreservedforfuturegenerationsandupdatedwithwi-fiandcomputerstomeetmodernneeds.Wewillreintroducelibrarystandardssothatgovernmentcanassessandguidecouncilsindeliveringthebestpossibleservice.LabourwillendtheclosureofCrownPostOfficebrancheswhichplayamajorroleinservingtheircommunities.WewillalsosetupacommissiontoestablishaPostBank,ownedbythePostOfficeandprovidingafullrangeofbankingservicesineverycommunity.Labourwillgivecommunitiesmorepowertoshapetheirtowncentres,bystrengtheningpowerstoprotectPostOffices,communitypharmacies,highstreetbanks,localpubsandindependentshops,andpromotemeasurestodecreasehighstreetvacancies.TheConservativegovernment’sprivatisationofRoyalMailwasahistoricmistake,sellingoffanothernationalassetonthecheap.Labourwillreversethisprivatisationattheearliestopportunity,becauseitisaprofitablecompanythatshouldstillbegivingareturntothemanynotthefew,andbecausekeynationalinfrastructurelikeapostalsystemisbestdeliveredinpublicownership.WewillsetupaNationalReviewofLocalPubstoexaminethecausesforthelarge-scaledemiseofpubs,aswellastheestablishmentofajointtaskforcethatwillconsiderfuturesustainability.
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WewillreducethemaximumstakeonFixedOddsBettingTerminalsfrom£100to£2.Thesehighlyaddictivemachinesinbookmakersacrossthecountryhavebecomeaproblemformanyfamiliesandcommunities.Theyallowplayerstogambleaway£100every20seconds,encouragingpeopletochasetheirlosses.Labourwillalsolegislatetoincreasethedelayinbetweenspinsonthesegamesinordertoreducetheaddictivenatureofthegames.LabourwillhaltthecutstotheFire&Rescueservice.TheConservativeshavecut10,000firefighterjobsandcloseddozensoffirestations.Asaresult,responsetimeshavegotslowerandlivesputatrisk.Labourwillconsultonestablishingnationalminimumstandardsfortheservice.LabourwillgivetheFireandRescueServicesastatutorydutytoco-ordinatefloodresponses.Wewillconsiderproposalstore-introduceanationalpaystructurefordedicatedlocalgovernmentstaff,andgivemembersoftheLocalGovernmentPensionSchemefulltrusteestatustohelpcontrolinvestmentsandreducefeesandcharges.ThisConservativegovernmenthastakenruralcommunitiesforgranted,withchronicunderinvestmentintransport,broadbandandpublicservices,includingtheclosureoflocalschools,postoffices,andlibraries.Ruralinfrastructureandindustryhasbeenneglected.Labourwillinvestinbroadband,housingandtransporttocreatejobsandensurethatthenation’sprosperityisfeltbeyondourlargetownsandcities.Labour’snationalinvestmentplansincludecoastalprotections,betterfloodmanagementandthebroadbandand4Gextensionswhichwillunderpinthefuturesuccessofruralsmallbusinesses.Ruralcouncilsdeliverpublicservicesdifferently,andthisneedstobereflectedinfundingallocationmechanisms.Wewillconsiderthesedifferencesinourre-evaluationofthebusinessrateschemes.Wewillintroducearural-proofingprocesssothatallourlaws,policiesandprogrammesconsidertheimpactonruralcommunities.LabourwillsupporttourismattheheartofGovernment.Thetourismindustryrepresents9.6%ofUKemployment,4.9%ofexports,and9%ofGDP,butitsimportanceistoooftenforgotten.Labourwillensurethattourismbecomesanationalpriorityagain.Wewillreinstatethecross-Whitehallministerialgroupontourism,andensurethatgovernmentministersacrossdepartmentsunderstandhowtheirrolesfitintothenationaltourismagenda.TheConservativeshavefailedtoprovideaclear,ambitiousorsustainablevisionforthefutureofthefarming,foodandfishingindustries.WewillexpandtheroleoftheGroceriesCodeAdjudicatortoensuresuppliersandconsumersgetafairdealWewillreconfigurefundsforfarmingandfishingtosupportsmallertraders,localeconomies,communitybenefitsandsustainablepracticesWewillallowEUworkersemployedacrossfarming,fishingandfoodmanufacturingtoremainintheUKandreinstatetheSeasonalAgriculturalWorkersScheme.
