Labour Manifesto 2017

FOR THE
MANY
NOT THE
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THE LABOUR PARTY MANIFESTO 2017

CONTENTS
FOREWORD 4
1 CREATING AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL 7

A fair taxation system 9
Balancing the books 10
Infrastructure investment 11
Upgrading our economy:
Labours industrial strategy 13
Transforming our financial system 16
A new deal for business 17
Widening ownership of our economy 19
Sustainable energy 20
2 NEGOTIATING BREXIT 23
Immigration 28
International trade 30
3 TOWARDS A NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE 33

Early years 35
Schools 37
Skills 39
Higher Education 43
4 A FAIR DEAL AT WORK 45

Rights at work 47
Self-employed workers 51
5 SOCIAL SECURITY 53
Dignity for pensioners 54
Dignity for those who cannot work 56
6 SECURE HOMES FOR ALL 59

Home ownership 61
Private renters 62
Council and social tenants 63
Homelessness 64
7 HEALTHCARE FOR ALL 65
NHS 66
Towards a National Care Service 71
Mental health 73
8 SAFER COMMUNITIES 75
Police and crime 76
Border security 78
Fire and Rescue Services 79
Justice 80
Prisons and Probation service 82
9 LEADING RICHER LIVES 85

Local communities 86
Transport 90
Environment 93
Animal welfare 94
Culture for all 95
Media 97
Sport 99
10 EXTENDING DEMOCRACY 101

England 103
Scotland 104
Wales 105
Northern Ireland 106
11 A MORE EQUAL SOCIETY 107

Women 109
LGBT equality 111
Diverse communities 112
People with disabilities 113
12 A GLOBAL BRITAIN 115

Diplomacy 117
Defence 120
Development 122
FOREWORD
A big part of being the leader of a political party is that you meet people
across the country and hear a wide range of views and ideas about the
future. For me, its been a reminder that our country is a place of dynamic,
generous and creative people with massive potential.
But Ive also heard something far less the rich getting richer, more children
positive, something which motivates in poverty, our NHS failing and our
us in the Labour Party to work for schools and social care in crisis.
the kind of real change set out in this Or you can vote for the party that
manifesto. It is a growing sense of has a plan to change all of this
anxiety and frustration. The Labour Party.
Faced with falling living standards, Britain is the fifth richest country
growing job insecurity and shrinking in the world. But that means little
public services, people are under when many people dont share in
increasing strain. Young people are that wealth. Many feel the system
held back by debt and the cost of is rigged against them. And this
housing. Whole families are being manifesto sets out exactly what
held back from the life they have can be done about it.
worked towards.
Britain needs to negotiate a Brexit
Im constantly told of these pressures deal that puts our economy and
in the workplace. Faced with constant living standards first. That wont
cuts and interference, our police, be achieved by empty slogans and
nurses, doctors, teachers and council posturing. We cannot put at risk
staff are held back from delivering our links with our largest trading
the public services they signed up to. partner. Instead we need a jobs-first
Brexit that allows us to upgrade our
Workers are held back by falling
economy for the 21st century.
real pay and job security. Our
entrepreneurs and managers are Labour will invest in the cutting-edge
being held back from growing their jobs and industries of the future
business. If you are increasingly that can improve everybodys lives.
asked to do more with less, then Which is why this manifesto outlines
you are not alone. a fully costed programme to upgrade
our economy. From childcare
Every election is a choice. What
to transport, housing to lifelong
makes this election different is that
learning, Labour understands how
the choice is starker than ever before.
a successful economy depends on
You can choose more of the same:
services that support us all.
4 FOR FOR
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So yes, this election is about what the homes we need to rent and
sort of country we want to be after buy, keeping our communities safe
Brexit. Is it one where the majority with more police officers, giving our
are held back by the sheer struggle childrens schools the funding they
of getting by? That isnt the Britain badly need, and restoring the NHS
Labour is determined to create. to its place as the envy of the world.
So lets build a fairer Britain where Dont let the Conservatives hold
no one is held back. A country where Britain back.
everybody is able to get on in life, to
Lets build a Britain that works
have security at work and at home, to
for the many, not the few.
be decently paid for the work they do,
and to live their lives with the dignity
they deserve.
Lets build a country where we invest

our wealth to give everyone the Jeremy Corbyn
best chance. That means building Leader of the Labour Party
INTRODUCTION 5
6
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CHAPTER 01
CREATING AN
ECONOMY THAT
WORKS FOR ALL
FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 7

CREATING AN Labour will turn this around.
We will upgrade our economy,
ECONOMY THAT breaking down the barriers that hold

too many of us back, and tackling
WORKS FOR ALL the gender pay gap. Our National

Transformation Fund will deliver
the investment that every part of
Labours economic strategy is
Britain needs to meet its potential,
about delivering a fairer, more
overcoming years of neglect. Our
prosperous society for the many,
industrial strategy will support
not just the few.
businesses to create new, high-
We will measure our economic skilled, high-paid and secure work
success not by the number of across the country, in the sectors
billionaires, but by the ability of our of the future such as renewables.
people to live richer lives. e will stop our financial system
being rigged for the few, turning the
Labour understands that the creation
power of finance to work for the
of wealth is a collective endeavour
public good. And we will put small
between workers, entrepreneurs,
businesses at the centre of our
investors and government. Each
economic strategy.
contributes and each must share
fairly in the rewards. The growth created by our national
investment plan, underpinned by the
This manifesto sets out Labours plan
responsible economic management
to upgrade our economy and rewrite
embodied in our Fiscal Credibility
the rules of a rigged system, so that
Rule, will create good jobs, drive up
our economy really works for the
living standards and improve the
many, and not only the few. Britain is
public finances.
the only major developed economy
where earnings have fallen even It is a plan that will deliver Labours
as growth has returned after the vision of an economy that works for
financial crisis. ost working people the many, not just the few a Britain
in Britain today are earning less, after in which no one is held back.
in ation, than they did ten years ago.
Too many of us are in low-paid and
insecure work. Too many of us fear
our children will not enjoy the same
opportunities that we have.
8 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

Under Labours plans, 95 per cent
of taxpayers will be guaranteed
no increase in their income tax
contributions, and everyone will
be protected from any increase
in personal National Insurance
contributions and VAT. Only the
top 5 per cent of earners will be
asked to contribute more in tax to
help fund our public services. We
renew our pledge not to extend VAT
to food, childrens clothes, books
and newspapers, and public
A FAIR TAXATION transport fares.
Corporation ta in the is the

SYSTEM lowest of any major developed
economy. Our new settlement with
Taxation is what underpins our business will ask large corporations
shared prosperity. All of us, to pay a little more while still keeping
including business, benefit from corporation ta among the lowest
a healthy, educated and skilled of the major developed economies. In
population, with access to basic turn, we will meet the business need
services and secure housing. for a more skilled workforce with
extra corporate tax revenues while
We believe in the social obligation
contributing to education and
to contribute to a fair taxation scheme
skills budgets.
for the common good. We will take
on the social scourge of tax avoidance We will protect small businesses by
through our Tax Transparency and reintroducing the lower small profits
Enforcement Programme, and close rate of corporation tax. We will also
down tax loopholes. exclude small businesses from costly
plans to introduce quarterly reporting
But we will not ask ordinary
and take action on late payments.
households to pay more. A Labour
government will guarantee no rises Labour will give H evenue
in income tax for those earning below Customs the resources and skills
80,000 a year, and no increases necessary to clamp down hard on
in personal National Insurance those unscrupulous few individuals
Contributions or the rate of VAT. and companies who seek to avoid the
responsibilities that the rest of us meet.
CHAPTER 01 C TIN N C N TH T S LL 9
BALANCING Responsibility, which we will make
accountable to Parliament. We will
THE BOOKS also consult on implementing the

recommendations of the erslake
Review of the Treasury.
Our manifesto is fully costed, with
all current spending paid for out
of taxation or redirected revenue
streams. Our public services must
rest on the foundation of sound
finances. Labour will therefore
set the target of eliminating the
governments deficit on day-to-day
spending within five years.
But government must have a laser-

like focus on how we earn, as well as
how we spend. At the same time as
eliminating the current deficit, Labour
will invest in our future, to ensure
faster growth and help us to earn
our way as a country again.
To maintain good fiscal health, we will

have a firm rule in place to guide all
our taxation and spending decisions.
Our Fiscal Credibility Rule is based on
the simple principle that government
should not be borrowing for day-to-
day spending, but that future growth
depends on investment. It was
designed in conjunction with world-
leading economists. It also means we
are committed to ensuring that the
national debt is lower at the end of
the next Parliament than it is today.
Compliance with the rule will be

overseen by a strengthened and
truly independent ffice for Budget

INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENT
Our country and its people
have been held back by a lack
of investment in the backbone
of a modern economy the
infrastructure of transport,
communications and energy
systems. And when investment
has happened, it has been too
concentrated in too few places.
Labour will make different choices. into Scotland, consulting with and,
We will take advantage of near- where necessary, compensating)
record low interest rates to create communities. e will link HS2 with
a National Transformation Fund other rail investments, such as
that will invest 250 billion over ten Crossrail of the North tying together
years in upgrading our economy. our great northern cities) and on to
We will ensure that the huge the Durham Freight Centre. We will
potential of every part of our country build a new Brighton ain Line for
is met. The next Labour government the South ast.
will rebuild communities ripped apart
In London, to ensure our capital
by globalisation and neglected for
continues to prosper, we will build
years by government. We will rebuild
Crossrail 2.
and transform our economy so that
it works for the many, not the few. To harness the economic potential
So we will put in place tight rules of new technologies and science,
to ensure that investment is fairly we will complete the Science ale
shared around every region and transport arc, from Oxford to
nation of the . e will tear Cambridge through ilton eynes.
down the barriers that have held
nd we will deliver rail electrification
too many people back.
and expansion across the whole
A Labour government will complete country, including Wales and the
the HS2 high-speed rail line from South est.
London through Birmingham to
Leeds and anchester, and then
We will transform our energy
systems, investing in new, state-
of-the-art low-carbon gas and
renewable electricity production.
We will deliver universal superfast

broadband availability by 2022.
Labour will improve mobile internet
coverage and expand provision of
free public wi-fi in city centres and
on public transport. We will improve
4G coverage and invest to ensure all
urban areas, as well as major roads
and railways, have uninterrupted
5G coverage. On day one we will
instruct the National Infrastructure
Commission to report on how to roll
out ultrafast 300 bps across the
within the ne t decade.

UPGRADING ast. nd while the South ast
struggles with a rising cost of living
OUR ECONOMY: crisis, many northern and coastal

towns have watched as their
LABOURS economies and communities are left

behind. Britains failure to get all its
INDUSTRIAL regional and local economies working

can be seen in the deterioration
STRATEGY of the countrys current account,

weak productivity growth and
underinvestment in infrastructure.
Our economy is suffering from
years of neglect by governments Britain can only be stronger if every
that have refused to support nation and region is given the
our industries, businesses and resources and support to succeed.
workers. This wasted potential Only a Labour government with
is holding us all back. Inequality a credible industrial strategy can
has ballooned as the economy reach this untapped potential and
has shifted towards low-paid, deliver prosperity to every corner
insecure jobs. of our country, working with
devolved administrations.
Britains manufacturing base has
declined and we have relied too Our industrial strategy will be built
heavily on the financial sector, on objective, measurable missions
centred on London and the South designed to address the great
challenges of our times. In meeting Procurement by requiring the
these challenges, we will move best standards on government
beyond the narrow approaches of contracts.
the past, and mobilise the talents and
Research and development
resources of our whole country to
by committing extra research
deliver an economy fit for the future.
investment.
The first missions set by a Labour
Energy costs and security by
government will be to:
capping costs and investing in new
1. ensure that 60 per cent of the s publicly owned energy provision.
energy comes from zero-carbon
While our industrial strategy is one
or renewable sources by 2030
for growth across all sectors, Labour
2. create an innovation nation with recognises that certain sectors are
the highest proportion of high- of strategic significance to the
skilled jobs in the Organisation economy. For each strategic industry,
for Economic Co-operation and the next Labour government will
Development by 2030. e will establish a council modelled on
meet the CD target of 3 per cent the highly successful Automotive
of GDP spent on research Council) to oversee its future security
and development by 2030. and growth. We will also encourage
private investment by removing new
In order to create a fertile ground for
plant and machinery from business
businesses to achieve these missions
rate calculations.
Labour will take action across the
areas we know are necessary for National and local government spends
business and industry to grow: 200 billion a year in the private-
sector procurement. Labour will put
Skills by creating a National
that spending power to good use to
ducation Service for ngland.
upgrade our economy, create good
Infrastructure by investing 250 local jobs and reduce inequality. We will
billion over the next ten years. re uire firms supplying national or local
government to meet the high standards
supply chains by targeting
we should expect of all businesses:
government support where there
paying their taxes, recognising trade
are gaps.
unions, respecting workers rights and
Trade by negotiating a new deal equal opportunities, protecting the
with Europe that puts jobs and the environment, providing training, and
economy first. paying suppliers on time. We will expect

suppliers to reduce boardroom pay
excesses by moving towards a 20:1 gap
between the highest and lowest paid.
We will appoint a Digital Ambassador

to liaise with technology companies
to promote Britain as an attractive
place for investment and provide
support for start-ups to scale up
to become world-class digital
businesses. Our Digital Ambassador
will help to ensure businesses are
ready to grow and prosper in the
digital age.
TRANSFORMING Labour will overhaul the regulation
of our financial system, putting in
OUR FINANCIAL place a firm ring-fence between

investment and retail banking that
SYSTEM will protect consumers. We will

take a new approach to the
publicly-owned BS, and launch
A decade after the devastating
a consultation on breaking up the
international financial crisis, our
bank to create new local public
financial system is still holding
banks that are better matched
back too many of our small
to their customers needs. And we will
businesses and local economies.
e tend e isting Stamp Duty eserve
Labour will transform how our Tax to cover a wider range of assets,
financial system operates. ollowing ensuring that the public gets a fairer
the successful example of Germany share of financial system profits.
and the Nordic countries, we will
Labour will change the law so that
establish a National Investment
banks cant close a branch where
Bank that will bring in private capital
there is a clear local need, putting
finance to deliver 250 billion of
their customers first. Britain has
lending power.
a successful international finance
This new public institution will industry, but we also need a strong,
support a network of regional safe and socially useful banking
development banks that, unlike giant system to meet the needs of our
City of London firms, will be dedicated own regional economies and
to supporting inclusive growth in their communities. We will commit to
communities. The banks will deliver creating a more diverse banking
the finance that our small businesses, system, backed up by legislation.
co-operatives and innovative projects
need across the whole country.
The National Investment Bank
will fill e isting gaps in lending by
private banks, particularly to small
businesses, and by providing patient,
long-term finance to D-intensive
investments. It will also be given
the task of helping to deliver our
industrial strategy, by prioritising
spending in line with its objectives.

