Labour Party manifesto: Jeremy Corbyn's policies on Brexit, NHS and taxes

Jacob Jarvis28 November 2019
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Jeremy Corbyn has not only admitted his manifesto is radical, he has said it is necessary as a response to the problems he sees in society.

A splurge on infrastructure and public services is key to his plans - which he insists are fully costed and covered by tax rises for the top five per cent of earners.

Mr Corbyn says funding would be generated by a tax rise for people earning over £80,000 as well as boosting corporation tax by five per cent to 26 per cent, though there have been questions over whether the latter could garner half the proposed £83 million extra in taxes it is suggested it would.

The Labour leader has also detailed his eagerness to get Brexit "sorted", not necessarily "done" as his Tory opponents have vowed, while outlining his desire for a "green industrial revolution".

"Obvious monopolies" will become a thing of the past if he comes into power - with Royal Mail, trains and water all set to come into public ownership under his watch should he be victorious in the general election.

Pay boosts, shorter working weeks, more houses and the abolition of university tuition fees are also among the offerings from a Corbyn-led Government.

Here, the Standard details key points from the 107-page document the Labour Party released today.

General Election 2019 - In pictures

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Get Brexit 'sorted'

Labour has the most nuanced approach when it comes to Brexit. Not falling firmly on leave or remain, though many leading members of the party have indicated they'd prefer the latter, Labour has a plan distinct from the other two main parties.

Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to negotiate a new deal, involving a firm trade agreement, with the EU within three months, then to put this to the people in a fresh referendum alongside the alternative option of remain. That would be done within three months of the deal being agreed - in theory meaning Brexit would be "sorted" one way or another within six months.

The Labour leader has not been drawn on what side he'd back but has simply said he would enact whichever outcome triumphed in his plan.

The manifesto states: "Labour will give the people the final say on Brexit. Within three months of coming to power, a Labour government will secure a sensible deal. And within six months, we will put that deal to a public vote alongside the option to remain.

"A Labour government will implement whatever the people decide."

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn arrives for the launch of his party's manifesto in Birmingham
PA

There has been some scepticism as to whether the EU would negotiate again, though Labour has indicated figureheads have previously been open to the type of suggestions it might have. And the EU has opened up negotiations before, with Boris Johnson being given a second chance following Theresa May's deal persistently failing to pass through Parliament.

The party vows to "rip up" Mr Johnson's plans. It will seek alignment on workers' rights, participation in EU agencies and funding programmes, close workings on security, a permanent UK-wide customs union and close alignment to the single market.

Tackling climate change

A "green industrial revolution" is a headline pledge of the party.

This, it says, will see a transition for industry - allowing for the processes to become more eco-friendly but maintaining jobs for workers in areas that will be impacted.

The party will form a "National Investment Bank" to give £250 billion "of lending for enterprise" - with the caveat the money be used to "decarbonise our economy".

"The climate crisis ties us all into a common fate. This election is our best hope to protect future generations from an uninhabitable planet," it states. "The Tories wasted a decade serving the interests of big polluters. Labour will use the crucial next decade to act."

There will be a plan to provide 90 per cent of electricity and 50 per cent of heat from renewable sources by 2030.

In doing so, "one million well-paid unionised jobs" will be created, the party claims.

Cash boost for the NHS

The "immediate task" for the party would be to "repair our health services", with an "urgent priority to end NHS privatisation".

An average boost of 4.3 per cent a year in expenditure would be put in place across the health sector.

GP training places will be put in place to offer resources for 27 million more appointments.

Mental health services will see a £1.6 billion boost, while annual dental check ups will also become free.

Almost 3,500 qualified counsellors would be recruited to guarantee every child access to a school counsellor, along with a pledge to invest more than £1 billion in public health and recruit 4,500 more health visitors and school nurses.

"A Labour government will invest in the NHS to give patients the modern, well resourced services they need," it states. "Our investments mean we deliver the standards of care enshrined in the NHS."

Public ownership

Mr Corbyn hit out at "monopolies" at the launch, while blasting companies which run on infrastructure which was propped up by sections previously made with public funds.

"We will bring rail, mail, water and energy into public ownership to end the great privatisation rip-off and save you money on your fares and bills," it states.

Energy and water will be "treated as rights rather than commodities", the manifesto states. "Surplus" money will be reinvested, or used to reduce bills, it adds.

Jeremy Corbyn would target 'obvious monopolies'
Jeremy Selwyn

"Communities themselves will decide, because utilities won’t be run from Whitehall but by service-users and workers," Labour adds.

Full fibre broadband, provided by the government, would also be rolled out nationwide. This, it states, would improve the economy by boosting the potential of areas currently unserved by such internet provision.

This would mean certain parts of BT would be taken over.

Transport will also be a major target for privatisation - with public ownership of bus networks being negotiated and free bus travel for under-25s being rolled out.

Train fares would be made "simpler and more affordable", the party states, while electrification, adding to the climate change action, would be implemented.

Royal Mail would be taken on "at the earliest opportunity", the manifesto adds, and teamed up with the Post Office. This will then facilitate a "Post Bank" run from Post Offices throughout communities.

Wage boosts and infrastructure focus

A living wage of £10-an-hour would be introduced for all workers aged 16 and over. Public money will help supplement the cost for smaller businesses.

Working time will also be targeted by the party, with a reduction to a 32 hour working week within a decade - with a promise this won't result in a loss of pay for workers. This would be funded by "productivity increases", the party states.

The public sector pay cap would also be abolished - with a five per cent increase to begin with.

The manifesto states the party "will restore public sector pay to at least pre-financial crisis levels (in real terms), by delivering year-on-year above-inflation pay rises".

Workers will also be given greater representation higher up in companies, with a requirement one third of boards will be formed of "worker-directors".

The gender pay gap is something else the party hopes to tackle, with a bid to have this eradicated by 2030.

Universal Credit, something which Labour has branded "a catastrophe", will be done away with and an alternative arrangement proposed.

Housing is another key target - with plans to build 100,000 homes each year by the end of the Parliament, with a further 50,000 "genuinely affordable" homes annually through housing associations.

For students, also buoyed by the living wage, tuition fees will be scrapped.

A national education service will be launched with measures to support education throughout people's lives.

Though these moves will be funded by tax rises for business and higher earners, Labour suggests the benefits of a better educated work force could prove a reward for that.

What date is the general election?

The general election this year will be on Thursday December 12, with voting taking place between 7am and 10pm.

Can I still register to vote?

You can no longer register to vote in the UK general election

When was the last time the Labour won an election?

The last time Labour won an election was in 2005, under the leadership of Tony Blair.

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