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WewillintroduceanewAgriculturalSectorCounciltounderpinemploymentstandardsandwagesWewillmakeutilitycompaniesreturnroadstoaconditionnoworsethanwhentheystarteddigging.TransportLabourwillinvestinamodern,integrated,accessibletransportsystemthatisreliableandaffordable.OurtransportsystemsillustratetheabjectfailureofTorypolicies:relentlessderegulation,privatisationandfragmentation.Theysaywegetchoiceandefficiencybuttherealityoftheirtransportprivatisationshasbeenthatservicesarelessreliable,safetyiscompromised,fareshaverisen,ticketinghasbecomecomplicatedandpublichealthhasworsened.OnrailwepaythehighestfaresinEuropeforanincreasinglyunreliableandovercrowdedservice.Thebeneficiariesofpublicfundingsiphonedoffthroughtransportprivatisationshavebeentherocketingearningsofdirectors,dividendsforshareholders,andthecoffersofoverseasgovernments.Adifferentsystemispossible.ALabourgovernmentwillprioritisepublicserviceoverprivateprofit.Andwewillstartbybringingourrailwaysbackintopublicownership,asfranchisesexpire.ALabourgovernmentwillintroduceaPublicOwnershipoftheRailwaysBilltorepealtheRailwaysAct1993underwhichtheConservativesprivatisedourrailways.Inpublicownership,wewilldeliverrealimprovementsforpassengersbyfreezingfares,introducingfreewi-fiacrossthenetwork,ensuringsafestaffinglevelsandendingdriveronlyoperation,andbyimprovingaccessibilityfordisabledpeople.Apubliclyownedrailwaysystemcanbethebackboneofourplansforintegratedtransport.ItwillbebuiltontheplatformofNetworkRail,alreadyinpublicownership,andconsiderestablishinganewpublicrollingstockcompany.ALabourgovernmentwillcompletetheHS2highspeedraillinefromLondonthroughBirminghamtoLeedsandManchester,andthenintoScotland,consultingwithcommunitiesaffectedabouttheoptimalroute.ALabourgovernmentwillinvesttoregeneratethelocalandregionaleconomiesacrossthewholecountry,sothateveryareagetsitsfairshareoftransportinvestment.ALabourgovernmentwilllinkHS2withothernewinvestments,suchasCrossrailoftheNorth.ToharnesstheeconomicpotentialofnewtechnologiesandsciencewewillcompletetheScienceValetransportarc,fromOxfordtoCambridgethroughMiltonKeynes.Toprepareforglobalnewtradearrangements,wewillstudythefeasibilityofportdevelopmentinSouthamptonandAvonmouthaswellasLiverpool,HullandImmingham.
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InLondon,toensureourcapitalcontinuestoprosper,wewillbuildCrossrail2anddevolveresponsibilitiesforrunningthecommutertrainlinestotheTransportforLondonauthority.WewillinvestinScotland,WalesandNorthernIreland,too,workingwithdevolvedadministrationsthroughtheNationalInfrastructureCommission.Ourplansforwillencourageandenablepeopletogetoutoftheircars,forbetterhealthandacleanerenvironment.Acrossthecountrywewillenablethecreationofmunicipalbuscompanies,publiclyrunforpassengersnotprofit.Wewillintroduceregulationstodesignateandprotectroutesofcriticalcommunityvalue,includingthosethatservelocalschoolshospitalsandisolatedsettlementsinruralareas.Wewillbetterregulatethelicensedtaxiandprivatecarriagehiresectorsintheknowledgethatnewtechnologies,consumerserviceandpublicsafetyallrequirethecompetitiveplayingfieldbetweenthesesectorstobelevelled.WewillinvitetheNationalInfrastructureCommissiontorecommendthenextstagesfordevelopingandupgradingtheNationalCycleNetwork.Wewillcontinuetoupgradeourhighwaysandimproveroadworksatknownbottlenecks.TheA1North,theSevernBridgeandtheA30provideessentialconnectionsandrequireoururgentconsideration.Wewillrefocustheroadsbuildingandmaintenanceprogrammesonroadsafety,connectingourcommunities,feedingpublictransporthubsandrealisinguntappedeconomicpotential.Ourrailfreightprogrammeonapubliclyownedrailwaywillleaveourroadsfreerandouraircleaner.LaboursupportstheexpansionofaviationcapacityandwewillcontinuetosupporttheworkoftheAirportsCommission.WewillcontinueworkingwithourneighboursthroughtheEuropeanUnion’sHighwaysoftheSeasandbynegotiatingtoretainmembershipoftheCommonAviationAreaandOpenSkiesarrangements.EnvironmentInvestinginourenvironmentisinvestinginourfuture.Wewilldefendandextendexistingenvironmentalprotections.Wewillchampionsustainablefarming,foodandfishingbyinvestinginandpromotingskills,technology,marketaccessandinnovation.TheConservativesbroketheirpromisetobethe‘greenestgovernmentever’.Theyhaveallowedfrackinginnationalparks,evadedtheirresponsibilitiesonairquality,andcutthefundingforflooddefences.Thefutureofourfarming,foodandfishingindustrieshangsinthebalance,tobeusedasnegotiatingleverageinBrexitnegotiations.