A NEW DEAL FOR
BUSINESS
The majority of businesses play
by the rules: they pay their taxes
and their workers reasonably and
on time, and they operate with
respect for the environment and
local communities. That is why it is
vital that government ensures that
businesses doing the right thing
are rewarded rather than undercut
or outbid by those unscrupulous
few that cut corners, whether
duty directly not only shareholders,
on taxes, workers conditions,
but to employees, customers, the
environmental standards, or
environment and the wider public,
consumer safety and protection.
and we will consult on bringing
But our business culture doesnt forward appropriate legislation
always work like this. Scandals such as within this Parliament.
the failure of BHS show how the long-
Labour will amend the takeover
term growth of a company can be
regime to ensure that businesses
sacrificed for the sake of a uick buck.
identified as being systemically
When shareholders are looking important have a clear plan in place
for quick short-term returns, they to protect workers and pensioners
encourage companies to cut corners. when a company is taken over.
That means they look to cut wages, Labour will also legislate to reduce
instead of investing for the long term, pay inequality by introducing an
or they spend longer inventing new Excessive Pay Levy on companies
tax avoidance schemes than they with staff on very high pay.
do inventing new products.
Our small and medium-sized
By reforming the rules our companies enterprises S s are the backbone
operate under, we can make sure of our economy, providing 60
they stay focused on delivering per cent of private-sector jobs.
shared wealth. Labour will amend Technological changes, like the
company law so that directors owe a spread of digital manufacturing and
rapid communication, mean smaller, Declare war on late payments by:
faster businesses will be the future of
Using government procurement
our economy.
to ensure that anyone bidding
et this Conservative overnment for a government contract pays
has taken small businesses for its own suppliers within 30 days.
granted. Labour is the party of small
Developing a version of the
businesses. We understand the
Australian system of binding
challenges our smaller businesses
arbitration and fines for
face. In order to provide the support
persistent late-payers for the
many small businesses need,
private and public sectors.
a Labour government will:
We will also bring forward legislation
andate the new National
to create a proper legal definition for
Investment Bank, and regional
co-operative ownership. The National
development banks in every
Investment Bank and regional
region, to identify where other
development banks will be charged
lenders fail to meet the needs
with helping support our co-operative
of S s and prioritise lending to
sector. Labour will aim to double the
improve the funding gap.
size of the co-operative sector in the
Reinstate the lower small-business , putting it on a par with those in
corporation tax rate. leading economies like Germany or
the S.
Introduce a package of reforms
to business rates including
switching from RPI to CPI
indexation, exempting new
investment in plant and machinery
from valuations, and ensuring that
businesses have access to a proper
appeals process while reviewing
the entire business rates system
in the longer run.
Scrap uarterly reporting for

businesses with a turnover
of under 85,000.

WIDENING parcel charges, and failed to meet
its customer service obligations,
OWNERSHIP OF while its owners trade shares at

significant profit. The Conservative
OUR ECONOMY Governments privatisation of Royal

ail was a historic mistake, selling off
another national asset on the cheap.
Britain is a long-established
democracy. But the distribution Across the world, countries are
of ownership of the countrys taking public utilities back into
economy means that decisions public ownership. Labour will
about our economy are often learn from these experiences and
made by a narrow elite. More bring key utilities back into public
democratic ownership structures ownership to deliver lower prices,
would help our economy deliver more accountability and a more
for the many and lead to a fairer sustainable economy. We will:
distribution of wealth.
Bring private rail companies
In government, Labour would give back into public ownership
more people a stake and a say as their franchises expire.
in our economy by doubling the
Regain control of energy supply
size of the co-operative sector and
networks through the alteration
introducing a right to own, making
of operator license conditions,
employees the buyer of first refusal
and transition to a publicly owned,
when the company they work for is
decentralised energy system.
up for sale. We will act to insource
our public and local council services Replace our dysfunctional water
as preferred providers. system with a network of regional
publicly-owned water companies.
any basic goods and services have
been taken out of democratic control Reverse the privatisation of Royal
through privatisation. This has often ail at the earliest opportunity.
led to higher prices and poorer
Public ownership will benefit
quality, as prices are raised to pay
consumers, ensuring that their
out dividends. For example, water
interests are put first and that
bills have increased 40 per cent since
there is democratic accountability
privatisation, and our private energy
for the service.
providers overcharged customers by
2 billion in 2015. In private hands,
oyal ail has increased stamp and
SUSTAINABLE household energy bill remains
below 1,000 per year, while we
ENERGY transition to a fairer system

for bill payers.
Labours energy policy is built Take energy back into public

on three simple principles: ownership to deliver renewable
energy, affordability for
To ensure security of energy
consumers, and democratic
supply and keep the lights on.
control. We will do this in the
To ensure energy costs are following stages:
affordable for consumers and
Regaining control of energy
businesses.
supply networks through the
To ensure we meet our climate alteration of the National and
change targets and transition Regional Network Operator
to a low-carbon economy. license conditions.
The energy system is Supporting the creation

outdated, expensive and polluting. of publicly owned, locally
Privatisation has failed to accountable energy companies
deliver an energy system that and co-operatives to rival
delivers for people, businesses or existing private energy suppliers,
our environment. with at least one if every region.
One in ten households are in Legislating to permit publicly

fuel poverty, yet the Competition owned local companies to
arkets uthority found customers purchase the regional grid
are overcharged an enormous infrastructure, and to ensure
2 billion every year. that national and regional grid
infrastructure is brought into
Labour understands that many
public ownership over time.
people dont have time to shop
around, they just want reliable Labour will insulate four million
and affordable energy. So the ne t homes as an infrastructure priority to
Labour Government will: help those who suffer in cold homes
each winter. This will cut emissions,
Introduce an immediate
improve health, save on bills, and
emergency price cap to ensure
reduce fuel poverty and winter deaths.
that the average dual-fuel

Homeowners will be offered interest- focused on protecting vital North
free loans to improve their property. Sea assets, and the jobs and skills
For renters, Labour will improve on that depend on them.
e isting Landlord nergy fficiency
We are committed to renewable
regulations and re-establish the
energy projects, including tidal
Landlord nergy Saving llowance
lagoons, which can help create
to encourage the uptake of
manufacturing and energy jobs
efficiency measures.
as well as contributing to climate-
Labour will ban fracking because change commitments.
it would lock us into an energy
The has the worlds oldest nuclear
infrastructure based on fossil fuels,
industry, and nuclear will continue to
long after the point in 2030 when the
be part of the energy supply. e
Committee on Climate Change says
will support further nuclear projects
gas in the must sharply decline.
and protect nuclear workers jobs
Emerging technologies such as and pensions. There are considerable
carbon capture and storage will help opportunities for nuclear power and
to smooth the transition to cleaner decommissioning both internationally
fuels and to protect existing jobs and domestically.
as part of the future energy mix. To
Building a clean economy of the
safeguard the offshore oil and gas
future is the most important thing
industry, we will provide a strategy
we must do for our children,
our grandchildren and future
generations. et recent years have
seen a failure to progress towards
our targets. A Labour government
will put us back on track to meet the
targets in the Climate Change Act
and the Paris Agreement.
The low-carbon economy is one

of the s fastest-growing sectors,
creating jobs and providing
investment across each region.
It employed an estimated 447,000
employees in the in 2015 and
saw over 77 billion in turnover.
With backing from a Labour
government, these sectors can
secure crucial shares of global
export markets.
Currently, the buys and sells

energy tariff free from urope, an
arrangement which saves families
and businesses money, and helps
balance the power grid. As part
of the Brexit negotiations, Labour
will prioritise maintaining access
to the internal energy market.
Labour will also retain access to
Euratom, to allow continued trade
of fissile material, with access and
collaboration over research vital
to our nuclear industry.

CHAPTER 02
NEGOTIATING BREXIT

NEGOTIATING to our society: they are part of our
society. And they should not be used
BREXIT as bargaining chips.
It is shameful that the Prime

Labour accepts the referendum Minister rejected repeated attempts
result and a Labour government by Labour to resolve this issue before
will put the national interest first. Article 50 was triggered. As a result
We will prioritise jobs and living three million EU nationals have
standards, build a close new suffered unnecessary uncertainty,
relationship with the EU, protect as have the 1.2 million UK citizens
workers rights and environmental living in the EU.
standards, provide certainty
A Conservative Brexit will weaken
to EU nationals and give
workers rights, deregulate the
a meaningful role to Parliament
economy, slash corporate taxes,
throughout negotiations.
sideline Parliament and democratic
We will end Theresa Mays reckless accountability, and cut Britain off
approach to Brexit, and seek to unite from our closest allies and most
the country around a Brexit deal that important trading partners.
works for every community in Britain.
Labour recognises that leaving the
We will scrap the Conservatives EU with no deal is the worst possible
Brexit White Paper and replace it deal for Britain and that it would do
with fresh negotiating priorities that damage to our economy and trade.
have a strong emphasis on retaining We will reject no deal as a viable
the benefits of the Single arket option and if needs be negotiate
and the Customs Union which transitional arrangements to avoid
are essential for maintaining a cliff-edge for the economy.
industries, jobs and businesses in
The issues that affect our continent
Britain. Labour will always put jobs
now will continue to do so in the
and the economy first.
future and Labour will continue
A Labour government will to work constructively with the
immediately guarantee existing EU and other European nations
rights for all EU nationals living in on issues such as climate change,
Britain and secure reciprocal rights refugee crises and counter-terrorism.
for UK citizens who have chosen e will build a close co-operative
to make their lives in EU countries. future relationship with the EU,
EU nationals do not just contribute not as members but as partners.

A Labour government will ensure access allowing British farmers and
that the UK maintains our leading food producers to continue to sell
research role by seeking to stay part their products on the Continent.
of Horizon 2020 and its successor
Labour will also protect our farmers
programmes and by welcoming
and rural economy by ensuring
research staff to the . e will
Britain continues to set the highest
seek to maintain membership of
standards in food quality and welfare.
(or equivalent relationships with)
We will not allow Brexit to be used as
uropean organisations which offer
an excuse to undercut our farmers
benefits to the such as uratom
and ood Britains food chain with
and the European Medicines Agency.
cheap and inferior produce.
We will seek to ensure that Britain
remains part of the Erasmus scheme We will drop the Conservatives
so that British students have the Great Repeal Bill, replacing it
same educational opportunities after with an EU Rights and Protections
we leave the EU. Bill that will ensure there is no
detrimental change to workers
The EU is the UKs single largest
rights, equality law, consumer
trading partner in agricultural
rights or environmental protections
produce, with the vast majority
as a result of Brexit.
of British exports being sold to
European markets. A Labour Throughout the Brexit process,
government will end the uncertainty we will make sure that all -derived
for our farmers and food producers laws that are of benefit including
by securing continued EU market workplace laws, consumer rights
and environmental protections are
CHAPTER 02 NEGOTIATING BREXIT 25

fully protected without ualifications, A Labour government will never
limitations or sunset clauses. We will consider these rights a burden
work with trade unions, businesses or accept the weakening of
and stakeholders to ensure there workers rights, consumer rights
is a consensus on this vital issue. or environmental protections.
A Labour approach to Brexit will
We will introduce legislation to
ensure there can be no rolling back
ensure there are no gaps in national
of key rights and protections and
security and criminal justice
that the UK does not lag behind
arrangements as a result of Brexit.
Europe in workplace protections and
environmental standards in future. Labour recognises the vital role
that cross-border agencies such as
The EU has had a huge impact in
Eurojust and Europol have played
securing workplace protections and
in making Britain safer and that
environmental safeguards. But we
European Arrest Warrants have been
all know that for many Brexiteers
invaluable. A Labour government will
in the Tory Party, this was why
seek to retain membership of these
they wanted to Leave to tear up
agencies and continue European
regulations and weaken hard-fought
Arrest Warrant arrangements.
rights and protections.

Labour will seek a Brexit deal that government can continue to
delivers for all regions and nations create jobs and prosperity in
of the UK. We will introduce a the years to come.
presumption of devolution where
Where Theresa May wants to shut
devolved powers transferred
down scrutiny and challenge, Labour
from the EU will go straight to the
will welcome it. We will work with
relevant region or nation. For many
Parliament, not against it.
people and for much of our country,
On an issue of this importance
power can feel just as remote and
the Government cant hide from
unaccountable in Westminster as
the public or Parliament.
it does in Brussels. So a Labour
government will seek to put powers A Labour approach to Brexit also
as close to communities as possible. means legislating to guarantee that
Parliament has a truly meaningful
We will ensure there is no drop
vote on the final Bre it deal.
in Structural unding as a result
of Brexit until the end of the current
EU funding round in 2019/20. As part
of Labours plans to rebalance and
rebuild the economy, we will ensure
that no region or nation of the UK
is affected by the withdrawal of
funding for the remainder of this
Parliament. This will also apply to the
funding of peace and reconciliation
projects in Northern Ireland.
We will also improve engagement

and dialogue with the devolved
administrations and seek to ensure
the final Bre it deal addresses
specific concerns. In particular
Labour will ensure there is no return
to a hard border between Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
and that there is no change in the
status or sovereignty of Gibraltar.
We will also protect Gibraltars
economy and ensure that its

IMMIGRATION Working together we will institute a
new system which is based on our
economic needs, balancing controls
Labour offers fair rules and
and existing entitlements. This may
reasonable management of
include employer sponsorship, work
migration. n trade negotiations
permits, visa regulations or a tailored
our priorities favour growth,
mix of all these which works for the
obs and prosperity. e ma e no
many, not the few.
apologies for putting these aims
before bogus immigration targets. Labour will protect those already
working here, whatever their
Freedom of movement will
ethnicity. Our National Education
end when we leave the European
Service will raise the level of skills
Union. Britains immigration system
and training. We will take decisive
will change, but Labour will not
actions to end the exploitation of
scapegoat migrants nor blame
migrant labour undercutting
them for economic failures.
workers pay and conditions.
Labour will develop and implement
Labour will crack down on
fair immigration rules. We will not
unscrupulous employers. We will
discriminate between people of
stop overseas-only recruitment
different races or creeds. e will
practices, strengthen safety-at-
end indefinite detentions and
work inspections and increase
distinguish between migrant labour
prosecutions of employers evading
and family attachment and will
the minimum wage.
continue to support the work of
the Forced Marriage Unit. We will Working with trade unions, we
replace income thresholds with a will end workplace exploitation.
prohibition on recourse to public
Labour values the economic and
funds. New rules will be equally
social contributions of immigrants.
informed by negotiations with the
Both public and private sector
EU and other partners, including
employers depend on immigrants.
the Commonwealth.
We will not denigrate those workers.
Whatever our trade arrangements, We value their contributions,
we will need new migration including their tax contributions.
management systems, transparent
For areas where immigration
and fair to everybody. Working with
has placed a strain on public services
businesses, trade unions, devolved
we will reinstate the Migrant Impact
governments and others to identify
Fund and boost
specific labour and skill shortages.

it with a contributory element from
the investments required for High
Net Worth Individual Visas. Labour
will restore the rights of migrant
domestic workers, and end this form
of modern slavery.
Labour will ease the underlying

pressures in any areas struggling to
cope with seven years of austerity
by our programme of investments.
We will not cut public services and
pretend the cuts are a consequence
of immigration.
Refugees are not migrants. They

have been forced from their homes,
by war, famine or other disasters.
Unlike the Tories, we will uphold the
proud British tradition of honouring
the spirit of international law and
our moral obligations by taking our
fair share of refugees. The current
arrangements for housing and
dispersing refugees are not fit for
purpose. They are not fair to refugees
or to our communities. We will review
these arrangements.
Labour welcomes international

students who benefit and strengthen
our education sector, generating
more than 25 billion for the British
economy and significantly boosting
regional jobs and local businesses.
They are not permanent residents
and we will not include them in
immigration numbers, but we will
crack down on fake colleges.

