A brighter, more secure future for England

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015 THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY MANIFESTO 201

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FOR ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Contents

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO.................................................................................................................................................. 5 1. CREATING A STRONG VOICE FOR ENGLAND ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 2. OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND......................................................................................................................................13 Our plan for the North West ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Our plan for the North East......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Our plan for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 19 Our plan for the East of England............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Our plan for the East Midlands................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21 Our plan for the West Midlands............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Our plan for London........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Our plan for the South East.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Our plan for the South West........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 31

3. RESERVED POLICY AREAS FOR ENGLAND ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 33 CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36

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THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

We have a plan for every stage of your life: FOR THE BEST START IN LIFE we will continue to increase spending on the NHS, provide 7-day a week access to your GP and deliver a truly 7-day NHS – so you know you will always have access to a free and high quality health service when you need it most.

FOR YOUR SCHOOL YEARS we will maintain the amount of money that follows each child into school, ensure there is a good primary school place available for every child and lift the cap on university places – so you have the skills you need to succeed.

TO SECURE YOUR FIRST JOB we will create 3 million new apprenticeships; take everyone earning less than £12,500 out of Income Tax altogether and pass a law to ensure we have a Tax-Free Minimum Wage in this country; and continue to create a fairer welfare system where benefits are capped to the level that makes work pay – so you are rewarded for working hard and doing the right thing.

AS YOU RAISE YOUR FAMILY we will extend the Right to Buy to Housing Association tenants, build 200,000 new Starter Homes – 20 per cent below the market price, for first-time buyers under 40 – and provide 30 hours of free childcare to working parents of three and four year-olds – so you are able to work while having the security of your own home in which to raise your family.

WHILE YOU GROW OLDER we will not raise VAT, National Insurance contributions or Income Tax but we will raise the 40p Income Tax threshold to £50,000 and take the family home out of tax by increasing the effective Inheritance Tax threshold for married couples and civil partners to £1 million – so you can keep more of your income and pass it on to future generations.

AND WHEN YOU RETIRE we will continue to increase the Basic State Pension by at least 2.5 per cent through the triple lock, give you the freedom to use your pension savings as you want and pass them on tax-free and we will cap the amount you can be charged for your residential care – so you can have the dignity and security you deserve in your old age.

The next Conservative Government will secure a brighter future for you, your family and Britain.

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THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

The Conservative Party English Manifesto England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; ours is the greatest Union of nations the world has ever seen. And that Union was renewed last September. When I spoke on the steps of No 10 Downing Street on the morning after the Scottish Referendum I reiterated that the Conservative Party is the party of the Union – and we will always do our utmost to keep our family of nations together.

As a result of our plans, more powers are now going to Scotland, to Wales and to Northern Ireland – and we have published Manifestos for each one of those nations. At the same time, it is absolutely right that a new and fair settlement applies to all parts of our United Kingdom. So it is in that spirit that we are publishing the first English Manifesto for a General Election. We do not support English nationalists, and nor do we want an English Parliament. However, we set out here how a Conservative Government will create a stronger voice for England by delivering English votes for English laws, and how we will ensure that every part of England benefits from the economic recovery and the growth resulting from our long-term economic plan.

Finally we have a summary of the commitments a Conservative Government can give to working people in England.

Of course, the UK Parliament in Westminster will always retain powers over vital issues such as our national security.

But just as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have full responsibility for some policy areas, so does England.

Our great National Health Service, our education system, our support to help first time buyers – all these policies are effectively devolved to England, just as they are devolved to Scotland and Wales. Our UK Manifesto sets out in full detail exactly what we propose in these areas. In these pages, we draw out our most important commitments.

People in Scotland and Wales will not have the security of these commitments, but we can confirm to people in England the following guarantees. We will: • always increase spending on the NHS, deliver a truly 7-day NHS and keep our life-saving Cancer Drugs Fund • give more schools more freedoms so they are in charge of their own affairs, continue to allow parents, charities and teachers to set up new schools in the state sector, and keep school league tables • fund 3 million new apprenticeships • extend the Right to Buy to Housing Association tenants and build 200,000 new Starter Homes – 20 per cent below the market price, for first-time buyers under 40 • freeze commuter rail fares and provide 30 hours of free childcare to working parents of three and four-year-olds.

This is all part of our plan to provide security for you and your family, at every stage of your life. It’s a plan to entrench the progress of the past five years – cutting tax for 30 million people, improving childcare for working parents and keeping mortgage rates lower by continuing to work through our long-term economic plan. And it’s underpinned by the simple Conservative values that those who work hard and do the right thing must be rewarded, that everyone should be able to rise as high as their talents and effort will take them.

Together we have come so far. So let us keep moving forward; and set our sights on making our great country greater still.