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OnlyaLabourgovernmentwillprioritiseasustainable,longtermfutureforourfarming,fishingandfoodindustries,investinruralandcoastalcommunitiesandguaranteetheprotectionandadvancementofenvironmentalstandards.TheConservativesthreatenedbonfireofredtape,aspartofBrexit,isathreattoourenvironmentalprotectionsandtothequalityofourlives.Theirrecordoncombatingclimatechangeandenvironmentaldamagehasbeenoneofinactionandbrokenpromises.Thebalanceneedsresetting:ourairiskillingus,ourfarmsfaceanuncertainfuture,ourfishstocksarecollapsing,ouroceansareusedasdumpinggrounds,ourforests,GreenBelt,NationalParks,AreasofOutstandingNaturalBeautyandSitesofSpecialScientificInterestareallunderthreat.LabourwillintroduceanewCleanAirActtodealwiththeTorylegacyofillegalairquality.WewillestablishBlueBeltsintheseasandoceanssurroundingourisland.Wewillsetguidingtargetsforplasticbottledepositschemes,workingwithfoodmanufacturersandretailerstoreducewasteWewillprotectourbeesbyprohibitingneonicotinoidsWewillworkwithfarmersandforesterstoplantamilliontreesofnativespeciestopromotebiodiversityandbetterfloodmanagementUnliketheConservativeswhoattemptedtoprivatisethem,Labourwillkeepourforestsinpublichands.AnimalWelfareAnimalsinourfoodchainneedprotection.Domesticanimalsrequirestrongerprotectionfromcruelty.Wildanimalsneedasustainableecosystem.Ourstewardshipoftheenvironmentneedstobefoundedonsoundprincipleandbasedonscientificassessment.Labour’svisionisfortheUKtoleadtheworldwithhighanimalwelfarestandardsinthewild,infarmingandwithdomesticanimals.WewillceasethebadgercullwhichspreadsBovineTBWewillusereconfiguredfundingstreamstopromotecrueltyfreeanimalhusbandryandconsultonwaystoensurebetterenforcementofagreedstandardsWewillprohibitthethirdpartysaleofpuppies,introduceatotalbanonivorytrading,andsupportthebanonwildanimalsincircuses.Labourbannedfoxhunting,TheresaMayopposedit.OnlyaLabourgovernmentwillmaintaintheban.Cultureforall
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Britain'screativeindustriesaretheenvyoftheworld,asourceofnationalpride,adriverofinwardinvestmentandtourismandasymbolofthekindofcountrywearenowandaspiretobeinthefuture.AsBritainleavestheEUwewillputourworld-classcreativesectorattheheartofournegotiationsandfutureindustrialstrategy.Weneedtodomoretoopentheartsandcreativeindustriestoeveryone.Wewillintroducea£1billionCulturalCapitalFundtoupgradeourexistingculturalandcreativeinfrastructuretobereadyforthedigitalageandinvestincreativeclustersacrossthecountry,basedonasimilarmodeltoenterprisezones.Thefundwillbeavailableoverafive-yearperiod,administeredbytheArtsCouncil.Itwillbeamongthebiggestartsinfrastructurefundsever,transformingthecountry’sculturallandscape.Labourwillmaintainfreeentrytomuseumsandinvestinourmuseumsandheritagesector.ConservativecutstotheArtsCouncilandlocalauthoritieshavecreatedaverytoughfinancialclimateformuseums,withsomeclosingorreducingtheirservices,andothersstartingtochargeentryfees.TheCulturalCapitalFundwillhaveaparticularfocusonprojectsthatcouldincreasemuseums’andgalleries’incomeandviability.Labourwillendthecutstolocalauthoritybudgetstosupporttheprovisionoflibraries,museumsandgalleries.WewilltakestepstowidenthereachoftheGovernmentArtCollectionsothatmorepeoplecanenjoyit.WewillcontinuetomarktheongoingcentenaryoftheFirstWorldWar,andthesacrificeofallthosewhodied.Labourremainscommittedtohonouringtheroleofallwhohaveservedourcountry,includingtheSikh,HinduandMuslimsoldierswhofoughtforBritain.LabourwillintroduceanartspupilpremiumtoeveryprimaryschoolinEngland–a£160mperyearboostforschoolstoinvestinprojectsthatwillsupportculturalactivitiesforschoolsoverthelonger-term.Wewillputcreativitybackattheheartofthecurriculum,reviewingtheEBaccperformancemeasuretomakesureartsarenotsidelinedfromsecondaryeducation.Labourwilllaunchanationwidecreativecareersadvicecampaigninschoolstodemonstratetherangeofcareersandopportunitiesavailableandtheskillsrequiredinthecreativeindustries,fromthetechsectortotheatreproduction.Beingaperformerisagreatcareer,buttoooftenthecultureoflowornopaymeansitishardforthosewithoutwell-offfamiliestosupportthem.Wewillworkwithtradeunionsandemployerstoagreesectorspecificadviceandguidelinesonpayandemploymentstandardsthatwillmakethesectormoreaccessibletoall.Wewillimprovediversityonandoffscreen,workingwiththefilmindustryandpublicserviceandcommercialbroadcasterstofindrapidsolutionstoimprovediversity.Werecognisetheseriousconcernaboutthe“valuegap”betweenproducersofcreativecontentandthedigitalservicesthatprofitfromitsuse,andwillworkwithallsidestoreviewthewaycreatorsandartistsarerewardedfortheirworkinthedigitalage.Musicvenuesplayavitalroleinsupportingthemusicindustry’sinfrastructureandensuringahealthymusicindustrycontinuesinBritain.Labourwillreviewextendingthe£1,000pubreliefbusinessratesschemetosmallmusicvenues.