INTERNATIONAL jobs and high standards.
We will ensure all future trade
TRADE deals safeguard the right to

regulate in the public interest
and to protect public services.
Labour is pro-trade and
pro-investment. he s future Labour is committed to the
prosperity depends on minimising rules-based international
tariff and non-tariff barriers that trading system of the World Trade
prevent us from exporting and Organisation (WTO). We will rejoin
creating the jobs and economic the Government Procurement
growth we need. Agreement, whilst safeguarding
the capacity for public bodies to
A Labour government will work
make procurement decisions in
with devolved administrations to
keeping with public policy objectives.
bring forward an integrated trade
and industrial strategy that boosts Labour will build human rights
exports, investment and decent jobs and social justice into trade policy.
in Britain. We will ensure that trade agreements
cannot undermine human rights and
Labour will set out our priorities in
labour standards, and that UK Export
an International Trade White Paper
Finance support is not available to
to lead a national debate on the
companies engaged in bribery or
future of Britains trade policy. We
corrupt practices.
will ensure proper transparency and
parliamentary scrutiny of all future We will work with other WTO
trade and investment deals. members to end the dumping
of state-subsidised goods on
The EU accounts for 44 per cent
our markets. The Conservatives
of our current exports and will
consistently blocked efforts to
continue to be a priority trading
respond to such dumping with the
partner. As our trading relationship
duties needed to defend the British
with the EU changes it is vital that
steel industry. Labour will develop
we retain unrestricted access for
the full range of trade remedies
our goods and services.
necessary to support key sectors
Through our Just Trading initiative affected by these unfair practices.
launched in 2016, Labour will work
Labour will champion the export
with global trading partners to
interests of S s, ensuring all
develop best-in-class free trade and
new trade agreements include a
investment agreements that remove
commitment to support their market
trade barriers and promote skilled
access needs. We will develop an

As part of our commitment to a
low-carbon future, we will actively
support international negotiations
towards an Environmental Goods
Agreement at the WTO. Labour
will use trade negotiations to
boost market access for British
environmental goods and services,
alongside support for investment
into new green technologies and
innovative low-carbon products.
Labour will develop capital

investment schemes and other
incentives to encourage investment
e port incentive scheme for S s
into the UK, especially into target
based on international best practice,
areas identified by the industrial
and we will ring-fence Tradeshow
strategy. We will champion the UK
Access Programme grants to help
as a safe investment environment.
S s reach new customers around
the world. Labour will review our historic
investment treaties with other
Labour will use the full range of
countries, ensuring they are fit for
e port credit, finance, insurance
purpose for the 21st century. Labour
and trade promotion tools to boost
opposes parallel investor-state
British exports and support priority
dispute systems for multinational
industrial sectors.
corporations and we will open a
We will create a network of regional dialogue with trading partners
trade and investment champions on alternative options that
to promote the export and provide investor protection whilst
investment interests of businesses guaranteeing equality before the law.
across the country, and we will
include regional representation on
overseas trade missions.
Labour is committed to growing

the digital economy and ensuring
that trade agreements do not impede
cross-border data ows, whilst
maintaining strong data protection
rules to protect personal privacy.

CHAPTER 03
TOWARDS
A NATIONAL
EDUCATION SERVICE

TOWARDS When the 1945 Labour government
established the NHS, it created one
A NATIONAL of the central institutions of fairness

of the 20th century. The NES will do
EDUCATION the same for the 21st, giving people

confidence and hope by making
SERVICE education a right, not a privilege,

and building bridges where the
Conservatives build barriers.
Education is what empowers us
all to realise our full potential.
When it fails, it isnt just the
individual that is held back,
but all of us. When we invest in
people to develop their skills and
capabilities, we all benefit from a
stronger economy and society.
At a time when working lives and

the skills our economy needs are
changing rapidly, governments have
the responsibility to make lifelong
learning a reality by giving everyone
the opportunity to access education
throughout their lives.
To meet this responsibility, Labour

will create a unified National
Education Service (NES) for England
to move towards cradle-to-grave
learning that is free at the point
of use. The NES will be built on the
principle that Every Child and Adult
Matters and will incorporate all
forms of education, from early
years through to adult education.

Under the Conservatives, the free
hours entitlement is chronically
under-funded, with provision patchy
and hard to navigate. Many providers
now simply refuse to participate in
the scheme. The result is that many
parents arent even getting the
hours theyre entitled to.
Labour would:
1. Overhaul the existing childcare

system in which subsidies are
given directly to parents who often
EARLY YEARS struggle to use them, and transition

to a system of high-quality childcare
places in mixed environments with
Currently, there is a gap between
direct government subsidy.
the end of maternity leave and the
beginning of full-time schooling. 2. Maintain current commitments
his gap can ma e it di cult for on free hours and make significant
parents, particularly women, capital investment during our
to return to work, unless they first two years of government,
have access to informal childcare to ensure that the places exist
support. There is also extensive to meet demand.
evidence that early years
3. Phase in subsidised provision
education has a major impact
on top of free-hour entitlements,
on child development, and that
to ensure that everyone has access
time in a formal education setting
to affordable childcare, no matter
for young children can improve
their working pattern.
performance at GCSE and beyond.
4. Transition to a ualified,
Labour would seek to roll out
graduate-led workforce, by
educational provision for early
increasing staff wages and enhancing
years children as part of a National
training opportunities. This will
Education Service that is truly
benefit staff, who are among our
cradle-to-grave.
worst-paid workers,
Labour introduced free childcare and improve child development.
hours for parents, which were fully
funded and resourced.
CHAPTER 03 TOWARDS A NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE 35

5. Extend the 30 free hours to all two-
year-olds, and move towards making
some childcare available for one-
year-olds and extending maternity
pay to 12 months.
Sure Start, and the support it gives

to vulnerable and hard-to-reach
parents, was one of the great
achievements of the previous
Labour government, but under
the Conservatives 1,200 Sure Start
centres have been lost. Labour will
halt the closures and increase the
amount of money available for
Sure Start.

SCHOOLS 1. Investment we will make sure
schools are properly resourced
by reversing the Conservatives cuts
Conservative cuts are starving
and ensuring that all schools have
schools of the funding they
the resources they need. We will
need to deliver a first class
introduce a fairer funding formula
education. Crippling underfunding
that leaves no school worse off,
is driving up class sizes and
while redressing the historical
forcing schools to cut corners.
underfunding of certain schools.
A narrow curriculum and a culture
Labour will also invest in new school
of assessment is driving away
buildings, including the phased
teachers, creating a recruitment
removal of asbestos from existing
and retention crisis.
schools.
Labour will not waste money on
2. Quality we will drive up standards
inefficient free schools and the
across the board, learning from
Conservatives grammar schools
examples of best practice, such as
vanity project. Labour does not want
Labours London Challenge,
a return to secondary moderns. We
to encourage co-operation and
will also oppose any attempt to force
strong leadership across schools. We
schools to become academies.
and trust in teachers and support
Labours schools policy will be built staff professionalism to refocus their
on the following four foundations: workload on what happens in the
classroom.

3. Accountability Labour will ensure education systems use more
that all schools are democratically continuous assessment, which
accountable, including appropriate avoids teaching for the test.
controls to see that they serve
We will tackle the teacher recruitment
the public interest and their local
and retention crisis by ending
communities. We will require
the public-sector pay cap, giving
joined-up admissions policies across
teachers more direct involvement in
local schools to enable councils to
the curriculum, and tackling rising
fulfil their responsibilities on child
workloads by reducing monitoring
places,
and bureaucracy.
to simplify the admissions process
for parents and to ensure that no We will also consult on introducing
child slips through the net. teacher sabbaticals and placements
with industry to encourage
4. Inclusion Every child is unique, and
interaction between education
a Labour-led education
and industry and introduce broad
system will enable each to find
experiences into the classroom.
their learning path through
a wide choice of courses and We will reintroduce the Schools
ualifications. e will invest in Support Staff Negotiating Body and
measures to close the attainment national pay settlements for teachers.
gap between children from different
We will put 150 million back into
backgrounds.
supporting our children in schools
To give all children the best start in by scrapping the Conservatives
life, we will reduce class sizes to less nonsensical plans for schools
than 30 for all five-, si -, and seven- to pay the apprenticeship levy.
year-olds, and seek to extend that
We will extend schools-based
as resources allow.
counselling to all schools to improve
To aid attainment, we will introduce childrens mental health, at a cost
free school meals for all primary of 90 million per year.
school children, paid for by removing
And we will deliver a strategy for
the VAT exemption on private
children with special educational
school fees.
needs and disabilities (SEND) based
We will abandon plans to reintroduce on inclusivity, and embed SEND
baseline assessments and launch more substantially into training for
a commission to look into curriculum teachers and non-teaching staff, so
and assessment, starting by that staff, children and their parents
reviewing Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs. are properly supported.
The worlds most successful

SKILLS
At a time when technology is
changing demand for different inds
of skills, and evolving patterns of
work mean that people are more
likely to pursue several careers
during their working lives, it is
crucial that our education system
enables people to upskill and retrain
Our skills and training sector
over their lifetimes. As part of our
has been held back by repeated
dynamic industrial strategy, lifelong
reorganisation, which deprives
training will deliver productivity and
providers, learners and employers
growth to the whole economy while
of the consistency they need to
transforming the lives of individuals
assess quality. Labour would
and communities.
abandon Conservative plans to once
To ensure that we deliver for every again reinvent the wheel by building
part of the UK, we will devolve new technical colleges, redirecting
responsibility for skills, wherever there the money to increase teacher
is an appetite, to city regions numbers in the FE sector.
or devolved administrations.
We share the broad aims of the
Sainsbury Review but would ensure
vocational routes incorporate the
Further and Adult Education
service sector as well as traditional
Despite claiming to be committed to manufacturing, working in tandem
delivering high-quality training, the with our broad industrial strategy
Conservatives have ruthlessly cut to deliver for the whole economy.
funding for FE colleges our main
We will improve careers advice
provider of adult and vocational
and open up a range of routes
education and reduced entitlements
through, and back into, education,
for adult learners. This has led to
striking a balance between classroom
diminishing numbers of courses and
and on-the-job training, to ensure
students, and plunged the sector
students gain both technical and
into crisis.
soft skills.
Labour would introduce free, lifelong
To implement the Sainsbury
education in Further Education (FE)
recommendations, we would correct
colleges, enabling everyone to upskill
historic neglect of the FE sector by
or retrain at any point in life.

giving the sector the investment in Increase capital investment to
teachers and facilities it deserves to equip colleges to deliver T-levels
become a world-leading provider of and an official pre-apprenticeship
adult and vocational education. trainee programme.
ore specifically, we would
Bring funding for 16 to18-year-olds Apprenticeships

in line with Key Stage 4 baselines,
Employer-led training is the most
while ensuring that the budget is
effective way of meeting our
distributed fairly between colleges
growing skills gap. Labour supports
and school sixth forms
the apprenticeship levy, but will
Restore the Education take steps to ensure that every
Maintenance Allowance for apprenticeship is of a high quality.
16 to 18-year-olds from lower
Labour will:
and middle income backgrounds
Maintain the apprenticeship levy
Replace Advanced Learner Loans
while taking measures to ensure
and upfront course fees with direct
high quality by requiring the
funding, making FE courses free at
Institute for Apprenticeships and
the point of use, including English
Technical Education to report on
for Speakers of Other Languages
an annual basis to the Secretary
(ESOL) courses.
of State on quality outcomes of
Drive up quality and consistency in completed apprenticeships to
the FE sector by: ensure they deliver skilled workers
for employers and real jobs for
Encouraging co-operation and
apprentices at the end of their
leadership across colleges
training. And we will work with
and sixth forms, improving
the devolved administrations to
curriculum breadth and quality
improve the operation of the levy
Setting a target, backed up by
Set a target to double the number
funding, for all teaching staff
of completed apprenticeships at
to have a teaching ualification
NVQ level 3 by 2022
within five years.
ive employers more e ibility in
In recognition of the role played by
how the levy is deployed, including
private-sector providers, we would
allowing the levy to be used for
extend support for training to
pre-apprenticeship programmes
teachers in the private sector

Guarantee trade union
representation in the governance
structures of the Institute of
Apprenticeships
Protect the 440 million funding

for apprenticeships for small-and
medium-sized employers who
dont pay the levy
Set targets to increase

apprenticeships for people with
disabilities, care leavers and
veterans, and ensure broad
representation of women, B ,
L BT and people with disabilities
in all kinds of apprenticeships
Consult on introducing incentives

for large employers to over-train
numbers of apprentices to fill skills
gaps in the supply chain and the
wider sector
Reverse cuts to Unionlearn
Set up a commission on Lifelong

Learning tasked with integrating
further and higher education.

HIGHER Labour will reintroduce maintenance
grants for university students, and we
EDUCATION will abolish university tuition fees.
University tuition is free in many

Labour believes education should northern European countries, and
be free, and we will restore this under a Labour government it will
principle. o one should be put off be free here too.
educating themselves for lack of
money or through fear of debt.
There is a real fear that students

are being priced out of university
education. Last year saw the steepest
fall in university applications for
30 years.
Since the Conservatives came to

power, university tuition fees have
been trebled to over 9,000 a year,
and maintenance grants have been
abolished and replaced with loans.
The average student now graduates

from university, and starts their
working life, with debts of 44,000.

CHAPTER 04
A FAIR DEAL
AT WORK

A FAIR DEAL So we will review the rules on union
recognition so that more workers
AT WORK have the security of a union.
At the same time as strengthening

Work should provide people workers rights, we will make work
with security and fulfilment. more fulfilling by using public
But for too many people wor investment to upgrade our economy
is insecure and does not ma e and create high-quality jobs. While
ends meet. the Conservatives stand back and
allow insecure work to spread,
The Conservatives boast about the
Labour will act to guarantee good
recovery of employment, but our
jobs and businesses.
labour market is failing. Real-terms
pay is still lower than before the
crash, and jobs are increasingly low
skilled and insecure.
A Labour government will invest in

enforcement through a new Ministry
of Labour, and empower workers and
their trade unions because we are
stronger when we stand together.