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THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Creating a strong voice for England Our commitment to you: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – ours is the greatest Union of nations the world has ever seen. As Conservatives, we are proud of our United Kingdom. We are proud of the contribution that the four nations of our Union make to Britain’s place in the world. Together we have done so much, and we can do so much more. We will: always do our utmost to keep our family of nations together – the Conservative Party is the party of the Union remain committed to the Union and strengthen it ensure the Union is able to adapt to the demands of the 21st century work to ensure a stable constitution that is fair to the people of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland strengthen England’s voice through English votes for English laws, just as devolution has strengthened the voices of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within our Union extend the principle of English consent to financial matters including votes on how spending is distributed within England and a new English rate of Income Tax honour in full our commitments to strengthen and improve devolution for each part of the United Kingdom in a way that accepts there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Fairness for England Putting power in the hands of the people is a core Conservative belief. A Conservative Government in a new Parliament will continue to empower neighbourhoods and parishes in England. Localism and decentralisation are crucial in revitalising our cities and counties, but they do not and cannot answer the West Lothian Question.

With significant further powers being handed to Scotland, it is no longer fair, or just, for Scotland to be able to decide its own laws in devolved areas, only for Scottish MPs to be able to have the potentially decisive say on similar matters affecting only England, or where relevant, England and Wales. As it stands, a Scottish MP can vote in the Westminster Parliament on matters which only affect England, but English MPs cannot vote in the Scottish Parliament on matters which are entirely devolved to Scotland. So an English MP cannot vote on 6

what happens in schools in Scotland, but a Scottish MP can vote on what happens in schools in England.

The Conservatives are committed to answering this Question and ensuring fairness across our nations.

That is why a Conservative Government will therefore change the rules of the House of Commons to make certain that English MPs will have the veto on laws and decisions that only affect England.

A balanced plan We will maintain the Westminster Parliament as the UK and England’s law-making body. We will maintain the integrity of the UK Parliament by ensuring that MPs from all parts of the UK continue to deliberate and vote together, including to set overall spending limits.

But we want Parliament to work in a way that ensures

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CREATING A STRONG VOICE FOR ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

decisions affecting England can only be taken with the consent of the majority of MPs representing English constituencies – giving them an effective veto in these areas. Our approach builds on the fundamental principle of consent set out in 2013 in the Report of the independent McKay Commission.

Major legislation passes through the House of Commons completing five stages: first reading; second reading; committee stage; report stage and third reading. While first reading is largely a formality, second and third readings are opportunities for Members of Parliament to debate the principles at stake in a bill.

Committee and report stages are opportunities for line-by-line scrutiny of the detail of a bill, and for amendments, if necessary, to be made.

In changing the way the House of Commons legislates, we must balance the need for the Commons as a whole to express the voice of our entire United Kingdom, with the need for English MPs to express their voice on matters affecting England only.

Our proposals reflect that need and respect that balance:

The readings of bills – where the principles at stake

are debated and voted upon – will be considered and voted upon by all Members of Parliament, reflecting the voice of our entire United Kingdom.

The committee stage of bills – where the Speaker

certifies that the bill, or parts of it only relate to England – will, for those clauses, be considered by English Members of Parliament. They will sit and vote in a Committee, drawn up in proportion to overall party strength in England.

Report stage will continue to be debated and voted

upon by all UK MPs; but we will also introduce a new lock between report and third reading – a legislative consent motion – preventing a bill which as a whole or in parts affects England only (including amendments made in committee or report) completing its passage through the Commons, without being approved by a Grand Committee made up of all English MPs.

The Speaker will be required to certify bills or

clauses where English MPs must give their consent

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to equivalent English decisions where provisions are devolved to another part of the UK, or they have a separate and distinct effect for England. In reaching a decision the Speaker will have regard to any crossborder effects and the national significance of any legislation, for example infrastructure projects.

Secondary legislation – and amendments made to

bills by the House of Lords – will be covered by the same process.

There will be a resolution process should there be

any disagreement between the English majority and the majority in the whole House. This involves a second report stage and a potential second consent vote, after which any remaining provisions not agreed would fall. The agreed parts of the bill would proceed to third reading should the Government wish to proceed.

Tax and spending We will extend the principle of English consent also to financial matters: MPs from across the UK will continue to vote together to set overall departmental spending limits as there are consequential effects on spending in the rest of the UK. How money is distributed within England will in future require the agreement of English MPs and will no longer be over-ridden by MPs who are not accountable to English voters.

Areas covered in this way will include how money is distributed among English councils, different police authorities or how the English health and schools budgets are allocated. There will be, for example, specific consent motions to approve the English Revenue Support Grants and Police Grants.