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Weallneedtoworkhardertokeepchildrensafeonline.Labourwillensurethattechcompaniesareobligedtotakemeasuresthatfurtherprotectchildrenandtackleonlineabuse.Wewillensurethatyoungpeopleunderstandandareabletoeasilyremovecontenttheysharedontheinternetbeforetheyturned18.MediaTheBBCisanationalassetwhichweshouldallbeproudof.UnliketheConservatives,Labourwillalwayssupportitandupholditsindependence.WewillensuretheBBCandpublicservicebroadcastinghasahealthyfuture.LabouriscommittedtokeepingChannel4inpublicownershipandwillguaranteethefutureofWelsh-languagebroadcasterS4C.VictimsofphonehackinghavebeenletdownbyaConservativegovernmentthatpromisedthemjustice,butfailedtofollowthrough.WewillimplementtherecommendationsofpartoneoftheLevesonInquiryandcommenceparttwooftheinquirythatwilllookintothecorporategovernancefailuresthatallowedthehackingscandaltooccur.LocalnewspapersandbroadcastinginBritainareanimportantpartofourdemocracyandourculture.Weareconcernedaboutclosuresoflocalmediaoutletsandthereductionsinnumberoflocaljournalists.Labourwillholdanationalreviewintolocalmedia.SportSportmustberunintheinterestsofthosewhoparticipateinitandloveit,notjustforaprivilegedfew.Wewillgivefootballsupporterstheopportunitytohaveagreatersayinhowtheirclubsarerun,legislatingforaccreditedsupporterstruststoappointandremoveatleasttwoclubdirectorsandtopurchaseshareswhenclubschangehands.Wewillreviewfanparticipationinsportsgovernancemorewidely.Sportingeventsmustbeopenandaccessibletoall.Wewillpushsportsauthoritiestomakerapidimprovementsonaccessprovisionfordisabledfans.LabourwillensurethePremierLeaguedeliversonitspromisetoinvest5%ofitstelevisionrightsincomeintothegrassrootstohelpthenextgenerationofplayersandcoaches,andimprovefacilitiesandpitches.ThePremierLeaguehassofarfailedtodoso,despitelucrativenewdomesticandinternationalTVdeals.WewillworkwithinterestedcitiestobackaUKbidtohostthe2022CommonwealthGames,followingtheannouncementthatDurbanwillnolongerstagetheevent.ThebrokenticketingmarketintheUKmeansticketsselloutinstantlyandareputupatvastlyinflatedpricesontickettoutwebsites.Labourwillenforceanti-botslegislationandimplementtherecommendationsoftheWatersonReviewtoensurefairnessforfans.ExtendingDemocracyAswechangeourconstitutionalrelationshipwithEuropewemustalsoadjustourownarrangements.JustasmanyfeltthatpowerwastoocentralisedandunaccountableinBrussels,somanyfeelthataboutWestminster.
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ALabourgovernmentwillestablishaconstitutionalconventiontoexamineandadvisereformofthewayBritainworksatafundamentallevel.Wewillconsultonitsformandtermsofreferencebutouraimisclear:wewillinviterecommendationstochecktheprivilegesoftheeliteandgivepowerbacktothepeople.Thisisaboutwherepowerandsovereigntylies–inpolitics,theeconomy,thejusticesystem,andinourcommunities.LabourwillestablishaConstitutionalConventiontotakeforwardthedebateaboutanewconstitutionalsettlementfortheentireUK,withEnglandasmuchasapriorityasScotland,WalesandNorthernIreland.TheConventionwilllookatextendingdemocracylocally,regionallyandnationally.Ourfundamentalbeliefisthatthesecondchambershouldbedemocraticallyelected.IntheinterimperiodwewillseektoendthehereditaryprincipleandreducethesizeofthecurrentHouseofLordsaspartofawiderpackageofconstitutionalreformtoaddressthegrowingdemocraticdeficitacrossBritain.WewillextendtheFreedomofInformationActtoprivatecompaniesthatrunpublicservicesWewillreducethevotingageto16.At16youareeligibletopaytax,getmarriedorevenjointhearmy.Youdeserveavote.WewillsafeguardourdemocracybyrepealingtheLobbyingAct,whichhasgaggedcharities,andintroduceatougherstatutoryregisteroflobbyists.EnglandWeneedarelationshipofequalswithdevolvedadministrations.LabourwillcreatearoleforaMinisterforEngland,whowillsitundertheSecretaryofStateforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment,andwillworkwiththeSecretaryofStateforScotland,WalesandNorthernIreland.Wewillrestoreregionalofficestoincreasecontactbetweencentralandlocalgovernmentontheground.Labourwillalsoremovetherequirementfordirectlyelectedmayorsincombinedauthorities,whilekeepingthatasanoption.ScotlandLabouropposesasecondScottishindependencereferendumandwillcampaigntirelesslytoensurethatthedesiretoremainapartoftheUKisrespected.WewillestablishaScottishNationalBankunderScottishcontrolandbackedbytheNationalInvestmentBankwith£20billionoflendingpowertodeliverfundstolocalprojectsandScotland’ssmallbusinessescreatingworkandstimulatingtheeconomy.Wewillsetupaninquiryintoblacklisting,andwillalsourgethegovernmentatHolyroodtoholdaninquiryintotheactionsofScottishpoliceforcesduringtheminers’strikes.