RIGHTS AT WORK entitlement so that workers
in Britain get the same proper
breaks as in other countries.
he ne t Labour government will
bring in a 20-point plan for security 7. Raise the Minimum Wage to the
and equality at work: level of the Living Wage (expected
to be at least 10 per hour by
1. Give all workers equal rights from
2020) for all workers aged 18
day one, whether part-time or
or over, so that work pays.
full-time, temporary or permanent
so that working conditions are 8. End the Public Sector Pay Cap
not driven down. because public sector workers
deserve a pay rise after years of
2. Ban zero hours contracts so that
falling wages.
every worker gets a guaranteed
number of hours each week. 9. Amend the takeover code to
ensure every takeover proposal
3. Legislate to ensure that any
has a clear plan in place to
employer wishing to recruit labour
protect workers and pensioners
from abroad does not undercut
because workers shouldnt suffer
workers at home because
when a company is sold.
it causes divisions when one
workforce is used against another. 10. Roll out maximum pay ratios
of 20:1 in the public sector and
4. Repeal the Trade Union Act
in companies bidding for public
and roll out sectoral collective
contracts because it cannot
bargaining because the most
be right that wages at the top
effective way to maintain good
keep rising while everyone
rights at work is collectively
elses stagnates.
through a union.
5. Guarantee trade unions a right

to access workplaces so that
unions can speak to members and
potential members.
6. Propose four new public holidays

bringing our country together
to mark our four national patron
saints days. These will be
additional to statutory holiday
CHAPTER 04 A FAIR DEAL AT WORK 47

11. Ban unpaid internships because only awarding public contracts to
its not fair for some to get a leg companies which recognise trade
up when others cant afford to. unions.
12. Enforce all workers rights to trade 20. Introduce a civil enforcement
union representation at work system to ensure compliance
so that all workers can be with gender pay auditing so
supported when negotiating that all workers have fair access
with their employer. to employment and promotion
opportunities and are treated
13. Abolish employment tribunal
fairly at work.
fees so that people have
access to justice. A Labour government will ensure
Britain abides by the global Labour
14. Double paid paternity leave to
standards of the ILO conventions.
four weeks and increase paternity
pay because fathers are parents All workers should be able to work
too and deserve to spend more in a safe environment and return to
time with their new babies. their families at the end of the day.
Labour will enforce regulations that
15. Strengthen protections for
save lives.
women against unfair redundancy
because no one should be As well as legislating against zero
penalised for having children. hours contracts, there are many
more workers on short hours
16. Hold a public inquiry into
contracts (some only guaranteed
blacklisting to ensure that
a few hours per week), but who
blacklisting truly becomes and
regularly work far more. We will
remains a thing of the past.
strengthen the law so that those who
17. Give equalities reps statutory work regular hours for more than 12
rights so they have time weeks will have a right to a regular
to protect workers from contract, re ecting those hours.
discrimination.
We will also scrap the changes
18. Reinstate protection against brought in by the Conservatives in
third party harassment because 2014 to TUPE, which weakened the
everyone deserves to be safe protections for workers transferring
at work. between contractors, and we will
abolish the loophole to the agency
19. Use public spending power to
workers regulations known as the
drive up standards, including
Swedish derogation.

We will consult with employers
and trade unions on legislating for
statutory bereavement leave, for time
off work after the loss of close family
members. We will also consult on
toughening the law against assaulting
workers who have to enforce laws
such as age-related sales or ticketing
arrangements, and who face regular
abuse.
Labour will maintain the ACAS Early

Conciliation System to try to solve
workplace issues efficiently, and we
will protect the current compromise
on Sunday trading hours.
Labour will also legislate to permit

secure online and workplace balloting
for industrial action votes and
internal union elections.
Workers in Britain are among

the easiest and cheapest to
make redundant, meaning when
multinational companies are taking
decisions to downsize that British
workers are at a disadvantage. We
will consult with trade unions and
industry on reviewing redundancy
arrangements to bring workers in
Britain more into line with their
European counterparts.
Stagnating incomes have forced

many to take on more debt. Labour
will introduce a version of Scotlands
Debt Arrangement Scheme to give
breathing space to households
struggling with high debts.

SELF-EMPLOYED Giving employment agencies and
end-users joint responsibility for
WORKERS ensuring that the rights of agency

workers are enforced.
elf-employment can bring many Rolling out sectoral collective

benefits, freedoms and e ibilities bargaining and strengthening
to people and is a vital and often trade union rights, because
entrepreneurial sector of our empowering people to claim
economy. their own rights in the workplace
is the most effective means of
But there is also mounting evidence
enforcement.
that workers are being forced into
self-employment by unscrupulous We would also extend the rights of
employers to avoid costs and their employees to all workers, including
duties to workers. Labour will clamp shared parental pay, making a
down on bogus self-employment by: substantial and immediate difference
to the quality of life of people in
Shifting the burden of proof, so
insecure work. But there are real
that the law assumes a worker is
concerns that rapid changes to the
an employee unless the employer
world of work are rendering existing
can prove otherwise.
employment categories outdated.
Imposing punitive fines on
Labour recognises that the law
employers not meeting their
often struggles to keep up with
responsibilities, helping to deter
the ever-changing new forms of
others from doing the same.
employment and work, so we will
Involving trade unions in set up a dedicated commission
enforcement, e.g. by giving them to modernise the law around
a seat on the executive board of employment status. New statutory
the new Ministry of Labour. definitions of employment status
would reduce the need for litigation
Giving the Ministry of Labour
and improve compliance.
the resources to enforce all
workers rights. The commission will be led by
legal and academic experts with
Banning payroll companies,
representation from industry and
sometimes known as umbrella
trade unions.
companies, which create a false
structure to limit employers tax
liabilities and limit workers rights.

CHAPTER 05
SOCIAL SECURITY

SOCIAL SECURITY Over 2.5 million women born in
the 1950s have had their state
pension age changed without fair
After seven years of rising poverty
notification. These women deserve
and inequality, Labour will rebuild
both recognition for the injustice
and transform our social security
they have suffered and some kind
system. Like the NHS, our social
of compensation for their losses.
security system is there for all of
us in our time of need, providing Alongside our commitment to
security and dignity in retirement extend Pension Credit to hundreds
and the basics in life should we of thousands of the most vulnerable
become sick or disabled, or fall women, Labour is exploring options
on hard times. for further transitional protections,
to ensure that all these women have
DIGNITY FOR security and dignity in older age.
This must never happen again.

PENSIONERS Labour will legislate so that accrued
rights to the basic state pension
Labour will always be on the side cannot be changed, but future
of pensioners and help ensure benefits can.
security and dignity for older
The pension age is due to rise to
people in retirement.
66 by the end of 2020. Labour
As the Conservatives abandon rejects the Conservatives proposal to
their commitments to older people, increase the state pension age even
Labour will guarantee the state further. We will commission a new
pension triple lock throughout the review of the pension age, specifically
next Parliament. It will rise by at least tasked with developing a e ible
2.5 per cent a year or be increased to retirement policy to re ect both
keep pace with in ation or earnings, the contributions made by people,
whichever is higher. the wide variations in life expectancy,
and the arduous conditions of
The Winter Fuel Allowance and free
some work.
bus passes will also be guaranteed as
universal benefits. ell restore confidence in the
workplace pension system and
We will protect the pensions of UK
put people rather than profit at
citizens living overseas in the EU or
its centre. Labour will end rip-off
further afield.

hidden fees and charges, and enable
the development of large efficient
pensions funds, which will mean
more cash for scheme members
and lower costs for employers.
A Labour government will commit

to an immediate review of the
mineworkers pension scheme and
British Coal superannuation scheme
surplus, sharing arrangements
between government and scheme
beneficiaries.
CHAPTER 05 SOCIAL SECURITY 55

DIGNITY FOR in working families, we will
commit to tackle child poverty
THOSE WHO with a new Child Poverty Strategy.
The Tories have completely failed on

CANNOT WORK their promise of making work pay and
on tackling the barriers to work faced
Poverty in Britain is rising due to by people with disabilities.
the Conservatives attempts to
Labour supports a social model of
balance the books on the backs
disability. People may have a condition
of the poorest. They have slashed
or an impairment but they are disabled
social security over the last seven
by society. We need to remove
years, leaving more people in
the barriers in society that restrict
poverty, subject to a punitive
opportunities and choices
sanctions regime, and reliant
for people with disabilities.
on food banks.
We will build on the previous Labour
Labour will act immediately to end the
governments commitment to people
worst excesses of the Conservative
with disabilities in 2009 as signatories
governments changes. We will:
to the UN Convention on the Rights
Scrap the punitive sanctions regime of Persons with Disabilities, and
incorporate it into UK law.
Scrap the Bedroom Tax
Labour will repeal the following cuts in
einstate Housing Benefit
social security support to people with
for under-21s
disabilities through a new Social Security
Scrap cuts to Bereavement Support Bill published in our first year in office.
Payment. We will:
The cuts to work allowances in Increase Employment and Support

Universal Credit (UC), and the decision Allowance (ESA) by 30 per week
to limit tax credit and UC payments for those in the work-related activity
to the first two children in a family, group, and repeal cuts in the UC
are an attack on low-income families limited capacity for work element.
and will increase child poverty. Labour
Increase Carers Allowance by 11 to
will reform and redesign UC, ending
the level of Jobseekers Allowance.
six-week delays in payment and the
rape clause. Implement the court decision on
Personal Independence Payment
With nearly four million children
(PIP) so that there is real parity of
currently living in poverty, the majority

esteem between those with physical We will change the culture of the
and mental-health conditions. social security system, from one that
demonises people not in work to one
Scrap the Work Capability and
that is supportive and enabling.
Personal Independence Payment
assessments and replace them with As well as scrapping the Conservatives
a personalised, holistic assessment punitive sanctions regime, we will
process that provides each individual change how obcentre Plus staff are
with a tailored plan, building on their performance-managed.
strengths and addressing barriers.
Labour will strengthen access to justice
Labour will end the privatisation of
for people with disabilities by enhancing
assessments.
the 2010 Equality Act, enabling
End the pointless stress of discrimination at work to be challenged.
reassessments for people with We will ensure that under the Istanbul
severe long-term conditions. Convention, disability hate crime and
violence against women with disabilities
Commission a report into expanding
is reported annually, with national
the Access to Work programme.
actions plans to address these issues.
CHAPTER 05 SOCIAL SECURITY 57

CHAPTER 06
SECURE HOMES
FOR ALL

SECURE HOMES of homes. e will overhaul the
Homes and Communities gency
FOR ALL to be Labours housing delivery body,

and give councils new powers to build
the homes local communities need.
Home is at the heart of all of our
lives. Its the foundation on which e will prioritise brownfield sites and
we raise our families, the bedrock protect the green belt. e will start
for our dreams and aspirations. work on a new generation of New
But for too many people, the Towns to build the homes we need
housing pressures they face are and avoid urban sprawl.
getting worse not better. Britain
e will make the building of new
has a housing crisis a crisis of
homes, including council homes,
supply and a crisis of affordability.
a priority through our National
After seven years of failure, the Transformation und, as part of
Conservatives have no plan to a joined-up industrial and skills
fi the housing crisis. Since 2010, strategy that ensures a vibrant
housebuilding has fallen to its lowest construction sector with a skilled
level since the 1 20s, rough sleeping workforce and rights at work.
has risen every year, rents have risen
Labour will not only build more,
faster than incomes, there are almost
we will build better. e will insulate
200,000 fewer home-owners, and
more homes to help people manage
new affordable housebuilding
the cost of energy bills, to reduce
is at a 24-year low.
preventable winter deaths, and to
It doesnt have to be like this. Labour meet our climate change targets.
will invest to build over a million e will consult on new rules on
new homes. By the end of the ne t minimum space standards to prevent
Parliament we will be building at rabbit hutch properties and on new
least 100,000 council and housing modern standards for building ero
association homes a year for carbon homes.
genuinely affordable rent or sale.
e will ensure that local plans
Labour will establish a new address the need for older peoples
Department for Housing to focus housing, ensuring that choice and
on tackling the crisis and to ensure downsi ing options are readily
housing is about homes for the many, available.
not investment opportunities for the
e will keep the Land egistry in public
few. Labours new housing ministry
hands, where it belongs, and make
will be tasked with improving the
ownership of land more transparent.
number, standards and affordability

HOME in their area to give them confidence
that new homes will be available to
OWNERSHIP them and their families.
After seven years of failure under

The number of home-owning the Conservatives, Labour will build
households has fallen by 900,000 the new homes first-time buyers
for the under-45s since 2010. need just as Labour councils have
been doing right across the country,
Labour will back first-time buyers
building an average of nearly
to buy that special first home. The
1,000 more new homes than
number of affordable homes to buy
Conservative councils.
has plummeted by two-thirds under
the Conservatives, so we will build e will back those who own their
thousands more low-cost homes homes, including home-owners who
reserved for first-time buyers. e own their home as leaseholders and
will guarantee Help to Buy funding who are currently unprotected from
until 2027 to give long-term certainty rises in ground rent from developers
to both first-time buyers and the or management companies. Labour
housebuilding industry. e will also government will give leaseholders
give local people buying their first security from rip-off ground rents
home first dibs on new homes built and end the routine use of leasehold
houses in new developments.
CHAPTER 06 S C H S LL 61
PRIVATE RENTERS e will reverse the cruel decision
to abolish housing benefit for
18 to 21- year-olds, which risks
We will end insecurity for private
putting even more vulnerable
renters by introducing controls on
young people on our streets.
rent rises, more secure tenancies,
landlord licensing and new
consumer rights for renters.
Soaring rents are a real problem

leading to more families living in
temporary accommodation, more
people sleeping rough, and many
not having enough money to save
up for a deposit or for a rainy day.
Labour will make new three-year

tenancies the norm, with an in ation
cap on rent rises. iven the particular
pressures in London we will look at
giving the ayor the power to give
renters in London additional security.
e will legislate to ban letting agency
fees for tenants.
e will also empower tenants to

call time on bad landlords by giving
renters new consumer rights. enters
are spending .6 billion a year on
homes that the government classes
as non-decent. round a uarter
of this is paid by housing benefit.
Labour government would
introduce new legal minimum
standards to ensure properties
are fit for human habitation and
empower tenants to take action if
their rented homes are sub-standard.

COUNCIL AND Labour will scrap the punitive
bedroom ta , which has caused
SOCIAL TENANTS many people to be evicted from

their home and their community.
Under the Conservatives, ore council homes have been

affordable housebuilding has sold off under the Conservatives and
fallen to a 24-year low. Labour only one in five have been replaced,
will build the genuinely affordable despite long housing waiting lists.
homes to rent and buy that the Labour will suspend the right-to-buy
country needs. policy to protect affordable homes
for local people, with councils only
e will remove government
able to resume sales if they can prove
restrictions that stop councils
they have a plan to replace homes
building homes and begin the
sold like-for-like.
biggest council building programme
for at least 30 years. e will ditch
the Conservatives ban on long-term
council tenancies to give council
tenants security in their homes.
e want more people to have a
secure tenancy in a home built
to high standards.
CHAPTER 06 S C H S LL 63
HOMELESSNESS
Homelessness is not inevitable in
a country as decent and well off
as ours. However, since 2010 the
number of people sleeping rough
in shop doorways and on park
benches has more than doubled.
This shames us all. There can be
no excuses it must end. Full stop.
ore families are living in temporary

accommodation, meaning 120,000
children spent last Christmas without
a home to call their own.
This growing homelessness shames

the Conservatives. The spiralling
rise in street homelessness results
directly from decisions made by
the Conservatives on pay, housing,
mental health and social security.
Labour will set out a new national

plan to end rough sleeping within
the ne t Parliament, starting by
making available 4,000 additional
homes reserved for people with a
history of rough sleeping. e will
also take action to tackle the root
causes of homelessness, including
safeguarding homeless hostels and
other supported housing from crude
Conservative cuts to housing benefit.