Where taxes have been devolved to Scotland, the equivalent taxes would require the consent of English MPs. It would not be right, for example, for the Scottish Parliament to vote for a cut in Air Passenger Duty in Scotland and then for Scottish MPs to be able to impose an increase in Air Passenger Duty in England.

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Income Tax will continue to be a shared UK tax and MPs from all parts of the UK will continue to have a decisive say on its shared elements such as setting the Personal Allowance and the rate on savings and dividends. We will however create, alongside the full devolution of power to the Scottish Parliament to set its own Income Tax rates and bands, an English rate of Income Tax on earnings, subject to the democratic approval of English MPs. The Finance Bill – the primary way in which we raise tax in the United Kingdom – whilst continuing to be treated as a UK-wide bill at committee, will therefore also be subject to a legislative consent motion for clauses relating to England before it can proceed to third reading.

Delivery within the first year We are committed to building a stable and fair constitutional settlement across the whole of the United Kingdom. We will therefore take forward in tandem our constitutional reforms, even though our commitments on each are not conditional on any other.

A new Scotland Bill will be in the first Queen’s Speech of a Conservative Government, and will be introduced in the first session of a new Parliament with a view to passing into law before the Scottish Parliament elections in 2016. We will also move forward quickly to keep our devolution promises to Wales and Northern Ireland. And we will deliver our plan for English votes for English laws to a similar timetable – with full implementation of our plan within the first year of a new Government.

We can move quickly because changing how the House of Commons works does not require legislation. It will require changes to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons. We are today publishing the changes to the parliamentary procedures that would make English votes for English laws a reality.

We will: Table our proposals in the House of Commons within the first 100 days after the General Election.

Consult the House of Commons Procedure Committee prior to seeking approval from the whole House to the proposed Standing Order changes.

Run a pilot to test the new rules on one or more nonfinancial bills.

Apply the new procedures to a Treasury bill for the first time for the Budget and Finance Bill in 2016.

The ‘Carlisle Principle’ In the Scottish referendum, we made a clear promise to devolve more powers to the Scottish Parliament. After we won that referendum, we kept our promise, and agreement was reached – for the first time – between all five of Scotland’s major parties to give the Scottish Parliament extensive new powers. We did that because as Conservatives we believe in decentralisation and decisions being taken as close to the people they affect.

But as we go further in devolving powers to Scotland, we need to make sure devolution works for all the other parts of this country too. The SNP government, for example, is committed to using its new tax powers to cut and eventually abolish Air Passenger Duty for flights from Scottish airports. That could distort competition and see business drawn north of the border, with a huge impact on airports in the rest of the country. So we are reviewing the way Air Passenger Duty works, to make sure other cities do not lose out.

As Conservatives we are committed to making sure that there are no unforeseen detrimental consequences to the rest of the country – for either England, Wales or Northern Ireland – from Scottish devolution. We will therefore adopt the ‘Carlisle Principle.’

Under a Conservative Government, the Cabinet Office and Treasury will conduct an annual review of the impact of all devolved policies on the rest of the country. It will look at what effect Scottish Government policies are having: whether through changes to tax rates, business rates, or university tuition fees – or Scotland’s powers over energy, agriculture, transport, and public services.

The Chancellor will report to Parliament each year,

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CREATING A STRONG VOICE FOR ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

setting out the impacts, and what action is needed to make sure there is no detriment to the rest of the country. To be absolutely clear, this is not about a UK Government stopping the Scottish Government from using its powers as it sees fit or to do things differently. It is also not about reopening discussion about the Barnett formula – our commitment to retain this as the basis for determining Scotland’s funding from the Treasury is clear and unequivocal. This is about making sure we understand the impact that devolution is having, and make sure that rest of the country never unwittingly loses out. We want all parts of our country – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – to flourish.

Decisions made by the Scottish Government can now have a big impact on your job, your income, and investment in your area. That is why we will create the ‘Carlisle Principle,’ and a mechanism to make sure the rest of the country does not lose out from Scottish devolution.

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An enduring settlement Conservatives believe in the value of our democratic institutions and the role they play within our society. We also believe in fairness – and a constitutional settlement that is sustainable. It is fair to ensure that all Members of our Westminster Parliament vote on the legislation which passes through it. It is also fair to ensure that English MPs have the decisive say on legislation which affects only English constituencies. It is right that a distinctly English voice takes its place in the way our peoples in the United Kingdom are represented.

Our proposals bring greater balance to our constitutional settlement – and in doing so, they strengthen the accountability and fairness of our democracy.

It is now clear that only the Conservatives will bring in English votes for English laws and achieve a fair settlement for the whole United Kingdom.

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CREATING A STRONG VOICE FOR ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our plans for working people in England Our economy is about the nation’s families: the job you do, the chances your children have, the funding we have for our NHS and schools, the hope we have for our future – everything.

