It is 2015, roughly 5 months before the general election, and all the major players are revving the proverbial engine. Cameron, Miliband and Clegg will race to win votes from ‘protest’ parties such as UKIP, SNP and the Greens. The campaigning was kicked off by Labour who launched a passionate address on the 5th of January at Salford, Greater Manchester. With statistics showing that the number of people who self-identify with one of the main parties is now below 50%, our traditional party leaders will face tough resistance before the big Election Day on May 7th.
- What Labour pledges
Essentially, Miliband is turning his attention to ‘the people’, directing policies at the average worker. This sentiment was epitomised when he said he would hold ‘4 million’ conversations on doorways rather than spending that much on billboards.
- Better average pay: an increase of the minimum wage to £8 an hour by 2020. Other related pledges include a 10p tax band for lower earners and the regulating of larger businesses to ensure fair competition.
- Mansion Tax and NHS Drive: These are the significant differentiating factors in Labour’s 2015 manifesto. Billions of pounds in taxes from properties worth £2 million+ will be funnelled into health-care: “the NHS is our nation's greatest treasure, to be protected and nurtured for generations to come. A guaranteed GP appointment within 48 hours. A one-week wait for cancer tests. And a £2.5 billion Time To Care fund to support more midwives, care workers, doctors and nurses”.
- 3. Immigration: Miliband defends immigration, emphasising that it is good for the country but says he will change the welfare system so that people cannot claim benefits unless they have paid into the system. He will also make it illegal for businesses to undercut local wages with migrant labour.
- Pro-EU and Devolution: Miliband asserts that there will not be an EU referendum. To keep in tow Scottish voters, and potential defectors to the SNP, the Labour leader has announced “he wants to end a century of centralization in our country.”
- What the Tories pledge
There has already been controversy with George Osborne presenting dossiers that detailed Labour’s alleged extraneous spending of £21bn, hours after Miliband’s campaign address. The Conservative Manifesto continues to debunk Labour as ‘weak’ where their pledges can be grouped into two major stringent plans:
- Immigration and EU: A power play in countering UKIP losses, the Tories state they will definitely be holding an in/out EU referendum. They also boast a hard-line approach to immigration, capping benefits to immigrants and reducing non-EU immigration to the country: “so our economy delivers for people who want to work hard and play by the rules.”
- Strong Economy: The Tories are lauding their ‘Long Term Economic Plan’. The party says they “reduced the deficit by a half since 2010” and will continue to help small businesses and cut corporation tax in a bid to “grow enterprises.”
- What the Liberal Democrats Pledge
Pushing for a stronger economy that does not compromise equability, party leader Nick Clegg also gave a conference on January the 5th:
- A Better Economy: Clegg undercut both Miliband and Cameron in this hotly debated area when he promised less borrowing than Labour and less cuts than the Conservatives. He called Labour ‘an ex’ who was bombarding the straying public with ‘late-night phone calls’: “A man (Ed Balls) who, as city minister, let the banks get away with utterly irresponsible behaviour.” He also criticised Cameron’s government for plotting against common interests: “They remorselessly cut the money for public services even after the deficit has been eliminated. And they have committed to £7bn of unfunded tax cuts and will not ask for a single penny more in tax from the very wealthy.”
- NHS and Mental Health support: The party have also said they will increase NHS spending to £8bn by 2020, including a separate £12m to help those suffering mental health problems to return to the workplace.
Asian Voice will continue to bring you updates in the active months to come.