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WalesWeareproudoftheachievementsoftheWelshLabourGovernmentanditsrecordofdelivery.IngovernmentwewillworkinpartnershipwiththeadministrationinCardifftostandupforthepeopleofWales,protectpublicservices,andensureafairfundingsettlement.NorthernIrelandThepeacewehavetodayNorthernIrelandisduetothecourageousendeavoursofthoseonallwhosideswhohavebeenbraveenoughtobuildit.TheGoodFridayAgreement,whichLabourhelpedtonegotiate,isoneofthegreatestachievementsofLabourinoffice.LabouriscommittedtosupportingStormontandthefulloperationoftheNorthernIrelandAssembly,andworkingwithallsidestodeliveramorepeacefulandprosperouscountry.AmoreequalsocietyAmoreequalsocietyisnotjustaboutthemoneyinourbankaccounts,itisaboutrespectforeachotherandtherightofeveryonenottobeheldbackbyprejudiceordiscrimination.Labourhasfoughtforequalitythroughoutourexistence–ourfirstleader,KeirHardie,backedthesuffragettes,anditwasLabourgovernmentsthatbroughtintheEqualPayAct,theRaceRelationsActs,andtheEqualityActs.WeestablishedtheEqualityandHumanRightsCommission(EHRC)toeliminatediscrimination.TheConservativescutstotheEHRC,slashingitsbudgetbytwo-thirds,revealstheirrealattitudetoissuesofequalityanddiscrimination.Thesecutshavebeenmadeamidtheriseinhatecrimerecordedbythepoliceinthelastyear.ThecommissionhasrecognisedstatusbytheUnitedNationsinitsimportantroleinholdinggovernmentandorganisationstoaccountontheirdutiesundertheEqualitiesAct.LabourwillmaketheEHRCtrulyindependent,notpartoftheGovernmentitismeanttoscrutinise,andgiveittheappropriatefundingtocarryoutitsfunctions.LabourwillalsoconsultonmakingterminalillnessaprotectedcharacteristicundertheEqualityActtoprotectagainstworkplacediscrimination,buildingontheDyingtoWorkcampaign.ALabourGovernmentwillconsultonanEconomicEqualityBilltotackleentrenchedinequality.TheConservativeshavetalkedthetalkonequalitywhileimplementingeconomicpoliciesthatmakelifeharderforwomen,blackandethnicminorities,thedisabledandtheLGBTcommunity.Labour’sanalysisoftheConservativesautumnstatementshowedthat86percentofthegainsmadebythegovernmentthroughtaxandbenefitcutschangescamefromwomen,anincreasefrom81percentthepreviousyear.Women
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TheadvancesforwomeninBritainandaroundtheworldhavebeenfoughtandwonbydeterminedwomenworkingtogetherforrealchangeofteninthefaceofresistanceandevenabuse.Labourhasaproudrecordonprogressingwomen’srightsandfreedoms.WebroughtintheEqualPayAct,theSexDiscriminationAct,theEqualityAct,theminimumwageandintroducedSureStart.OurswillbeaGovernmentforwomen,withaCabinetofatleast50%women,thatfightsinequalityandmisogynyineverypartofsociety.Women’srights,humanrights,willbeattheheartofLabour’sfightforafairerandmoreequalBritain.WewillbuildonLabour’spastachievementsandpushforfullequalityforwomen:financially,intheworkplace,infamiliesandhomes,onlineandinpublicspaces.ALabourGovernmentwillgenderauditallpolicyandlegislationforitsimpactonwomenbeforeimplementation.Labourwillcontinuetoensureawoman’srighttochooseasafe,legalabortion–andwewilllegislatetoextendthatrighttowomeninNorthernIreland.Violenceagainstwomenandgirlscontinuestobeaglobalepidemicaffectinganestimatedoneinthreewomenworldwide.IntheUK,onaveragetwowomenarekilledbytheircurrentoraformerpartnereveryweek.UndertheConservatives,overathirdofalllocalauthorityfundingtodomesticandsexualviolencewasalreadycutby2012.Labourwillappointanewcommissionertoenforceminimumstandardsintacklingdomesticandsexualviolence.AViolenceAgainstWomenCommissionerwouldalsoprovidestablecentralfundingforwomen’srefugesandrapecrisiscentresandencouragesharingofbestpracticebetweenlocalauthorities.MaternitydiscriminationundertheConservativesisoutofcontrol,almostdoublinginthepasttenyears.Manymothersareluctanttoraisecomplaintsaboutdiscriminationandunfairtreatment.UnlawfulmaternityandpregnancydiscriminationisnowmorecommoninBritain’sworkplacesthaneverbefore,with54,000pregnantwomenandnewmothersforcedoutoftheirjobsin2015.Wewillalsoreversetheunfairemploymenttribunalfeeswhichliterallypricepeopleoutofjustice.AndLabourwillextendthetimeperiodforapplyingformaternitydiscriminationtotheemploymenttribunalfromthreetosixmonths.LGBTEqualityLabourhasaproudrecordchampioningthefightforLGBTequality.WeabolishedSection28,equalisedtheageofconsent,createdcivilpartnerships,anditwasonlythroughLabourvotesthatequalmarriagebecamelaw.However,thereisstillalongwaytogoissuessuchaseducation,equalaccesstopublicservices,levelsofLGBThatecrime,andmentalandphysicalwellbeing.ALabourgovernmentwillreformtheEqualityAct2010toensureitprotectsTranspeoplebychangingtheprotectedcharacteristicof‘genderassignment’to‘genderidentity’andremoveotheroutdatedlanguagesuchas‘transsexual’.LabourwillbringthelawonLGBThatecrimesintolinewithhatecrimesbasedonraceandfaith,bymakingthemaggravatedoffences.TotacklebullyingofLGBTyoungpeople,Labourwillensurethatallteachersreceiveinitialandongoingtrainingontheissuesstudentsfaceandhowtoaddressthem.AndwewillensurethatthenewguidanceforrelationshipsandsexeducationisLGBTinclusive.