We have always been clear, right from the start, it is not just a bigger economy we want, it is a balanced economy. Where the success is felt from North, to South, to East, to West.

In Labour’s Britain, for every ten private sector jobs created in the South, just one was created in the North and the Midlands. But our vision is for a truly balanced economy, one built to last. We have already shown this is possible over the last Parliament – we have been building the Northern Powerhouse and making the Midlands an engine of growth. The fastest growing exports and the fastest increase in business start-ups were in the North East. The largest increase in employment and the highest number of apprenticeships were in the North West.

We had a Local Growth Fund, a Regional Growth Fund and created over a dozen City Deals.

These long-term, unprecedented things will help to rebalance our economy: our City Deal in Plymouth will generate 9,500 long-term jobs with over £34 million of Government funding the Local Enterprise Partnership in Greater Manchester has already invested £162 million in local projects our City Deal in Birmingham gave the freedom to unlock under-used public land to deliver 2,800 homes by 2022, and the power to create 3,560 apprenticeships by 2020 the Local Enterprise Partnership in the Leeds area has already offered free business advice to over 1,300 SMEs and encouraged them to take on approximately 750 young people into apprenticeships.

We have plans for every part of England, and want to ensure that more than 60 per cent of new jobs are created outside London and the South East. Our truly national recovery will not be seen just on the screens of the traders in the City of London, but in the great manufacturing plants of the West Midlands and North East, in the tech start-ups from Bristol to Manchester, in the tourist and defence industries of the South West and Wales and in the life science labs of the East of England. We will ensure that working people across England benefit from our long-term economic plan.

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OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our plan for the North West Our long-term economic plan has already been delivering economic security for the North West.

Under Labour, unemployment here rose by 135,000 and 30,000 businesses folded in just one year. But since 2010, together in the North West, we have already achieved: 137,000 more jobs unemployment benefit claims down 44 per cent youth unemployment down 41 per cent 70,000 more businesses over 375,000 apprenticeships Income Tax cut for 2.8 million people – a saving of typically £825 a year Fuel Duty cut for 3.2 million motorists – saving the average family around £10 every time they fill up around 110,000 more children in good or outstanding schools 1.4 million pensioners protected by our triple lock, which has increased the Basic State Pension by £950 a year.

Our commitment to working people in the North West We will: grow the local economy and create 100,000 extra new jobs, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting the North West’s strengths, including manufacturing, energy, tech, science and the creative industries boost family incomes for 3.1 million people here by cutting people’s Income Tax. And we will raise the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500 create 500,000 apprenticeships, 75,000 new good primary school places, and offer working families of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people here have the best start in life

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support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 480,000 housing association tenants in the North West make a record £4.5 billion transport investment in the North West, upgrading the M6 and M62, building the A555 relief road, and A585 relief road and developing plans to upgrade the A66 and A69; freeze rail fares for five years, build the northern rail hub, scrap old Pacer trains, invest in new trains for the northern franchises – on top of a £50 billion investment in high speed rail, both North-South and East-West invest £157 million in better flood defences to protect the North West increase funding to the NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

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OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our plan for the North East Our long-term economic plan has already been delivering economic security for the North East.

Under Labour, unemployment here rose by 50,000 and 7,500 businesses folded in just one year.

But since 2010, together in the North East, we have already achieved: 47,000 more jobs unemployment benefit claims down 42 per cent youth unemployment down 52 per cent 27,000 more businesses 160,000 apprenticeships Income Tax cut for 1 million people – a saving of typically £825 a year Fuel Duty cut for 1.1 million motorists – saving the average family around £10 every time they fill up 40,000 more children in good or outstanding schools 500,000 pensioners protected by our triple lock, which has increased the Basic State Pension by £950 a year.

Our commitment to working people in the North East We will: grow the local economy and create 50,000 extra new jobs, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting the North East’s strengths, including manufacturing, science, chemicals and agriculture boost family incomes for 1.1 million people here by cutting people’s Income Tax. And we will raise the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500 create 200,000 apprenticeships, 20,000 new good primary school places, and offer working families of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people here have the best start in life

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support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 160,000 housing association tenants in the North East make a record £4.5 billion transport investment in the North East, including dualling the A1 from Morpeth to Ellingham, and widening the A1 and A19. We will freeze rail fares for five years, build the northern rail hub, scrap old Pacer trains and invest in new trains for the northern franchises – on top of a £50 billion investment in high speed rail, both North-South and East-West invest £42 million in better flood defences to protect the North East increase funding to the NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

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OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our plan for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Our long-term economic plan has already been delivering economic security for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire. Under Labour, unemployment here rose by 130,000 and 20,000 businesses folded in just one year. But since 2010, together in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, we have already achieved: 130,000 more jobs unemployment benefit claims down 43 per cent youth unemployment down 54 per cent 21,000 more businesses 270,000 apprenticeships Income Tax cut for 2.1 million people – a saving of typically £825 a year Fuel Duty cut for 2.4 million motorists – saving the average family around £10 every time they fill up 90,000 more children in good or outstanding schools 1 million pensioners protected by our triple lock, which has increased the Basic State Pension by £950 a year.