CHAPTER 07
HEALTHCARE
FOR ALL

NHS Labour will focus resources
on services to provide care closer
to home and deliver a truly
In the aftermath of war and
21st century health system.
national bankruptcy, it was a
We will work towards a new model
Labour government that found
of community care that takes into
the resources to create a National
account not only primary care but
Health Service our proudest
also social care and mental health.
achievement, providing universal
We will increase funding to GP
healthcare for all on the basis of
services to ensure patients can access
need, free at the point of use.
the care they need. And we will halt
Labour will invest in our NHS, pharmacy cuts and review provision
to give patients the modern, to ensure all patients have access
well-resourced services they need to pharmacy services, particularly in
for the 21st century. Labour will deprived or remote communities.
ensure that NHS patients get the
Labour will tackle the growing
world-class quality of care they need
problem of rationing of services
and that staff are able to deliver the
and medicines across England,
standards that patients expect.
taking action to address postcode
We will guarantee and uphold lotteries and making sure that the
the standards of service to which quality of care you receive does not
patients are legally entitled depend on which part of the country
under the NHS constitution. you live in. We will ensure all NHS
By guaranteeing access to treatment patients get fast access to the most
within 18 weeks, we will take one effective new drugs and treatments,
million people off NHS waiting lists and insist on value-for-money
by the end of the next Parliament. agreements with pharmaceutical
We will guarantee that patients can companies.
be seen in A&E within four hours.
To make sure that autistic people
By properly resourcing the NHS,
are able to access the whole of
Labour will stop the routine breach
their community and to put an end
of safe levels of bed occupancy, and
to social isolation, Labour will set
we will end mixed-sex wards. We
the ambition to make our country
will deliver the Cancer Strategy for
autism-friendly. We will ensure that
England in full by 2020, helping 2.5
everyone with a long-term condition,
million people living with cancer. And,
such as those with diabetes, will have
by properly resourcing ambulance
the right to a specialised care plan,
services, we will end the scandal of
and access to condition-management
slowing ambulance-response times.
education. We will ensure high-

quality, personalised care for people e will take action to significantly
approaching the end of their life, reduce infant deaths and to ensure
wherever and whenever they need it. all families who lose a baby receive
appropriate bereavement support.
Labour will ensure that NHS England
completes the trial programme Labour will invest in childrens
to provide PrEP (pre-exposure health, bringing in a new government
prophylaxis) as quickly as possible, ambition for our children to be
and fully roll out the treatment to the healthiest in the world. We will
high-risk groups to help reduce fight health ine ualities to break
HIV infection. the scandalous link between child
ill-health and poverty. We will
Labour will fund free parking in
introduce a new Index of Child
NHS ngland for patients, staff and
Health to measure progress against
visitors by increasing the tax on
international standards, and report
private medical insurance premiums.
annually against four key indicators:
obesity, dental health, under-fives and
mental health. We will set up a new
Public health
250 million Childrens Health Fund
For our health and care services to be to support our ambitions. As part of a
sustainable in the long term, we need preventative healthcare drive, Labour
a renewed commitment to keeping will increase the number of health
people fit and well. Labour will focus visitors and school nurses.
our efforts on childrens health,
We will publish a new childhood
protecting the wellbeing of the
obesity strategy within the first 100
nation for the decades to come.
days, with proposals on advertising
CHAPTER 07 HEALTHCARE FOR ALL 67

and food labelling. We will make a NHS staff
concerted effort to address poor
To guarantee the best possible
childhood oral health in England.
services for patients, Labour
Labour will implement the Soft Drinks
will invest in our health and care
Industry Levy, commonly known as
workforce. A Labour government
the sugar tax.
will step in with a long-term
We will implement a strategy for workforce plan for our health service
the children of alcoholics based that gives staff the support they need
on recommendations drawn up to do the best for their patients.
by independent experts.
Labour will scrap the NHS pay cap,
Labour will implement a Tobacco put pay decisions back into the hands
Control Plan, focusing on issues of of the independent pay review body
mental health and young smokers. and give our NHS workers the pay
they deserve. Labour will protect
Loneliness is an increasing problem
patients and legislate to ensure
for our society, and as Jo Cox put
safe staffing levels in the NHS.
it, young or old, loneliness doesnt
discriminate. A Labour government Labours long-term ambition is for
will create a more equal society our health system to have the best
for the many by working with trained staff in the world, ready to
communities, civil society and deal with whatever they have to face
business to reduce loneliness. in the years to come. Labour will
re-introduce bursaries and funding
Labour will address historic public-
for health-related degrees. Labour
health injustices. We will hold a public
will support doctors to deliver the
enquiry into contaminated blood.
best care possible by investing in the
We will also hold a public inquiry
training, education and development
into medicines, including Valproate,
of doctors throughout their careers.
medical devices and medical
products licensing and regulation. Labour will immediately guarantee
the rights of staff working in our
A Labour government would
health and care services. Labour
maintain our commitment to improve
will support NHS whistleblowers to
sexual-health services, especially HIV
make sure health service staff are
services which will include reducing
able to speak up in support of the
the rates of undiagnosed and late-
best possible standards for patients.
diagnosed HIV, ending the stigma
Labour will make it an aggravated
of HIV in society, and promoting
criminal offence to attack NHS staff.
the increased availability of testing
and treatment.

NHS funding We will introduce a new legal duty
on the Secretary of State and on NHS
Labour will commit to over
England to ensure that excess private
30 billion in extra funding over the
profits are not made out of the NHS
next Parliament through increasing
at the expense of patient care.
income tax for the highest 5 per cent
of earners and by increasing tax on
private medical insurance, and we will
free up resources by halving the fees
paid to management consultants.
Labour will boost capital funding

for the NHS, to ensure that patients
are cared for in buildings and using
e uipment that are fit for the 21st
century. And we will introduce a new
ffice for Budget esponsibility for
Health to oversee health spending
and scrutinise how it is spent.
Labour will halt and review the NHS

Sustainability and Transformation
Plans, which are looking at closing
health services across England, and
ask local people to participate in the
redrawing of plans with a focus on
patient need rather than available
finances. e will create a new uality,
safety and excellence regulator
to be called NHS Excellence.
The next Labour government will

reverse privatisation of our NHS and
return our health service into expert
public control. Labour will repeal the
Health and Social Care Act that puts
profits before patients, and make
the NHS the preferred provider.
We will reinstate the powers of the
Secretary of State for Health to have
overall responsibility for the NHS.

TOWARDS the first year. This will be enough
for providers to pay a real living
A NATIONAL wage without cutting the quality

of care they provide. It will allow
CARE SERVICE implementation of the principles

of the Ethical Care Charter, already
adopted in 28 council areas, ending
Our social care sector is in crisis,
15-minute care visits and providing
with severe consequences for the
care workers with paid travel time,
uality of care, public finances,
access to training and an option to
personal assets, pressures on
choose regular hours.
unpaid carers of family and
friends, and delays to discharging Labour will also increase the Carers
patients from hospitals. Allowance for unpaid full-time carers
to align the benefit with rates of the
Care services have been slowly but
Jobseekers Allowance.
relentlessly privatised. In recent
years, one in ten people reaching Short-term funding solutions
the age of 65 have faced lifetime care will not address the fundamental
costs of over 100,000, with some long-term challenges of our
homeowners paying the entire value ageing demographics, nor meet
of their homes. the growing demands arising from
late-life illnesses.
The Conservatives cuts have led
to 4.6 billion lost from social care The National Care Service will be
budgets, despite rising demand. built alongside the NHS, with a
Around 1.2 million older people shared requirement for single
have care needs that are going commissioning, partnership
unmet. Care in the community has arrangements, pooled budgets
become a cover for unseen neglect. and joint working arrangements.
We will build capacity to move
In our first term, Labour will lay
quickly towards a joined-up service
the foundations of a National Care
that will signpost users to all the
Service for England.
appropriate services at the gateway
ur first urgent task will be to through which they arrive.
address the immediate funding
In its first years, our service will
crisis. We will increase the social care
require an additional 3 billion of
budgets by a further 8 billion over
public funds every year, enough to
the lifetime of the next Parliament,
place a maximum limit on lifetime
including an additional 1 billion for

personal contributions to care costs,
raise the asset threshold below
which people are entitled to state
support, and provide free end of life
care. There are different ways the
necessary monies can be raised. We
will seek consensus on a cross-party
basis about how it should be funded,
with options including wealth taxes,
an employer care contribution or a
new social care levy.
Improving the quality of social care

is a vital part of providing dignity
in older age and independence
and support for people who are
vulnerable or have a disability
or a mental health condition.
Labour will build a new National

Care Service. We will also set out
the funding alternatives clearly and
honestly, seeking to implement
change through consensus.
Providing dignity and care in
old age should transcend party
politics and campaign slogans.

MENTAL HEALTH of mental health funding goes to
services for children and young
people. In recent years, referrals
Mental ill-health is the biggest
to Child and Adolescent Mental
unaddressed health challenge of
Health Services have increased by
our age. Around one in four people
two-thirds, and the number of young
in the UK will experience a mental
people presenting to A&E units with
health problem each year.
psychiatric conditions has doubled.
Yet, since 2010 mental health funding Suicide is now the most common
has been cut, the number of mental cause of death for boys aged
health nurses has fallen by 6,600 and between five and 1 .
remaining mental health budgets
Labour will invest in early
have been raided to plug holes
intervention by increasing the
elsewhere in the NHS.
proportion of mental health
Labour will work to reverse the budgets spent on support for
damage done to mental health children and young people.
services under this Tory government, We will ensure that access to a
which is particularly hitting services counselling service is available for
for LGBT and BAME communities. all children in secondary schools.
In order to protect services, we will Giving mental health the same

ring-fence mental health budgets and priority as physical health means
ensure funding reaches the frontline. not only ensuring access to services,
but also making improvements,
We will end the scandal of children
to those services. Choice is important
being treated on adult mental health
in a modern NHS, and patients
wards and stop people being sent
who receive their therapy of choice
across the country, away from their
have better outcomes. Labour will
support networks, to secure the
therefore ask the National Institute
treatment they need by bringing
for Health and Care Excellence
forward the ending of out-of-area
(NICE) to evaluate the potential
placements to 2019.
for increasing the range of evidence-
Labour will also bring an end to based psychological therapies
the neglect of childrens mental on offer.
health. Half of people with mental
health problems as adults present
with symptoms by the age of 14.
Yet, across England only 8 per cent

CHAPTER 08
SAFER
COMMUNITIES

POLICE We will support the police in the
performance of their duties. We will
AND CRIME provide officers, police community

support officers and civilian staff with
the equipment and people they need
Last year, there were an estimated
to provide effective policing services,
6.1 million incidents of crime
including from the growing threat of
experienced by adults in England
cybercrime. We will work with them
and Wales. Almost every police
to ensure that our communities are
force in the country recorded an
safer, for all of us.
increase in crime, with worrying
rises in some of the most violent We will champion community policing
offences, including gun and nife policies and incentivise good policing
crime and homicide. practice, working with Police and
Crime Commissioners throughout
On Theresa Mays watch, police
the country on strategies to prevent
numbers have been cut by 20,000.
crime. We will also work to eliminate
Cuts to the police force endanger
institutional biases against BAME
communities and endanger police
communities, that mean you are still
officers too. Labours approach to
far more likely to be stopped and
policing crime will be different.
searched as a black or Asian man.

Labour will recruit 10,000 more police the resources and the powers they
officers to work on community beats, need to protect our country and
equivalent to at least one more for keep us all safe. We will also ensure
every neighbourhood in the country. that such powers do not weaken our
individual rights or civil liberties.
We will ensure appropriate support
is provided to victims of crime and When as they sometimes will
introduce legislation for minimum these aims collide, the exercise of
standard entitlements to service from investigatory powers must always
criminal justice agencies. be both proportionate and necessary.
e will reintroduce effective judicial
The level of violence against
oversight over how and when they
women and girls is not acceptable.
are used, when the circumstances
Labour will emphasise the safety
demand that our collective security
of women and girls by appointing
outweighs an individual freedom.
a commissioner to set new standards
for tackling domestic and sexual Labour will review the Prevent
violence. We will establish a National programme with a view to assessing
Refuge Fund and ensure stability both its effectiveness and its potential
for rape crisis centres. We will make to alienate minority communities.
age-appropriate sex and relationship In doing so, we will address the
education a compulsory part of the governments failure to take any
curriculum so young people can learn effective new measures against
about respectful relationships. a growing problem of extreme
We will strengthen the law, banning or violent radicalisation.
the use of community resolutions as
a response to domestic violence.
Labour will continue to enforce

effective measures to prevent all
forms of abuse, including female
genital mutilation.
Security and counter-terrorism
Labour will maintain the cross-border

security co-operation agreements
with our intelligence partners in
Europe and beyond. We will always
provide our security agencies with
CHAPTER 08 SAFER COMMUNITIES 77

BORDER teachers, medical staff and other
public sector workers into unpaid
SECURITY immigration officers, forcing

them to provide information
to the authorities.
Border security is vital in
preventing serious crimes The Conservatives promised and
including child abduction, people failed to deliver 100 per cent e it
tra c ing, smuggling of drugs checks at the borders. Labour will
and guns, terrorism and modern recruit 500 more border guards to
day slavery. add to our safeguards and controls.
Contrary to the Conservative

governments rhetoric, they have
not taken control of our borders or
strengthened our national security.
Instead, they have suppressed the
independent inspectors reports
highlighting weaknesses in our
borders and cut the Border Force
by thousands of personnel. They
want to turn private sector landlords,

FIRE AND Labour will recruit 3,000 new
firefighters, review staffing levels,
RESCUE SERVICES and consult on national minimum

standards for the service. We will
reinstate separate governance
Labour will halt cuts to the
arrangements for Fire and
Fire Service. The Conservatives
Police Services.
have cut , firefighter obs
and closed do ens of fire stations. We will give the Fire and Rescue
As a result, response times have Services a statutory duty to co-
got slower and lives have been put ordinate and respond to oods.
at ris .