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Likewise,wewillensureallfrontlinehealthandsocialcareprofessionalsreceiveongoingtrainingtounderstandandmeettheneedsofLGBTpatientsandserviceusers.LabourwillensurethatNHSEnglandcompletesthetrialprogrammetoprovidePrEPasquicklyaspossible,andfullyrolloutthetreatmenttohighriskgroupstohelpreduceHIVinfection.DiversecommunitiesTheLabourPartyisthepartyofequality.Weseektobuildasocietyfreefromallformsofracism,anti-SemitismandIslamophobia.Weshouldallbedeeplytroubledbytheriseinraciallyaggravatedattacksandracehatecrimethisyear.Anti-Semiticincidentsarealsoontheriseoncemoreandwearecommittedtocombattingthistrendwithadequateresourcesandfirmpoliticalwill.CommissioningareportonourownPartywasanunprecedentedstepinBritishpolitics,demonstratingacommitmenttotacklingprejudicewhereveritisfound.Labourisalreadyactingonrecommendations,includingreformofinternaldisciplinaryprocedurestomakethemfirmerandfairer,andexpansionoftrainingtotackleanti-Semitism.Onamatterofsuchimportance,Laboururgesalldemocraticpoliticalpartiestodothesame.WewillendracismanddiscriminationagainstGypsy,RomaandTravellercommunities,andprotecttherighttoleadanomadicwayoflife.BlackandAsianworkersstillsufferamassivepaygap.Byintroducingequalpayauditrequirementsonlargeemployers,Labourwillclosethepaygap.Bymakingtheminimumwageareallivingwage,wewillbenefitethnicminorityworkerswhoaremorelikelytobeonlowpay.WewillimplementtheParkerReviewrecommendationstoincreaseethnicdiversityontheboardsofBritain’slargestcompanies.DisabledpeopleOverthelastsevenyearsofConservativegovernment,disabledpeoplehavebornethebruntofcutstobenefitsandservices.Andpeoplewithdisabilitieshavebeenvilifiedwithdivisiverhetoriclike‘scroungers’and‘shirkers’.Inthisclimate,recordeddisabilityhatecrimehasincreased.LastyeartheUNpublishedareportconcludingthattheConservativegovernmenthadcommitted“grave,systematicviolationsoftherightsofpersonswithdisabilities.”Currently4.2milliondisabledpeopleliveinpovertyinBritain,andthedisabilityemploymentgapremainsstubbornlyhigh.Labourbelievesinthesocialmodelofdisability–thatitissocietywhichdisablespeople,anditisourjobtoremovethosebarriers.ThepreviousLabourgovernmentsignedtheUNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities(UNCRPD).ThenextLabourgovernmentwillsigntheUNCRPDintoUKlaw.
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Labourwillacttotacklediscrimination,removebarriersandensuresocialsecuritydeliversdignityandempowerment,notisolationandstigma.LabourwillgiveBritishSignLanguagefullrecognitionasarecognisedlanguage.AGlobalBritain
Labourwillputconflictresolutionandhumanrightsattheheartofforeignpolicy,committoworkingthroughtheUnitedNations,endsupportforaggressivewarsofinterventionandbackeffectiveactiontoalleviatetherefugeecrisis.Wewillbuildhumanrightsandsocialjusticeintotradepolicy,honourourinternationaltreatyobligationsandencourageotherstodothesame.LabourbelievesBritain’sforeignpolicyshouldbeguidedbythevaluesofpeace,universalrightsandinternationallaw.Today,thesevaluesandinstitutionsarebeingtested.Recentdevelopmentsinpoliticsathomeandabroadhavedemonstratedthetemptationtoturnawayfromtheworldisgreat.AsweleavetheEuropeanUnion,keepingBritainglobalisourcountry’smosturgenttask.Wefacethemostcomplex,interwovensecurityanddevelopmentchallengesofourtime;ongoingwarsacrosstheMiddleEast,unprecedentednumbersofrefugees,thethreatofnuclearconflict,adevastatingfoodcrisisacrossEastAfricaandbeyond,andmorecombativegovernmentsintheUSandRussia.Britainhasaninterestinandaninfluenceoverwhathappensontheworldstage.Thelessonsofthepast,includingthosefromtheChilcotInquiry,showuswhyourresponsetothequestionsofglobalpeaceandsecuritymustbedifferent.TheConservativeshavenoanswerstothechallengesweface.ALabourgovernmentwillpursueatriplecommitmenttoalltheinterwovenforeignpolicyinstrumentsofdevelopment,defenceanddiplomacy.WewillstrengthenBritain’scommitmenttotheUN.Labourrecognisesthat,inleavingtheEU,Britainwillfacebothchallengesandopportunities.Wearedeeplyambitiousforourcountry’sfutureandwilldrawonourdiplomaticstrengthsandinternationalnetworkstomakeBritainachampionofmultilateralengagement.WewillreclaimBritain’sleadingroleintacklingclimatechange,workinghardtopreservetheParisAgreementanddeliveroninternationalcommitmentstoreduceemissionswhilemitigatingtheimpactsofclimatechangeondevelopingcountries.Wewillappointdedicatedglobalambassadorsforwomen’srights,LGBTrightsandreligiousfreedomtoleadthegovernment’sworktofightdiscriminationandpromoteequalityglobally–workingalongsideaLabourgovernment’sMinisterforPeaceandDisarmament.DiplomacyConservativecutsmeanBritainnowspendslessperheadondiplomacythanGermany,France,AustraliaorCanada.Labourwascentraltosecuringinternationalspendingtargetsondefenceand