Our commitment to working people in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire We will: grow the local economy and create 100,000 extra new jobs, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire’s strengths, including advanced manufacturing, energy, agriculture and financial services boost family incomes for 2.2 million people here by cutting people’s Income Tax. And we will raise the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500 create 360,000 apprenticeships, 100,000 new good primary school places, and offer working families of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people here have the best start in life

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support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 190,000 housing association tenants in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire make a record £6.4 billion transport investment in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, expanding the M62 to four lanes between Leeds and Manchester, upgrading the A1 in Yorkshire to motorway, and improving the A57, A61 and A628. We will freeze rail fares for five years, build the northern rail hub, scrap old Pacer trains and invest in new trains for the northern franchises – on top of a £50 billion investment in high speed rail, both North-South and East-West invest £264 million in better flood defences to protect Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire increase funding to the NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

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OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our plan for the East of England

Our plan for the East Midlands

Our long-term economic plan has already been delivering economic security for the East of England. Under Labour, unemployment here rose by 86,000 and 28,500 businesses folded in just one year. But since 2010, together in the East of England, we have already achieved:

Our long-term economic plan has already been delivering economic security across the East Midlands. Under Labour, unemployment in the East Midlands rose by 72,000 and 18,000 businesses folded in just one year. But since 2010, together in the East Midlands, we have already achieved:

200,000 more jobs

131,000 more jobs

unemployment benefit claims down 55 per cent

unemployment benefit claims down 52 per cent

youth unemployment down 64 per cent

youth unemployment down 62 per cent

80,000 more businesses

28,000 more businesses

over 200,000 apprenticeships Income Tax cut for 2.6 million people – a saving of typically £825 a year Fuel Duty cut for 3.3 million motorists – saving the average family around £10 every time they fill up nearly 80,000 more children in good or outstanding schools 1.2 million pensioners protected by our triple lock, which has increased the Basic State Pension by £950 a year.

Our commitment to working people in the East of England We will: grow the local economy and create 250,000 extra new jobs, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting the East of England’s strengths, including science, tourism, offshore energy and agri-tech boost family incomes for 2.8 million people here by cutting people’s Income Tax. And we will raise the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500 create nearly 270,000 apprenticeships, 100,000 new good primary school places, and offer working families of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people here have the best start in life

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support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 242,000 housing association tenants in the East of England make a record £4.2 billion transport investment in the East of England. We are widening the A12, investing £300 million in the A47, and spending £1.5 billion on improving roads. We want to see the studies into the Wet Dock Crossing in Ipswich and the Third River Crossing in Lowestoft ready by Budget 2016, and we will meet the funding gap for the study into improving the A120. We will freeze rail fares for five years and back the ‘Norwich in 90’ rail plan invest £174 million in better flood defences to protect the East of England increase funding to the NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

over 200,000 apprenticeships Income Tax cut for 1.9 million people – a saving of typically £825 a year Fuel Duty cut for 2.4 million motorists – saving the average family around £10 every time they fill up around 100,000 more children in good or outstanding schools 900,000 pensioners protected by our triple lock, which has increased the Basic State Pension by £950 a year.

Our commitment to working people in the East Midlands We will: grow the local economy and create 140,000 extra new jobs, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting the East Midlands’ strengths, including manufacturing, engineering and agriculture boost family incomes for 2 million people here by cutting people’s Income Tax. And we will raise the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500 create over 270,000 apprenticeships, 75,000 new good primary school places, and offer working families of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people here have the best start in life

support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 125,000 housing association tenants in the East Midlands make a record £5.2 billion transport investment in the Midlands. We are upgrading the M1, fixing the junctions on the A38 at Derby and the A52 at Nottingham, widening the A453, improving the A46, and investing £1.2 billion to improve roads. We will freeze rail fares for five years – on top of a £50 billion investment in high speed rail, both NorthSouth and East-West invest £306 million in better flood defences to protect the East Midlands increase funding to the NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

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OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our plan for the West Midlands Our long-term economic plan has already been delivering economic security across the West Midlands. Under Labour, unemployment in the West Midlands rose by 127,000 and 23,000 businesses folded in just one year. But since 2010, together in the West Midlands, we have already achieved: 130,000 more jobs unemployment benefit claims down 51 per cent youth unemployment down 62 per cent 55,000 more businesses 265,000 apprenticeships Income Tax cut for 2.2 million people – a saving of typically £825 a year Fuel Duty cut for 3 million motorists – saving the average family around £10 every time they fill up 140,000 more children in good or outstanding schools 1 million pensioners protected by our triple lock, which has increased the Basic State Pension by £950 a year.