JUSTICE rights, by the delays arising from
overcrowded courts and by the
costs of fees.
e all need access to the ustice
system to protect us from those Eligibility for legal aid has been
who would deny us our rights. withdrawn across a whole range
Labour will set out to ma e Britain of areas. This has had disturbing
a fair society with liberties for all, consequences for the delivery
governed by the rule of law, and in of justice.
which the law is enforced equally.
Democracy is founded upon the
The Conservatives threaten our rule of law and judicial independence.
Human Rights Act and may withdraw We will also review the judicial
us from the European Convention of appointments process, to ensure a
Human ights. Labour will retain the judiciary that is more representative
Human Rights Act. of our society.
Justice is all too often denied. Labour will immediately

Too many ordinary people know re-establish early advice entitlements
this. There are football fans, trade in the Family Courts. The shameful
unionists, environmental activists consequences of withdrawal have
and people living with disabilities included a requirement for victims
whose personal experiences of domestic abuse to pay doctors for
provide first-hand testimony. certification of their injuries. Labours
plans will remove that requirement.
Labour will hold public in uiries
At the same time, we will legislate
into historic injustices. We will
to prohibit the cross examination of
open inquiries into Orgreave and
victims of domestic violence by their
blacklisting. We will release all
abuser in certain circumstances.
papers relating to the Shrewsbury
24 trials and the 37 Cammell Laird We will reintroduce funding for the
shipyard workers. preparation of judicial review cases.
Judicial review is an important way
Justice today has become the
of holding government to account.
preserve of the rich. Budget cuts
There are sufficient safeguards to
mean that thousands are deprived
discourage unmeritorious cases.
of fair resolutions. Justice is eroded
by the poor decisions of privatised We will review the legal aid means
assessments, by the withdrawal of tests, including the capital test for
legal aid, by the removal of appeal those on income-related benefits.

Labour will consider the Labour will not prohibit the courts
reinstatement of other legal aid from raising monies to provide
entitlements after receiving the final services, but we will introduce a
recommendations of the Access to ratio to establish the maximum
ustice Commission led by Lord Bach. difference between actual costs
and charges levied.
The justice system can be bewildering
and intimidating. There are many Labour will continue to e tend
improvements that can be made both the use of technology in our court
to the law and to the court processes. service where it enhances access to
justice, timely dispute resolution and
Labour will introduce a no-fault
efficient administration.
divorce procedure.
Labour government will consult

on establishing an environmental
tribunal with simplified procedures
to hear challenges to unlawful
government decisions, like those
made on the air quality strategy,
without engaging in prohibitively
expensive processes.

PRISONS AND rehabilitation revolution, and
then just gave up. Their proposal
PROBATION now is to lock up more and more

individuals, ignoring the evidence
SERVICE that our prisons are too often

dumping grounds for people who
need treatment more than they need
Labour is tough on crime and
punishment. Labour will insist on
tough on the causes of crime, but
personal rehabilitation plans for
we wont ma e the lives of wor ers
all prisoners.
in the criminal ustice system
tougher. rison o cers, probation Prison should always be a last resort
o cers and other wor ers need the states most severe sanction for
the resources to do their obs serious offences. It should never be
safely, effectively and successfully. a substitute for failing mental health
services, or the withdrawal of funding
Our prisons are overcrowded.
from drug treatment centres. We will
Staffing levels are too low. The
review the provision of mental health
situation is dangerous and violence
services in prisons.
against prison officers is rising. iots
and disturbances in our prisons are nder a Labour government,
increasing. Prison escapes cause there will be no new private prisons
distress to people living near prisons. and no public sector prisons will
be privatised.
Labour government will publish
annual reports on prisoner-staff Labours innovative models of youth
ratios, with a view to maintaining justice successfully turned round
safety and ending overcrowding. the lives of many young people,
steering them away from crime
e will recruit 3,000 more prison
and towards more constructive
officers and review the training and
ways. In government, we will again
professional development available.
continue to innovate and incentivise
e will publish prison officer to
local authorities, police forces
prisoner ratios for all prisons. Our
and probation services to engage
proposal to lift the public sector
effectively with young people at
pay cap will help to increase the
risk of drifting into anti-social or
recruitment and retention of both
criminal behaviours. We will embed
prison officers and probation officers.
restorative justice practices across
e-offending rates are too high. all youth offending institutions.
The Conservatives talked of a

The part-privatisation of probation
services has already failed.
Labour will review the role

of Community Rehabilitation
Companies.
The Conservatives bulldozed changes

to the probation service through
despite warnings that they had not
been tested and were founded on
a weak evidence base.

CHAPTER 09
LEADING
RICHER LIVES

LOCAL under-resourced and disempowered,
with democratic planning authorities
COMMUNITIES unable to stand up to big developers.

As a result, planning decisions have
become too in uenced by narrow
Councils deliver vital local
economic considerations, with
services to our communities,
developers profit taking precedence
but their budgets have been
over community priorities.
slashed by Conservative cuts.
This has led to a deterioration of A Labour government will properly
local services, from bin collection resource and bolster planning
to road repair, and the loss of authorities with fuller powers to
important community assets put people and communities at the
such as libraries, youth centres heart of planning. We will update
and womens refuges. compulsory purchase powers to
make them more effective as a tool
Labour believes in devolving power
to drive regeneration and unlock
to local communities but that requires
planned development.
the necessary funding follows.
You cannot empower local Under the Conservatives, nearly
government if you impoverish it. 400 million has been cut from youth
services and over 600 youth centres
A Labour government will give local
have closed. Labour will end the cuts
government extra funding next year.
to youth services.
We will initiate a review into
reforming council tax and business We will continue to support all
rates and consider new options training routes for social workers,
such as a land value tax, to ensure including initial social work training
local government has sustainable provided within or accredited by a
funding for the long term. higher education institution. We will
also prevent the private sector and
Labour is the party of devolution
subsidiaries of private companies
and we believe in handing back power
from running child protection
to communities. We will devolve
services. We will deliver earlier
powers over economic development,
protection to victims of abuse by
complete with the necessary funding.
strengthening mandatory reporting,
It is through the planning system and guaranteeing allegations will be
that communities can shape the reported and action taken to make
kinds of high streets, homes and children safe.
amenities that they want. But under
the Conservatives, planning has been

And we will refocus social care to work of commercial fostering agencies,
with families in local communities to as well as commissioning a review
prevent children becoming at risk of on establishing a national
going into care. fostering service.
The government is currently We will extend Staying Put

failing to develop a strategy for arrangements to support all
the wholesale improvement of children and young people in
the care system that delivers for residential and other forms of
all, not just those children being care until they are 21.
considered for adoption. We will
We will enshrine the European
promote the care and educational
Convention on the Rights of
achievement of our most vulnerable
the Child into domestic law.
children and increase support for
children in kinship and foster care, Labour will fund child burial fees for
and their families. It is important bereaved parents, ensuring that they
that other forms of care, such as are scrapped in all council areas. We
kinship care and fostering, are not recognise that some councils have
marginalised, as this will not result already made this humane move.
in the step-change we need to see
Libraries are vital social assets, valued
in outcomes for looked after children.
by communities across the country.
Labour will support further regulation
CHAPTER 09 LEADING RICHER LIVES 87

We will ensure libraries are preserved We will give members of the
for future generations and updated Local Government Pension Scheme
with wi-fi and computers to meet full trustee status to help control
modern needs. We will reintroduce investments, and reduce fees
library standards so that government and charges.
can assess and guide councils in
This Conservative government has
delivering the best possible service.
taken rural communities for granted,
Labour will end the closure of with chronic underinvestment in
Crown Post ffice branches, which transport, broadband and public
play a major role in serving their services, including the closure of local
communities. We will also set up schools, post offices and libraries.
a commission to establish a Post
Rural infrastructure and industry has
Bank, owned by the Post ffice and
been neglected. Labour will invest in
providing a full range of banking
broadband, housing and transport
services in every community.
to create jobs and ensure that the
Labour will give communities more nations prosperity is felt beyond
power to shape their town centres, our large towns and cities.
by strengthening powers to protect
Labours national investment
post offices, community pharmacies,
plans include coastal protections,
high street banks, sports clubs,
better ood management and the
pubs and independent shops,
broadband and 4G extensions that
and promote measures to decrease
will underpin the future success
high-street vacancies.
of rural small businesses.
We will set up a national review of
Rural councils deliver public services
local pubs to examine the causes for
differently, and this needs to be
their large-scale demise, as well as
re ected in funding allocation
establishing a joint taskforce that
mechanisms. We will consider
will consider future sustainability.
these differences in our re-evaluation
We will reduce the maximum stake of the business rate schemes.
on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals
e will introduce a rural-proofing
from 100 to 2. Labour will also
process so that all our laws, policies
legislate to increase the delay
and programmes consider their
between spins to reduce the
impact on rural communities.
addictive nature of the games.

Labour will support tourism at the We will reinstate the Agricultural
heart of government. The tourism Wages Board to underpin
industry represents 9.6 per cent employment standards and wages.
of UK employment, 4.9 per cent of
We will make utility companies return
export and 9 per cent of GDP, but its
roads to a condition no worse than
importance is too often forgotten.
when they started digging.
Labour will ensure that tourism
becomes a national priority again.
We will reinstate the cross-Whitehall
ministerial group on tourism, and
ensure that government ministers
across departments understand
how their roles fit into the national
tourism agenda.
The Conservatives have failed

to provide a clear, ambitious or
sustainable vision for the future of the
farming, food and fishing industries.
We will expand the role of the

Groceries Code Adjudicator to
ensure suppliers and consumers
get a fair deal.
e will reconfigure funds for farming

and fishing to support smaller traders,
local economies, community benefits
and sustainable practices.
We will allow EU workers employed

across farming, fishing and food
manufacturing to remain in the UK,
and reinstate the Seasonal Agricultural
Workers Scheme.

TRANSPORT Railways Act 1993 under which the
Conservatives privatised our railways.
Labour will invest in a modern, In public ownership, we will deliver

integrated, accessible and real improvements for passengers
sustainable transport system by capping fares, introducing free
that is reliable and affordable. wi-fi across the network, ensuring
safe staffing levels, ending the
Our transport systems illustrate
expansion of driver only operations,
the abject failure of Tory policies:
and introducing legal duties to
relentless deregulation, privatisation
improve accessibility for people
and fragmentation.
with disabilities.
They say we get choice and
Across the country we will enable
efficiency but the reality of their
councils to provide first-class bus
transport privatisations has been
services by extending the powers to
that services are less reliable, safety
re-regulate local bus services to all
is compromised, fares have risen,
areas that want them, and we will
ticketing has become complicated
support the creation of municipal bus
and air quality has worsened.
companies that are publicly run for
On our railways, we pay some passengers not profit.
of the highest fares in Europe
Under the Conservatives, bus fares
for increasingly unreliable and
have risen and services have been
overcrowded services.
cut. Labour will introduce regulations
The beneficiaries of public funding to designate and protect routes of
siphoned off through transport critical community value, including
privatisations have been the those that serve local schools,
earnings of directors, dividends hospitals and isolated settlements in
for shareholders and the coffers rural areas.
of overseas governments.
A publicly owned railway system can
Labour will prioritise public service be the backbone of our plans for
over private profit. nd we will start integrated transport. It will be built
by bringing our railways back into on the platform of Network Rail,
public ownership, as franchises which we will retain whole, working
expire or, in other cases, with with the devolved administrations.
franchise reviews or break clauses. We will ensure new rolling stock is
We will introduce a Public Ownership publicly owned and will encourage
of the Railways Bill to repeal the expansion of public freight services

in a publicly owned railway that will
leave our roads freer of traffic and
our air cleaner. We will facilitate
British procurements, including
steel, whenever possible.
A Labour government will invest to

regenerate the local and regional
economies across the whole country,
so that every area gets its fair share
of transport investment.
A Labour government will complete

the HS2 high-speed rail line from
London through Birmingham to
Leeds and Manchester and then To prepare for global new trade
into Scotland, consulting with arrangements, we will study the
communities affected about the feasibility of port development
optimal route. We will link HS2 across the UK.
with other rail investments, such as
We will invest in Scotland,
Crossrail of the North (tying together
Wales and Northern Ireland
our great Northern cities) and on to
too, working with devolved
the Durham Freight Centre. We will
administrations through the UK
build a new Brighton Main Line for
National Infrastructure Commission
the South East.
and its devolved counterparts.
In London, to ensure our capital
Our plans will encourage and
continues to prosper, we will build
enable people to get out of their
Crossrail 2.
cars, for better health and a cleaner
To harness the economic potential environment.
of new technologies and science,
Labour will position the UK at the
we will complete the Science Vale
forefront of the development,
transport arc that runs from Oxford
manufacture and use of ultra low
to Cambridge through Milton Keynes.
emission vehicles, supporting the
nd we will deliver rail electrification creation of clean modes of transport
and expansion across the whole through investment in low emission
country, including in Wales and the vehicles.
South West. We will also consult
e will retrofit thousands of diesel
with local communities to re-open
buses in areas with the most severe air
branch lines.
quality problems to Euro 6 standards.

We will reform the legislation Labour recognises the need for
governing taxi and private hire additional airport capacity in the
services, introducing national South East. We welcome the work
standards to guarantee safety and done by the Airports Commission,
accessibility, updating regulations and we will guarantee that any
to keep pace with technological airport expansion adheres to our
change and ensuring a level playing tests that require noise issues to
field between operators. be addressed, air quality to be
protected, the UKs climate change
We will invite the National
obligations met and growth across
Infrastructure Commission to
the country supported.
recommend the next stages for
developing and upgrading the We will continue working with our
National Cycle Network. e reaffirm neighbours through the European
the commitments in the Cycling and Unions Highways of the Sea
Walking Investment Strategy. programme and by negotiating to
retain membership of the Common
We will continue to upgrade our
Aviation Area and Open Skies
highways and improve roadworks at
arrangements.
known bottlenecks. The A1 North, the
Severn Bridge and the A30 provide
essential connections and require our
urgent consideration. We will work
with the Welsh Government to scrap
the tolls on the Severn Bridge.
After seven years of stalled progress,

Labour will reset the UKs road
safety vision and ambitiously strive
for a transport network with zero
deaths, reintroducing road-safety
targets, setting out bold measures
that will continuously improve safety
standards.
We will refocus the roads building

and maintenance programmes,
connecting our communities, feeding
public transport hubs and realising
untapped economic potential.

ENVIRONMENT resilience, invest in rural and coastal
communities, and guarantee the
protection and advancement of
Investing in our environment
environmental quality standards.
is investing in our future. We
will defend and extend existing The Conservatives threatened
environmental protections. We bonfire of red tape is a threat to
will champion sustainable farming, our environmental protections and
food and fishing by investing in to the quality of our lives. Their
and promoting skills, technology, record on combating climate change
market access and innovation. and environmental damage has been
one of inaction and broken promises.
The Conservatives broke their
promise to be the greenest The balance needs resetting: our
government ever. They have air is killing us, our farms face an
allowed fracking in national parks, uncertain future, our fish stocks
evaded their responsibilities on air are collapsing, our oceans are used
uality and cut the funding for ood as dumping grounds, and our forests,
defences. The future of our farming, green belt, national parks, Areas
food and fishing industries hangs of Outstanding Natural Beauty and
in the balance, to be used as leverage Sites of Special Scientific Interest
in Brexit negotiations. are all under threat.
Only a Labour government will Labour will introduce a new Clean

prioritise a sustainable, long-term Air Act to deal with the Conservative
future for our farming, fishing and legacy of illegal air quality. We will
food industries, fund robust ood safeguard habitats and species in the

blue belts of the seas and oceans
surrounding our island. We will
ANIMAL WELFARE
set guiding targets for plastic bottle
Animals in our food chain need
deposit schemes, working with
welfare standards. Domestic
food manufacturers and retailers
animals require stronger protection
to reduce waste. We will protect our
from cruelty. Wild animals
bees by prohibiting neonicotinoids
need a sustainable ecosystem.
as soon as our EU relationship
allows us to do so. We will work Labours vision is for the UK to lead
with farmers and foresters to plant the world with high animal welfare
a million trees of native species to standards in the wild, in farming and
promote biodiversity and better for domestic animals. Labour will
ood management. nlike the increase the maximum sentence
Conservatives who attempted to for those convicted of committing
privatise our forests, Labour will animal cruelty.
keep them in public hands.
We will promote cruelty-free
Our stewardship of the environment animal husbandry and consult on
needs to be founded on sound ways to ensure better enforcement
principles and based on scientific of agreed standards.
assessments. We will establish
We will prohibit the third-party sale
a science innovation fund, working
of puppies, introduce and enforce
with farmers and fisheries, that will
a total ban on ivory trading, and
include support for our small scale
support the ban on wild animals
fishing eet.
in circuses.
We will cease the badger cull,

which spreads bovine TB.
Labour ended fox hunting, deer

hunting and hare coursing.
Only a Labour government will
maintain the bans.