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development.Nowourleadershipisrequiredagain.ALabourgovernmentwillcommittosecureanewglobalagreementforaminimumtargetofgovernmentspendingondiplomacyandconflictresolution.FromYementoSudan,AfghanistantoIraqandacrosstheMiddleEasttoAfrica,inrecentyearsmillionsofpeoplehavebeenkilled,injuredordisplacedthroughwarsandmilitaryintervention.InSyriaalone,aftersixyearsofwar,morethan400,000peoplehavebeenkilled.Labourwillstraineverysinewtoendtheconflictandgetthediplomaticprocessbackontrack,whilegivingourfullsupporttointernationaleffortstoinvestigate,prosecuteandconvicttheperpetratorsofwarcrimes.LabouriscommittedtoacomprehensivepeaceintheMiddleEastbasedonatwo-statesolution–thatmeansasecureIsraelalongsideasecureandviablestateofPalestine.TheexpansionofIsraelisettlementsonthePalestinianWestBankisnotonlywrongandillegal,butrepresentsathreattotheveryviabilityofthehopesofsecuringasuccessfuloutcomeofthepeaceprocess.WecannotacceptthecontinuedhumanitariancrisisintheOccupiedPalestinianTerritories,andwewillsupportPalestinianrecognitionattheUN.AttheheartofLabourforeignpolicywillbeastrongcommitmenttoreducinghumansufferingasaresultofconflict.ThenextLabourgovernmentwillpublishastrategyforprotectingciviliansinconflict.Thiswillsetoutdetailedplansforourworkonconflictpreventionandresolution,post-conflictpeacebuilding,andjusticeforthevictimsofwarcrimes.Aspartoftheseeffortswewillworktostrengthenmultilateralinstitutions,particularlytheUN.WhilestrengtheningourcommitmenttotheUN,wealsoacknowledgeitsshortcomings,particularlyinlightofrepeatedabusesofthevetopowerbysomepermanentmembersoftheUNSecurityCouncil.WewillworkwithalliesandpartnersfromaroundtheworldtobuildsupportforUNreforminordertomakeitsinstitutionsmoreeffectiveandresponsive.LaboursupportsthecontributionofaresponsiblearmsindustrytotheUKeconomy.However,wealsobelievethatstrongexportcontrolshaveavitalroletoplayinsustainingalegitimatetradeinarms.TheUKhasplayedakeyroleinthecreatingofmanyinternationaltreatiesbanningclustermunitions,landmines,andthedevelopmentoftheArmsTradeTreaty(ATT).ButtheConservativesriskbecomingthefirstcountryfacinglegalactionforfailingtoabidebyitsrules.LabourwillimplementtheATTtoaconsistentlyhighstandard,includingceasingarmsexportstocountrieswherethereisconcernthattheywillbeusedtocommitwarcrimesandhumanrightsviolations.ThenextLabourgovernmentwillactimmediatelytosuspendanyfurtherarmssalestoSaudiArabia,anditscoalitionpartners,untiltheycanprovethattheyarewillingandabletocomplywithinternationalhumanitarianlaw.LabourremainscommittedtoanindependentinquiryintoBritain'smilitaryroleinthe1984raidontheGoldenTempleinAmritsar.DefenceTheprimarydutyofanygovernmentistoprotectanddefenditscitizens.Weliveinaperiodofgrowinginternationaltensions.Astrong,viableandsustainabledefenceandsecuritypolicymustbestrategicandevidenceled.
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ALabourgovernmentwillorderacompletestrategicdefencereviewwhenitcomesintooffice–toassessofthethreatsfacingBritainandthenecessarydefencerequirements.WewillensurethatourArmedForcesareproperlyequippedandresourcedtorespondtowide-rangingsecuritychallenges.LabourwillcommittoeffectiveUNpeacekeeping,includingsupportforaUNEmergencyPeaceService.Asthesecuritythreatsandchallengeswefacearenotboundbygeographicborders,itisvitalthatasBritainleavestheEUwemaintainourcloserelationshipwithourEuropeanpartners.WewillcontinuetoworkwiththeEUonarangeofoperationalmissionstopromoteandsupportglobalandregionalsecurity.ThelastLabourgovernmentconsistentlyspentabovetheNATObenchmarkof2%ofGDPondefence.ConservativespendingcutshaveputBritain’ssecurityatrisk,shrinkingthearmytoitssmallestsizesincetheNapoleonicwars.ThescrappingofNimrod,HMSArkRoyalandtheHarrierjumpjets,haveweakenedourdefencesandcostBritishtaxpayersmillions.Labour’scommitmenttospendingatleast2%ofGDPondefencewillguaranteeourArmedForceshavethenecessarycapabilitiestofulfilthefullrangeofobligations,andensureourconventionalforcesareversatileandabletodeployrapidlyinarangeofroles.LaboursupportstherenewaloftheTridentsubmarinesystem.Butanyprimeministershouldbeextremelycautiousaboutorderingtheuseofweaponsofmassdestructionwhichwouldresultintheindiscriminatekillingofmillionsofinnocentcivilians.Asanucleararmedpower,ourcountryhasaresponsibilitytofulfilourinternationalobligationsundertheNuclearNon-ProliferationTreaty.LabourwillleadmultilateraleffortswithinternationalpartnersandtheUNtocreateanuclearfreeworld.TheUKdefenceindustryisworld-leadingandLabourwillcontinuetosupportdevelopmentandinnovationinthissectorandensurethatitcancontinuetorelyonahighlyskilledworkforce.Wearecommittedtoaprocurementprocessthatsupportsoursteelindustryandothermanufacturingthatprovidesgoodqualityjobsthroughoutthesupplychain.LabourwillpublishaDefenceIndustrialStrategywhitepaper,includingaNationalShipbuildingStrategy.Thefirstdutyofanygovernmentistoprotectitscitizens.ButwealsohaveadutytoprotectourArmedForcespersonnel.That’swhywewillneversendthemintoharm’swayunlessallotheroptionshavebeenexhausted.OurArmedForcesaresufferingfromrentrisesinserviceshousing,payrestraint,andchangestotaxandbenefits,whichisputtingrealpressureonservicepersonnelandtheirfamilies.WewillensureourArmedForcesgetthepayandlivingconditionsthattheirservicemerits.OurArmedServicepersonneldeservebetter.Dedicatedservicemenandservicewomenareattheheartofourdefencepolicy.LabourwillimmediatelyexaminerecruitmentandretentionpoliciesinordertostemtheexodusthatwehaveseenundertheConservatives,reducingthesizeofthearmyfromover100,000tojust80,000today.Ingovernmentwewillpublishnewstrategicequalityobjectivestoensuretoensureourpersonnelreflectsourdiversesociety.Servicepersonnelwhoareinjuredwhilstservingshouldhavepromptaccesstosupportandcompensation.OurnationowesadutytoallwhoserveintheArmedForcesandwewillensurethatthelegaldutyowedbyMinistryofDefencetoallpersonnelismetinfull.