Our commitment to working people in the West Midlands We will: grow the local economy and create 160,000 extra new jobs, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting the West Midlands’ strengths, including science, manufacturing and engineering boost family incomes for 2.4 million people here by cutting people’s Income Tax. And we will raise the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500 create 350,000 apprenticeships, 100,000 new good primary school places, and offer working families of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people here have the best start in life

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support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 245,000 housing association tenants in the West Midlands make a record £5.2 billion transport investment in the Midlands. We will make improvements to the M6 and M42, and upgrade the M5 and A5. We will freeze rail fares for five years, develop plans to electrify the railway between Birmingham and Bristol, and to Derby – on top of a £50 billion investment in high speed rail, both North-South and East-West invest £12 million in better flood defences to protect the West Midlands increase funding to the NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

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OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our plan for London Our long-term economic plan has already been delivering economic security for London. Under Labour, unemployment here rose by 128,000 and 54,000 businesses folded in just one year. But since 2010, alongside a Conservative Mayor, together in London, we have already achieved: 530,000 more jobs unemployment benefit claims down 47 per cent youth unemployment down 59 per cent 215,000 more businesses 200,000 apprenticeships Income Tax cut for 3.6 million people – a saving of typically £825 a year Fuel Duty cut for 2.7 million motorists – saving the average family around £10 every time they fill up 240,000 more children in good or outstanding schools 1 million pensioners protected by our triple lock, which has increased the Basic State Pension by £950 a year.

Our commitment to working people in London We will: grow the local economy and create 500,000 extra new jobs, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting London’s strengths, including science, finance, technology and the creative industries boost family incomes for 3.8 million Londoners by cutting people’s Income Tax. And we will raise the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500 create 250,000 apprenticeships, 100,000 new good primary school places, and offer working families of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people here have the best start in life

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support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 400,000 housing association tenants in London make a record £10 billion transport investment in London. We will finish work on Crossrail, extend the Northern Line to Battersea and improve a third of the junctions on the M25. We will freeze rail fares for five years and we will also develop plans for Crossrail 2, the Bakerloo Line extension, and new river crossings in East London and the Lower Thames invest £686 million in better flood defences to protect London and the South East increase funding to the NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

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OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our plan for the South East Our commitment to working people in Berkshire

Support home ownership with Help to Buy and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 37,000 housing association tenants

Our long-term economic plan has been delivering economic security for Berkshire. There are 13,900 more jobs, 34,620 apprenticeships, Income Tax has been cut for 380,000 people and 136,000 pensioners have seen their Basic State Pension protected by our triple lock.

We will:

Invest £154 million in transport infrastructure – including improvements to the M25 with widening between junctions 10 and 16

Boost family incomes for 430,000 people by raising the Personal Allowance Create 46,000 apprenticeships so young people get the best start in life Support home ownership with Help to Buy and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 34,000 housing association tenants Invest £550 million in transport infrastructure – including upgrading the M4 to a Smart Motorway, linking Reading to Heathrow Increase funding to the NHS in Berkshire each and every year.

Increase funding to the NHS in Buckinghamshire each and every year.

Our commitment to working people in Oxfordshire In Oxfordshire our long-term economic plan has delivered economic security: 15,000 more jobs and 19,000 apprenticeships have been created, Income Tax has been cut for 288,000 people, and 119,000 pensioners have seen their Basic State Pension protected by our triple lock. We will: Boost family incomes for 328,000 people by raising the Personal Allowance Create 25,000 apprenticeships so young people get the best start in life

Our commitment to working people in Buckinghamshire

Support home ownership with Help to Buy and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 31,000 housing association tenants

In Buckinghamshire our long-term economic plan has been delivering economic security, including 171,400 more jobs, and 23,000 apprenticeships. Income Tax has been cut for 333,000 people and 133,000 pensioners have seen their Basic State Pension protected by our triple lock. We will:

Invest £258 million in transport infrastructure – including improvements to the A34 at the Peartree and Botley interchanges Increase funding to the NHS in Oxfordshire each and every year.

Boost family incomes for 380,000 people by raising the Personal Allowance Create 31,000 apprenticeships so young people get the best start in life

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OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our commitment to working people in Surrey Our long-term economic plan has delivered 18,000 more jobs and 27,000 apprenticeships in Surrey. Income Tax has been cut for 498,000 people here and 221,000 pensioners have seen their Basic State Pension protected by our triple lock. We will: Boost family incomes for 567,000 people by raising the Personal Allowance Create 36,000 apprenticeships so young people get the best start in life Support home ownership with Help to Buy and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 36,000 housing association tenants Invest £700 million in transport infrastructure – including widening the A3 through Guilford to the Hog’s Back Increase funding to the NHS in Surrey each and every year.