CULTURE their services, and others starting
to charge entry fees. The Cultural
FOR ALL Capital Fund will have a particular

focus on projects that could increase
museums and galleries income
Britains creative industries are
and viability.
the envy of the world, a source of
national pride, a driver of inward Labour will end cuts to local authority
investment and tourism, and a budgets to support the provision of
symbol of the kind of country libraries, museums and galleries.
we are now and aspire to be in We will take steps to widen the reach
the future. As Britain leaves the of the Government Art Collection so
EU, we will put our world-class that more people can enjoy it.
creative sector at the heart of our
We will continue to mark the ongoing
negotiations and future industrial
centenary of the First World War,
strategy. We need to do more to
and the sacrifice of all those who died
open up the arts and creative
during it. Labour remains committed
industries to everyone.
to honouring the role of all who
We will introduce a 1 billion Cultural have served our country, including
Capital Fund to upgrade our existing the Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish
cultural and creative infrastructure soldiers who fought for Britain.
to be ready for the digital age and
Our thriving creative sector, from
invest in creative clusters across the
the games industry to fashion,
country, based on a similar model
needs a strong pipeline of skilled
to enterprise zones. Administered
talent to sustain its growth.
by the Arts Council, the fund
will be available over a five-year Labour will introduce an arts pupil
period. It will be among the biggest premium to every primary school
arts infrastructure funds ever, in England a 160 million annual
transforming the countrys cultural per year boost for schools to invest
landscape. in projects that will support cultural
activities for schools over the longer
Labour will maintain free entry to
term. We will put creativity back at
museums and invest in our museums
the heart of the curriculum, reviewing
and heritage sector. Conservative
the EBacc performance measure
cuts to the Arts Council and local
to make sure arts are not sidelined
authorities have created a very
from secondary education.
tough financial climate for museums,
with some closing or reducing Labour will launch a creative careers
advice campaign in schools to

demonstrate the range of careers And we will introduce an agent
and opportunities available, and of change principle in planning
the skills required in the creative law, to ensure that new housing
industries, from the tech sector to developments can coexist with
theatre production. existing music venues.
Being a performer is a great career. We all need to work harder to keep

But too often the culture of low or children safe online. Labour will
no pay means it isnt an option for ensure that tech companies are
those without well-off families to obliged to take measures that further
support them. We will work with protect children and tackle online
trade unions and employers to agree abuse. We will ensure that young
sector-specific advice and guidelines people understand and are able
on pay and employment standards to easily remove any content they
that will make the sector more shared on the internet before they
accessible to all. turned 18.
e will improve diversity on and off-

screen, working with the film industry
and public service and commercial
broadcasters to find rapid solutions
to improve diversity.
We recognise the serious concern

about the value gap between
producers of creative content and
the digital services that profit from its
use, and we will work with all sides to
review the way that innovators and
artists are rewarded for their work in
the digital age.
Music venues play a vital role in

supporting the music industrys
infrastructure and ensuring a healthy
music industry continues in Britain.
Labour will review extending the
1,000 pub relief business rates
scheme to small music venues.

MEDIA To protect democracy and media
freedom, we will take steps to
ensure that Ofcom is better able to
The BBC is a national asset which
safeguard a healthy plurality of media
we should all be proud of. Unlike
ownership and to put in place clearer
the Conservatives, Labour will
rules on who is fit and proper to own
always support it and uphold
or run TV and radio stations.
its independence. We will ensure
the BBC and public service
broadcasting has a healthy future.
Labour is committed to keeping
Channel 4 in public ownership
and will guarantee the future of
Welsh-language broadcaster S4C.
Victims of phone hacking have

been let down by a Conservative
government that promised
them justice, but failed to follow
through. We will implement the
recommendations of part one of
the Leveson Inquiry and commence
part two which will look into the
corporate governance failures
that allowed the hacking scandal
to occur.
Local newspapers and broadcasting

in Britain are an important part
of our democracy and culture.
We are concerned about closures
of local media outlets and the
reductions in number of local
journalists. Labour will hold a
national review local media
and into the ownership of
national media to ensure plurality.

SPORT The broken ticketing market in the
UK means tickets sell out instantly
and are put up at vastly in ated
Sport must be run in the interests
prices on ticket-tout websites. Labour
of those who participate in it and
will enforce anti-bot legislation and
love it, not just for a privileged few.
implement the recommendations of
We will give football supporters
the Waterson Review to ensure fair
the opportunity to have a greater
opportunities for fans to buy tickets.
say in how their clubs are run.
We will legislate for accredited
supporters trusts to be able to
appoint and remove at least two
club directors and to purchase
shares when clubs change hands.
We will review fan participation in
sports governance more widely.
Sporting events must be open

and accessible to all. We will push
sports authorities to make rapid
improvements on access provision
for fans with disabilities.
Labour will ensure the Premier

League delivers on its promise to
invest 5 per cent of its television
rights income into the grassroots
game to help the next generation of
players and coaches, and to improve
facilities and pitches. The Premier
League has so far failed to do so,
despite lucrative new domestic and
international TV deals.

CHAPTER 10
EXTENDING
DEMOCRACY

EXTENDING This is about where power and
sovereignty lies in politics, the
DEMOCRACY economy, the justice system, and in

our communities.
As we change our The Convention will look at extending

constitutional relationship with democracy locally, regionally and
Europe, we must also adjust nationally, considering the option
our own arrangements. Just as of a more federalised country.
many felt that power was too
Our fundamental belief is that
centralised and unaccountable
the Second Chamber should be
in Brussels, so many feel that
democratically elected. In the
about Westminster.
interim period, we will seek to
A Labour government will establish a end the hereditary principle and
Constitutional Convention to examine reduce the size of the current House
and advise on reforming of the way of Lords as part of a wider package
Britain works at a fundamental level. of constitutional reform to address
the growing democratic deficit
We will consult on its form
across Britain.
and terms of reference and
invite recommendations on We will extend the Freedom of
extending democracy. Information Act to private
companies that run public services.

We will reduce the voting age to 16.
At 16, you are eligible to pay tax, get
ENGLAND
married or even join the army.
We need a relationship
You deserve a vote.
of equals with devolved
We will safeguard our democracy administrations. Labour will
by repealing the Lobbying Act, create a role for a Minister
which has gagged charities, and for England, who will sit
introduce a tougher statutory under the Secretary of State
register of lobbyists. for Communities and Local
Government, and will work
with the Secretaries of State
for Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland.
e will restore regional offices to
increase contact between central
and local government on the ground.
Labour will be guided by public

opinion when determining whether
to include directly elected mayors in
future devolution deals.
CHAPTER 10 EXTENDING DEMOCRACY 103

SCOTLAND We will set up an inquiry into
blacklisting and will urge the Scottish
Government to hold an inquiry into
Labour opposes a second
the actions of Scottish police during
Scottish independence
the miners strike.
referendum. It is unwanted
and unnecessary, and we
will campaign tirelessly to
ensure Scotland remains part
of the UK. Independence would
lead to turbo-charged austerity
for Scottish families.
The Scottish Parliament will receive
a huge funding increase from our
policies, and massive numbers of
Scots will benefit from our plans
in areas reserved to Westminster.
We will establish a Scottish

Investment Bank, with 20 billion of
funds available to local projects and
Scotlands small businesses, creating
work and stimulating the economy.

WALES We will bring forward legislation to
make the devolution settlement more
sustainable as set out by the Welsh
We are proud of the
Labour government in its Alternative
achievements of the Welsh
Wales Bill, including the devolution
Labour government and
of policing.
its record of delivery. In
government, we will work in
partnership to stand up for the
people of Wales and protect
public services.
We need long-term reform of how
the UK allocates public expenditure
to ensure that it re ects the needs
of different parts of our country and
that no nation or region of the UK
is unfairly disadvantaged.
We will build on the Development

Bank of Wales using more than 10
billion from Labours new National
Investment Bank.
CHAPTER 10 EXTENDING DEMOCRACY 105

NORTHERN
IRELAND
The peace we have today in
Northern Ireland is due to the
courageous endeavours of
those on all sides who have
been brave enough to build it.
The Good Friday Agreement, which
Labour helped to negotiate, is one
of the greatest achievements of
Labour in office.
We will continue to fully support the

principles and structures inherent
within the Good Friday Agreement
and we remain committed to
working with all sides to deliver
real peace and greater prosperity
to Northern Ireland.

CHAPTER 11
A MORE
EQUAL SOCIETY

A MORE EQUAL Devastating cuts to the Equality
and Human Rights Commission by
SOCIETY the Conservatives reveal their real

attitude, beyond the rhetoric, to
issues of equality and discrimination.
The Labour Party is the party
These cuts have been made amid
of equality and seeks to build a
the rise in hate crime recorded by
society and world free from all
the police in the last year. A Labour
forms of racism, anti-Semitism
government will enhance the powers
and Islamophobia. Labour has
and functions of this commission,
a strong record on progressing
making it truly independent, to
womens rights and freedoms
ensure it can support ordinary
that we can be proud of.
working people to effectively
Labour brought in the Equal Pay challenge any discrimination they
Act, the Sex Discrimination Act, may face. A Labour government will
the Equality Act, the Minimum reinstate the public sector equality
Wage and introduced Sure Start. duties and seek to extend them to
Every progressive piece of equality the private sector, ensuring
legislation has been delivered all citi ens benefit from this
by Labour. Labour legislation.
Under the Conservatives, progress is

being rolled back for women, people
with disabilities, LGBT people and
BAME communities. Cuts to public
services and social security are
landing disproportionately on women
and ethnic minorities, with 86 per
cent of the money raised from the
Tories tax and social security changes
coming from womens pockets.
It was a Labour government

that enshrined the rights and
freedoms contained in the European
Convention on Human Rights into
UK law, marking the birth of the
Human Rights Act.

WOMEN Labour will continue to ensure
a womans right to choose a safe,
legal abortion and we will work
The advances for women in
with the Assembly to extend that
Britain and around the world
right to women in Northern Ireland.
have been fought and won by
determined women working Violence against women and girls
together for real change, often continues to be a global epidemic,
in the face of resistance and affecting an estimated one in three
even abuse. women worldwide. In the UK, on
average two women are killed by
Labour has a proud record on
their current or a former partner
progressing womens rights and
every week. Under the Conservatives,
freedoms. We brought in the Equal
over a third of all local authority
Pay Act, the Sex Discrimination Act,
funding to domestic and sexual
the Equality Act, the Minimum Wage
violence services was already cut
and introduced Sure Start. Ours will
by 2012.
be a government for women, with
a cabinet of at least 50 per cent Labour will appoint a new
women, which fights ine uality and commissioner to enforce
misogyny in every part of society. minimum standards in tackling
domestic and sexual violence.
A Labour government will gender
A Violence Against Women
audit all policy and legislation
Commissioner would also provide
for its impact on women before
stable central funding for womens
implementation.
CHAPTER 11 A MORE EQUAL SOCIETY 109

refuges and rape crisis centres and
encourage sharing of best practice
between local authorities.
Maternity discrimination under

the Conservatives is out of control,
almost doubling in the past ten years.
Many mothers are reluctant to raise
complaints about discrimination and
unfair treatment. Unlawful maternity
and pregnancy discrimination is
now more common in Britains
workplaces than ever before, with
54,000 pregnant women and new
mothers forced out of their jobs in
2015. Labour will reverse the unfair
employment tribunal fees which
literally price people out of justice.
Labour will also extend the time
period for applying for maternity
discrimination to the employment
tribunal from three to six months.
Labour will work with the Health

and Safety Executive to make
mandatory a workplace risk
assessment for pregnant women
so necessary adaptions can be
made, and review support for
women who have miscarriages.

LGBT EQUALITY Labour will bring the law on LGBT
hate crimes into line with hate crimes
based on race and faith, by making
Labour has a proud record
them aggravated offences.
of championing the fight for
LGBT equality. We abolished To tackle bullying of LGBT young
Section 28, equalised the people, Labour will ensure that all
age of consent, created civil teachers receive initial and ongoing
partnerships, and it was only training on the issues students face
through Labour votes that and how to address them. And we
equal marriage became law. will ensure that the new guidance
However, there is still a long for relationships and sex education
way to go on issues such as is LGBT inclusive.
education, equal access to
Likewise, we will ensure all
public services, levels of LGBT
frontline health and social care
hate crime, and mental and
professionals receive ongoing
physical wellbeing.
training to understand and meet
A Labour government will reform the needs of LGBT patients and
the Gender Recognition Act and the service users. Labour will ensure
Equality Act 2010 to ensure they that NHS England completes the
protect Trans people by changing the trial programme to provide PrEP as
protected characteristic of gender quickly as possible, and fully roll out
assignment to gender identity and the treatment to high-risk groups to
remove other outdated language help reduce HIV infection.
such as transsexual.