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ALabourGovernmentwillrolloutaHomesFitForHeroesprogrammethatwillinsulatethehomesofourdisabledveteransforfree.Theschemewillprovidedisabledveteransappropriateinsulationorefficiencymeasures,fromcavityorsolidwallinsulation,toloftinsulationoraboilerupgrade.WewilldriveupstandardsinServiceAccommodationandtakeactionwhereprivatecompanieshavefailedtodeliver.WewillconsultwiththeindividualservicestogivethemgreaterautonomyovertheirhousingchoicesandwewillreviewtheForcesHelptoBuyschemewithaviewtoimprovingit.DevelopmentLabourhasaproudrecordoninternationaldevelopment.WewillcontinuetomeettheUK’scommitmenttospend0.7percentofGDP.Labourwilltakerobustactiontoendtheself-regulationofDfIDprivatecontractors,establishingnewrulesandenforcingthemtoensureaidisusedtoreducepovertyforthemany,nottoincreaseprofitsforthefew.Labourwilldevelopatargeteddevelopmentagendabasedontheprinciplesofredistribution,socialjusticeandpovertyreduction.Wecanmakeourworldabetterplace.WefullysupporttheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)agreedbytheinternationalcommunityasaglobalagendaforpovertyeradicationandenvironmentalprotection.Labourwilldevelopacross-governmentstrategyforensuringtheSDGsareimplemented,andreportannuallytoParliamentonourperformance.InthewakeofBrexit,andinfulfilmentofournationalobligationsundertheSDGs,Labourwillguaranteetheworld’sleastdevelopedcountriescontinuedaccesstotheUKmarkettoprotecttheirvitalexportrevenues.TherearenowmorerefugeesanddisplacedpeoplearoundtheworldthananytimesincetheSecondWorldWar.Thisisafailureofdiplomacy,conflictresolutionandofhumanrights,whichiswhytheywillbeattheheartofLabour’sforeignpolicy.TheConservativeshavecompletelyfailedtoshowanyleadershiponthisissue.Inthefirst100daysofgovernmentwillproduceacross-departmentalstrategyontherefugeecrisissothatwemeetourinternationalobligations.Thecurrentglobaltaxsystemisdeeplyunjust.Africa’seconomiesalonelosemorethan£46billionayearthroughcorruptionandtaxevasion–morethan10timeswhattheyreceiveinaid.Labourwillactwithouthesitationtotakedecisiveactionontaxhavens.Wewillintroducestrictstandardsoftransparencyforcrowndependenciesandoverseasterritories,includingapublicregisterofowners,directors,majorshareholdersandbeneficialownersforallcompaniesandtrusts.ALabourdevelopmentstrategywillworkinpartnershipwithcommunitiesintheGlobalSouthtodeveloplong-termstrategiesforstrengtheningeconomiesandsocieties.WewouldreinstatetheCivilSocietyChallengeFundtosupporttradeunions,women’sassociationsandothercivilsocietyorganisationswhicharethemosteffectiveforcesinwinninghumanrightsandworkers’rights.JobsinglobalsupplychainscanbeofenormousimportancetoworkingpeopleacrosstheGlobalSouth,buthumanrightsabusesandexploitationoflowerenvironmentalstandardsandworkers’rightsistoocommon.Labouriscommittedtoensuringrespectforhumanrights,workers’rightsand
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environmentalsustainabilityintheoperationsofBritishbusinessesaroundtheworld,andwewillworktotightentherulesgoverningcorporateaccountabilityforabusesinglobalsupplychains.ALabourgovernmentwillworkwithbusinesstoensuretheprovisionsoftheModernSlaveryActarefullyrespected,includingreportingonduediligenceinthesupplychainsofallcompaniescoveredbytheAct.LabourwillextendtheremitoftheGroceriesCodeAdjudicatorbeyonddirectsupplierstoensurefairtreatmentforallthoseproducinggoodsfortheUK’slargestsupermarkets.Atleastabillionpeoplesuffereachyearbecausetheycannotobtainthehealthservicestheyneed,andanother100millionarepushedbelowthepovertylineasaresultofpayingfortheservicestheyreceive.ALabourgovernmentwillestablishaCentreforUniversalHealthCoverage,providingglobalpartnerships,supportandencouragementtocountriesthatwantUHC,helpingthemtogenerateadequatesourcesoffundingandthesystemsrequiredfordelivery.Wewillinvestinnewpublichealthdrivenresearchanddevelopmenttofindeffectiveandaffordabletreatmentsfordiseasesinthedevelopingworld,andwewillinvestinfightingTB,HIV,malaria,HIV/AIDSandneglectedtropicaldiseases.