Three of the four largest UK political parties in Westminster have now launched their manifestos ahead of the UK’s General Election to be held on Thursday 4 July. A manifesto is a published written document which contains the policies that the party stands for and would implement if elected to govern.
Outlined below are some of the key highlights from each that are of most relevance to BTHA members.
Conservative
The Conservative Party manifesto focuses on strengthening the economy, cutting migration, and improving skills and getting more people into work.
- On education and skills, the manifesto details how children spend less time playing and more time on screens and expresses concern that mental illness is rising dramatically. Therefore, the manifesto pledges to ban the use of mobile phones during the school day on statutory footing. It also contains a pledge to consult on introducing further parental controls over access to social media, which we can expect to build on existing responsibilities set out for social media companies under the Online Safety Act.
- On tax and finance, they have published a ten-point plan to support SMEs including: easing the burden of business rates for high streets by increasing the multiplier on distribution warehouses that support online shopping, keep VAT under review, take more companies out of scope of business reporting requirements.
- On the environment, they will guarantee a vote in the next Parliament on the next stage of the net zero pathway; ensure the accountability of the Environment Agency with clearer objectives to focus on; develop a UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme; and prevent new waste incinerators being built, including those with recent permit approvals.
Labour
The Labour Party manifesto focuses on stabilising the economy, getting the NHS back on its feet, and boosting energy security, with an overall focus on change.
- With regards to business taxation, replace the business rates system to “raise the same revenue but in a fairer way”, levelling the playing field between high street shops and online businesses; cap corporation tax at the current level of 25% for the entire Parliament.
- On trade, seek targeted trade agreements aligned with the industrial strategy and economic strengths of the UK; publish a trade strategy to give UK businesses access to international markets; and seek a new strategic partnership with India, including a free trade agreement.
- The manifesto recognises that children and young people face significant harm online but did not detail how Labour would tackle the issue.
- On the environment, the manifesto sets out plans to reduce waste by moving to a circular economy, as well as ensuring the future policymaking reflects commitments to reach net zero and carbon budgets.
- On the UK’s trading relationship with the EU, Labour have stated there will be no return to the single market, customs union, or freedom of movement but have said they will work to improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU by addressing barriers to trade.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrat Party manifesto focuses is on the NHS, environment, and the UK’s relationship with Europe.
- Appoint a Cabinet Minister for Children and Young People.
- Appoint a Chief Secretary for Sustainability in the Treasury to ensure that the economy is sustainable.
- Set up an independent advocacy body for children’s safety online.
- Unlock British business’ global potential by cutting resource waste and pollution, by accelerating the transition to a more circular economy that maximises the recovery, reuse, recycling and remanufacturing of products.
- Create a nature-positive economy, tackle plastic pollution and waste, and get Britain recycling by:
- Aiming for the complete elimination of non-recyclable single-use plastics within three years and replacing them with affordable alternatives.
- Working to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 through the UN High Seas Treaty and finalising a Global Plastics Treaty to cut plastic pollution worldwide.
- Setting an ambition of ending plastic waste exports by 2030.