DIVERSE already acting on recommendations,
including reform of internal
COMMUNITIES disciplinary procedures to make them

firmer and fairer, and e pansion of
training to tackle anti-Semitism. On
Now more than ever, we need
a matter of such importance, Labour
to celebrate the profound
urges all democratic political parties
and enriching transformation
to do the same.
brought by the diversity of
people in this country, with We will end racism and discrimination
all their different e periences, against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller
talents and contributions. communities, and protect the right
to lead a nomadic way of life.
Today Black and Asian-owned
businesses are an important and Black and sian workers still suffer
growing feature of our economy a massive pay gap. By introducing
and society. These businesses are equal pay audit requirements on
important not just because of their large employers, Labour will close
financial contribution they have also this pay gap. By making the Minimum
helped transform particular sectors Wage a real Living Wage, we will
of the economy. benefit ethnic minority workers who
are more likely to be on low pay.
The Labour Party is the party of
equality. We seek to build a society We will implement the Parker Review
free from all forms of racism, anti- recommendations to increase ethnic
Semitism and Islamophobia. diversity on the boards of Britains
largest companies.
We should all be deeply troubled
by the rise in racially aggravated
attacks and race hate crime in the
past year. Anti-Semitic incidents are
also on the rise once more and we
are committed to combatting this
trend with adequate resources and
firm political will.
Commissioning a report on our own

party was an unprecedented step
in British politics, demonstrating a
commitment to tackling prejudice
wherever it is found. Labour is

PEOPLE WITH legislate to make terminal illness a
protected characteristic under the
DISABILITIES Equality Act.
Autism covers a wide range of

Over the last seven years conditions that re ect neurological
people with disabilities differences among people. e will
have been failed by the work with employers, trade unions
Conservative government. and public services to improve
awareness of neurodiversity in
People with disabilities have been
the workplace and in society.
vilified with divisive rhetoric like
scroungers and shirkers. In this Labour will give British Sign
climate, recorded disability hate Language full recognition as
crime has increased. a recognised language.
Last year the UN published a report

concluding that the Conservative
government had committed grave,
systematic violations of the rights
of persons with disabilities.
Currently 4.2 million People with

disabilities live in poverty in Britain,
and the disability employment gap
remains stubbornly high.
Labour believes in the social model

of disability that it is society which
disables people, and it is our job to
remove those barriers. The previous
Labour government signed the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The next
Labour government will sign the
UNCRPD into UK law.
Labour will act to tackle

discrimination, remove barriers
and ensure social security delivers
dignity and empowerment, not
isolation and stigma. Labour will

CHAPTER 12
A GLOBAL BRITAIN

A GLOBAL
BRITAIN
Labour will take all necessary
measures to protect the security
of our citizens and country. We will
put con ict resolution and human
rights at the heart of foreign
policy, commit to working through
the UN, end support for unilateral
why our response to these challenges
aggressive wars of intervention
must be different. e cannot seek
and bac effective action to
to solve the worlds problems on
alleviate the refugee crisis.
our own, but instead must exhaust
Unlike the Conservatives, Labour diplomatic solutions alongside
believes Britains foreign policy international, regional and local
should be guided by the values partners within the framework of
of peace, universal rights and international law.
international law. Today, these values
This will require a modern
are being tested. As we leave the
and inclusive strategy, uniting
European Union, keeping Britain
the interwoven foreign policy
global is one of our countrys most
instruments of diplomacy,
urgent tasks.
defence and development.
We face the most complex,
interwoven security and development
challenges of our time; ongoing
wars across the Middle East,
unprecedented numbers of refugees,
global terrorism, climate change,
the threat of nuclear con ict, a
devastating food crisis across East
Africa and beyond, an erratic US
administration and a more combative
government in Russia.
The lessons of the past, including

those from the Chilcot Inquiry, show

DIPLOMACY
Labour recognises that, in leaving
the EU, Britain will face both
challenges and opportunities.
We are deeply ambitious for our
countrys future and will draw
on our international networks
to make Britain a champion of
multilateral engagement.
We will invest in the UKs
diplomatic services, rebuilding
some of the key capabilities
lost as a result of Tory cuts.
Since the Second World War,

Labour is strongly committed to
Britains most important diplomatic
reducing human suffering caused
relationship has been with the
by war. We will publish a strategy for
US. But that special relationship
protecting civilians in con ict, setting
is based on shared values. When
out detailed plans for work on con ict
the current Trump administration
prevention and resolution, post-
chooses to ignore them, whether by
con ict peacebuilding, and justice
discriminating on the basis of religion
for the victims of war crimes. Labour
or breaking its climate change
has created a Minister for Peace and
commitments, we will not be afraid
Disarmament to lead this work.
to disagree.
Labour is committed to a
From the Middle East to Africa, in
comprehensive peace in the Middle
recent years millions of people have
East based on a two-state solution
been killed, injured or displaced
a secure Israel alongside a secure
through wars, terrorism and military
and viable state of Palestine. There
intervention. In Syria alone, more
can be no military solution to this
than 400,000 people have been killed.
con ict and all sides must avoid
Labour will work tirelessly to end
taking action that would make peace
the con ict and get the diplomatic
harder to achieve. That means both
process back on track, while fully
an end to the blockade, occupation
supporting international efforts to
and settlements, and an end to
investigate, prosecute and convict the
rocket and terror attacks. Labour will
perpetrators of war crimes.
continue to press for an immediate
CHAPTER 12 A GLOBAL BRITAIN 117

return to meaningful negotiations and the rule of law. We will review
leading to a diplomatic resolution. all training and equipment contracts
A Labour government will with repressive regimes, to ensure
immediately recognise the state that Britain never colludes in the
of Palestine. mistreatment of civilians.
We will also urge negotiations We will always stand up for the rights,
towards a political resolution in all interests and self-determination of
other regions currently experiencing Britains overseas territories and
con ict, including ashmir, Libya, their citizens, whether protecting the
Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia sovereignty of the Falkland Islands
and Yemen, and give our strong against anyone who would seek to
support to those countries already challenge it, or supporting the right
working to end decades of division, of the Chagos islanders to return to
including Colombia, Cyprus and the their homelands.
Democratic Republic of Congo.
We will reclaim Britains leading role in
In other regions, including the orean tackling climate change, working hard
Peninsula and the South China Sea, to preserve the Paris Agreement and
rising tensions threaten global peace. deliver on international commitments
Under a Labour government, Britain to reduce emissions while mitigating
will work to reduce those tensions the impacts of climate change on
through an insistence on multilateral developing countries.
political dialogue.
While strengthening our commitment
From Afghanistan and Iraq to to the UN, we also acknowledge its
the streets of European cities, shortcomings, particularly in light of
Daesh continues to commit acts repeated abuses of the veto power by
of indiscriminate barbarism. We some permanent members of the UN
will take all lawful action necessary Security Council. We will work with
to counter and confront this evil, our international partners to build
and we will advocate a long-term support for UN reform and make
multinational political strategy, led by its institutions more effective and
regional actors, to tackle the spread responsive. We will appoint dedicated
of extremism. global ambassadors for womens
rights, LGBT rights and religious
In our discussions with different
freedom to fight discrimination and
governments, including China,
promote equality globally.
Egypt, the Gulf States, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Russia and Turkey, we
will urge respect for human rights

Exports, trade and investment play a
vital role in creating jobs and growth
in Britain, and Labour supports
the considerable contribution
that a responsible, world-leading
defence and security industry
makes to the economy. However,
we also believe that strong export
controls have a vital role to play in
sustaining a legitimate trade in arms,
while protecting jobs and D.
Labour will therefore implement the
Arms Trade Treaty to a consistently
high standard, including ceasing
arms exports to countries where
there is concern that they will be
used to violate international
humanitarian law (IHL).
In particular, Labour will demand a

comprehensive, independent, UN-led
investigation into alleged violations of
IHL in Yemen, including air strikes on
civilians by the Saudi-led coalition. We
will immediately suspend any further
arms sales for use in the con ict until
that investigation is concluded.
Labour remains committed to an

independent inquiry into Britains
military role in the 1984 raid on the
Golden Temple in Amritsar.

DEFENCE with the EU on a range of operational
missions to promote and support
global and regional security.
The primary duty of any
government is to protect and The last Labour government
defend its citizens. We live in a consistently spent above the NATO
period of growing international benchmark of 2 per cent of GDP.
tensions. A strong, viable and Conservative spending cuts have put
sustainable defence and security Britains security at risk, shrinking
policy must be strategic and the army to its smallest size since
evidence led. the Napoleonic wars. The scrapping
of Nimrod, HMS Ark Royal and the
As previous incoming governments
Harrier jump-jets have weakened
have done, a Labour government will
our defences and cost British
order a complete strategic defence
taxpayers millions.
and security review when it comes
into office, to assess the emerging Labours commitment to spending at
threats facing Britain, including least 2 per cent of GDP on defence
hybrid and cyber warfare. Cyber will guarantee that our Armed Forces
security will form an integral part of have the necessary capabilities to
our defence and security strategy fulfil the full range of obligations,
and we will introduce a cyber-security and ensure our conventional forces
charter for companies working with are versatile and able to deploy in a
the Ministry of Defence. range of roles.
We will ensure that our armed Labour supports the renewal of

forces are properly equipped the Trident nuclear deterrent. As a
and resourced to respond to nuclear-armed power, our country
wide-ranging security challenges. has a responsibility to fulfil our
Labour will commit to effective N obligations under the Nuclear Non-
peacekeeping, including support for Proliferation Treaty. Labour will lead
a UN Emergency Peace Service. multilateral efforts with international
partners and the UN to create a
As the security threats and challenges
nuclear-free world.
we face are not bound by geographic
borders, it is vital that as Britain The defence industry is world-
leaves the EU, we maintain our close leading, and Labour will continue to
relationship with our European support development and innovation
partners. Alongside our commitment in this sector and to ensure that it can
to NATO, we will continue to work continue to rely on a highly skilled

workforce. We are committed to a autonomy over their housing choices,
procurement process that supports and review and improve the Forces
the British steel industry and defence Help to Buy scheme.
manufacturing industry, which in
Personnel who are injured while
turn provide good jobs throughout
serving should have prompt access
the supply chain. Labour will publish
to support and compensation. We
a Defence Industrial Strategy
will resist any Conservative proposals
White Paper, including a National
to abolish the right to seek legal
Shipbuilding Strategy to secure a
redress against the MoD where
long-term future for the industry,
compensation claims cannot be
workers and defence.
otherwise settled.
We have a duty to properly reward
We are fully committed to supporting
and remunerate our Armed Forces.
our veterans. We will promote
Under the Conservatives, our Armed
greater awareness of the Armed
Forces have been hit by rent rises,
Forces Covenant, seek greater
pay restraint, and changes to tax
consistency in its implementation
and benefits, putting real pressure
by public authorities, and promote
on service personnel and their
increased participation in the
families. We will ensure they get the
Corporate Covenant.
pay and living conditions that their
service merits. We will also roll out a Homes Fit for
Heroes programme that will insulate
Dedicated service personnel are
the homes of disabled veterans
at the heart of our defence policy.
for free.
Labour will immediately examine
recruitment and retention policies in
order to stem the exodus seen under
the Conservatives. We will publish
new strategic equality objectives to
ensure our personnel re ect our
diverse society.
We will drive up standards in Service

Accommodation, and take action
where private companies have failed
to deliver. We will consult with service
personnel, giving them greater

DEVELOPMENT resolution and of human rights, which
is why they will be at the heart of
Labours foreign policy.
Labour has a proud record on
international development. The Conservatives have completely
We will continue to spend failed to show any leadership on
0.7 per cent of gross national this issue. In the first 100 days of
income on o cial development government, we will produce a
assistance, and develop a targeted cross-departmental strategy to meet
development agenda based on our international obligations on the
the principles of redistribution, refugee crisis.
social justice, womens rights and
The current global tax system is
poverty reduction.
deeply unjust. Africas economies
Labour will take robust action to end alone lose more than 46 billion
the self-regulation of Department annually through corruption and tax
for International Development evasion more than 10 times what
private contractors, establishing and they receive in aid. Labour will act
enforcing new rules to ensure aid is decisively on tax havens, introducing
used to reduce poverty for the many, strict standards of transparency for
not to increase profits for the few. crown dependencies and overseas
territories, including a public
We fully support the Sustainable
register of owners, directors, major
Development Goals (SDGs) agreed
shareholders and beneficial owners
globally to eradicate poverty and
for all companies and trusts.
protect the environment. Labour
will develop a cross-government We will work in partnership with
strategy for ensuring the SDGs are communities in the Global South
implemented, and report annually to to develop long-term strategies
Parliament on our performance. for strengthening economies and
societies. We would reinstate the
In the wake of Bre it, to fulfil our
Civil Society Challenge Fund to
national obligations under the
support trade unions, womens
SDGs, Labour will guarantee the
associations and other civil society
least developed countries continued
organisations which are the most
access to the market to protect
effective forces in winning human
vital export revenues.
rights and workers rights.
There are more refugees and displaced
Jobs in global supply chains can
people around the world than at any
be of enormous importance to
time since the Second World War.
working people across the Global
This is a failure of diplomacy, con ict

South, but human rights abuses and At least a billion people around
exploitation of lower environmental the world cannot currently obtain
standards and workers rights are the health services they need, and
too common. Labour is committed to another 100 million are pushed
ensuring respect for human rights, below the poverty line as a result
workers rights and environmental of paying for their services. We will
sustainability in the operations of establish a Centre for Universal
British businesses around the world, Health Coverage, providing
and we will work to tighten the rules global partnerships, support and
governing corporate accountability encouragement to countries that
for abuses in global supply chains. want UHC, helping them to generate
the funding and systems required
Labour will work with business to
for its delivery.
ensure the provisions of the Modern
Slavery Act are fully respected, We will invest in new public-health
including reporting on due diligence driven research and development
in supply chains. We will extend to find effective and affordable
the remit of the Groceries Code treatments for diseases in the
Adjudicator beyond direct suppliers developing world, including fighting
to ensure fair treatment for all those TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS and neglected
producing goods for the s largest tropical diseases.
supermarkets.

9548_17 Promoted by Iain McNicol, General Secretary, the Labour Party, on behalf of the Labour Party, both at Southside, 105
Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT. Printed by Potts Print, Nelson Park, 6 Moorland Way, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 1WG.

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FOR THE

THE LABOUR PARTY MANIFESTO 2017

1 CREATING AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL 7

3 TOWARDS A NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE 33

4 A FAIR DEAL AT WORK 45

6 SECURE HOMES FOR ALL 59

9 LEADING RICHER LIVES 85

10 EXTENDING DEMOCRACY 101

11 A MORE EQUAL SOCIETY 107

12 A GLOBAL BRITAIN 115

Lets build a country where we invest

FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 7

ECONOMY THAT breaking down the barriers that hold

WORKS FOR ALL the gender pay gap. Our National

8 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

A FAIR TAXATION transport fares.

Corporation ta in the is the

THE BOOKS also consult on implementing the

But government must have a laser-

To maintain good fiscal health, we will

Compliance with the rule will be

10 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

We will deliver universal superfast

12 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

OUR ECONOMY: crisis, many northern and coastal

LABOURS economies and communities are left

INDUSTRIAL regional and local economies working

STRATEGY of the countrys current account,

14 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

We will appoint a Digital Ambassador

OUR FINANCIAL place a firm ring-fence between

SYSTEM will protect consumers. We will

16 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

Scrap uarterly reporting for

18 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

OWNERSHIP OF while its owners trade shares at

OUR ECONOMY Governments privatisation of Royal

ENERGY transition to a fairer system

Labours energy policy is built Take energy back into public

The energy system is Supporting the creation

One in ten households are in Legislating to permit publicly

20 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

The low-carbon economy is one

Currently, the buys and sells

22 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 23

BREXIT as bargaining chips.

It is shameful that the Prime

24 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

CHAPTER 02 NEGOTIATING BREXIT 25

26 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

We will also improve engagement

CHAPTER 02 NEGOTIATING BREXIT 27

28 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

Labour will ease the underlying

Refugees are not migrants. They

Labour welcomes international

CHAPTER 02 NEGOTIATING BREXIT 29

TRADE deals safeguard the right to

30 FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW

Labour will develop capital

Labour is committed to growing

CHAPTER 02 NEGOTIATING BREXIT 31

FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 33

FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 7

FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 23

FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 33

FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 45

FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 53

FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW 59