Our commitment to working people on the South Coast Our long-term economic plan has already been delivering economic security for Kent, Sussex and Hampshire. Under Labour, unemployment here rose by 65,000 and 19,000 businesses folded in just one year.

But since 2010, together for the South Coast, we have already achieved: 100,000 more jobs unemployment benefit claims down 55 per cent and youth unemployment down 63 per cent 150,000 apprenticeships and 100,000 more businesses across the area as a whole Income Tax cut for 1.8 million people and Fuel Duty cut for 2.3 million motorists

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45,000 more children in good or outstanding schools 900,000 pensioners protected by our triple lock, which has increased the Basic State Pension by £950 a year.

We will: grow the local economy and create 120,000 extra new jobs, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting the area’s strengths, like the maritime industry and tourism boost family incomes for 2 million people here by cutting people’s Income Tax. And we will raise the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500 create 200,000 apprenticeships, 75,000 new good primary school places, and offer working families of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people here have the best start in life support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 185,000 housing association tenants here make a record £2.4 billion transport investment on the South Coast, including a £350 million investment in upgrading the A27, and improvements to the M3. We will commission a feasibility study of a second Brighton main line to London. We will implement our five point plan to retain Manston airport for aviation use. We will freeze rail fares for five years, and use the franchise reviews for Southeastern and South West Trains to introduce newer trains and faster journey times

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

12,200 apprenticeships have been started; Income Tax has been cut for 117,000 people, with 13,000 taken out of tax altogether; 45,000 pensioners have seen their Basic State Pension protected by our triple lock.We will: Boost family incomes by raising the Personal Allowance – taking another 5,000 of the lowest paid out of income tax altogether Create over 16,300 apprenticeships so young people get the best start in life Support home ownership with Help to Buy and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 4,660 housing association tenants Support key transport projects – including delivering the new £26 million Rochester train station Increase funding to the NHS in the Medway each and every year.

Our commitment to working people on the Isle of Wight Our long-term economic plan has also been delivering economic security for the Isle of Wight: the number of

people claiming unemployment benefit is down by half; over 7,000 apprenticeships have been started; Income Tax has been cut for an estimated 61,000 people with 6,000 taken out of tax altogether and 39,000 pensioners have seen their Basic State Pension protected by our triple lock.

We will: boost family incomes by raising the Personal Allowance – taking another 6,000 of the lowest paid out of income tax altogether create 10,000 apprenticeships so young people get the best start in life support home ownerships with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 7,050 housing association tenants on the Isle of Wight support key transport projects, including investing £15 million to modernise the Red Funnel terminals in Cowes and Southampton increase funding to the NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

increase funding to the NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

Our commitment to working people in the Medway Our long-term economic plan has been delivering security for the Medway: the number of people claiming unemployment benefit is down by almost half; over 29

OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Our plan for the South West Our long-term economic plan has already been delivering economic security for the South West.

Under Labour, unemployment here rose by 70,000 and 22,000 businesses folded in just one year. But since 2010, together in the South West, we have already achieved: 120,000 more jobs unemployment benefit claims down 55 per cent youth unemployment down 61 per cent 99,000 more businesses over 238,000 apprenticeships Income Tax cut for 2.3 million people – a saving of typically £825 a year Fuel Duty cut for 3.1 million motorists – saving the average family around £10 every time they fill up around 85,000 more children in good or outstanding schools 1.2 million pensioners protected by our triple lock, which has increased the Basic State Pension by £950 a year.

Our commitment to working people in the South West We will: grow the local economy and create 150,000 extra new jobs, by backing small businesses with lower tax, and supporting the South West’s strengths, including tourism, defence, agriculture and science boost family incomes for 2.5 million people here by cutting people’s Income Tax. And we will raise the tax-free Personal Allowance to £12,500 create over 300,000 apprenticeships, over 60,000 new good primary school places, and offer working families of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week so that young people here have the best start in life

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support home ownership with Help to Buy, and extend the Right to Buy their own home to all 220,000 housing association tenants in the South West make a record £7.2 billion transport investment in the South West. This includes dualling the A358, and investing £2 billion in the A303. We will freeze rail fares for five years and electrify the Great Western Main Line. We will develop plans to improve Junction 25 of the M5 and the North Devon link road invest £136 million in better flood defences to protect the South West increase funding to NHS here each and every year, fund generous state pensions, and pay for other vital public services.

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OUR PLANS FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Reserved policy areas for England In our UK Manifesto we published detail on our long-term economic plan to help you and your family; on our ambition for full employment and jobs for all; on our plans to cut your taxes, make the welfare system fairer and keep our ambition of delivering annual net migration in the tens of thousands; on ensuring we have the best schools and hospitals for you and your family; on helping you buy a home of your own in a safe neighbourhood; on ensuring you have dignity and security in your retirement; and on our extensive plans to keep our country secure by investing in our defence and giving you a say over whether we should stay in or leave the EU, with an in-out referendum by the end of 2017.

The detail is there for you to see and the Manifesto is our plan to provide security for you and your family, at every stage of your life. It is our plan to entrench the progress of the past five years.

But just as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have areas of policy devolved to them, so there are policies effectively devolved to England. And so here are some of the clearest commitments the next Conservative Government can give to you in England.

Economic security at every stage of your life Our commitment to you: Your job, your home, the mortgage you pay, the school your children go to, your local hospital, your pension – all these things depend on a strong economy. So we will carry on working through our long-term economic plan.

We will: support 3 million new apprenticeships, so young people acquire the skills to succeed give working parents of three and four-year-olds 30 hours of free childcare a week invest in our roads and railways and keep commuter rail fares frozen in real terms for the whole of the next Parliament respond to the Airports Commission’s final report halt the spread of subsidised onshore wind farms rebalance our economy, build a Northern 32

Powerhouse and devolve powers and budgets to boost local growth in England support the rural economy, strengthen local communities, champion our farmers and food producers and support our fishing and coastal communities continue to invest in science, back our industrial strategies and make Britain the technology centre of Europe ensure we have a strong economy, so we can continue to protect the NHS in England and make sure noone is forced to sell their home to pay for care.

Giving your child the best start in life Our commitment to you: Your child deserves the best start in life. A good education is not a luxury, it should be a right for everyone. We will:

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RESERVED POLICY AREAS FOR ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

ensure a good primary school place for your child, with zero tolerance for failure

Helping you to buy a home of your own

turn every failing and coasting secondary school into an academy and deliver free schools for parents and communities that want them

Our commitment to you:

help teachers to make sure we are the best country in the world for developing maths, engineering, science and computing skills make sure there is no cap on university places, so we have aspiration for all.

Protecting and improving our National Health Service Our commitment to you: Our National Health Service must be there for you throughout your life. We will: continue to increase spending on the NHS in England, supported by a strong economy, so the NHS stays free for you to use spend at least an additional £8 billion by 2020 over and above inflation to fund and support the NHS’s own action plan for the next five years ensure you can see a GP and receive the hospital care you need, 7 days a week by 2020, with a guarantee that everyone over 75 will get a same-day appointment if they need one integrate health and social care, through our Better Care Fund lead the world in fighting cancer – with our Cancer Drugs Fund – and finding a cure for dementia.

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The chance to own your own home should be available to everyone who works hard. We will: double the number of first-time buyers and help more people own their own home build more homes that people can afford, including 200,000 new Starter Homes exclusively for first-time buyers under 40 give more people the chance to own their home by extending the Right to Buy to tenants of Housing Associations and create a Brownfield Fund to unlock homes on brownfield land help keep your council taxes low protect the Green Belt.

Fighting crime and standing up for victims Our commitment to you: Your local area should be a safe place to grow up, work, raise a family and retire. We will continue to cut crime and make your community safer. We will: finish the job of police reform, so you can have more confidence that your local policing team is working effectively toughen sentencing and reform the prison system, so dangerous criminals are kept off your streets support victims, so that the most vulnerable in our society get the support they deserve.

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RESERVED POLICY AREAS FOR ENGLAND

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY ENGLISH MANIFESTO 2015

Conclusion SO THIS IS OUR DETAILED PLAN FOR BRITAIN. Our plan to entrench the progress of the past five years. Our plan for you and your family, at every stage of your life.

IT IS UNDERPINNED BY SOME SIMPLE CONSERVATIVE VALUES. Those who work hard and do the right thing must be rewarded. Everyone should be able to rise as high as their talents and effort will take them. We measure our success not just in how we show our strength abroad, but in how we care for the weakest and most vulnerable at home.

ABOVE ALL, RUNNING THROUGH THIS PLAN IS A TRUE BELIEF IN BRITAIN. In the past five years, as so often before in our history, we have once again defied the expectations of the world to rise up and meet our challenges. The British character is renewed every day by the millions who work hard, raise their families, care for those who need help, who do the right thing – and make this country what it is.

THIS MANIFESTO IS ABOUT IMPROVING THE LIVES OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE. Together we have come so far. If we stick to our long-term plan, we can secure a better future for you and your family. So let us keep moving forward; and set our sights on making our great country greater still.

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Promoted by Alan Mabbutt on behalf of the Conservative Party, both at 4 Matthew Parker Street, London, SW1H 9HQ. Printed by St. Ives PLC, One Tudor St, London, EC4Y 0AH.