The Labouor Party Manifesto 2005 ABrighterFutureFor Britain
ABrighterFutureFor Britain

Health
Family
Pension
“Anywhere, anytime
ordinary people are given
the chance to choose, the choice is the same:
freedom, not tyranny; democracy, not
dictatorship; the rule of law, not the rule of the secret police. ”

ABrighterFutureFor Britain IntroductionTonyBlair
Eight years ago, you entrusted me to lead Britain in a new direction. Together, we have made great strides - building a strong economy, investing in public services, and tackling poverty and inequality. But there is much more to be done. In a third term, we will entrench a new progressive consensus in Britain: delivering opportunity and security in a changing world, empowering citizens with strengthened rights matched by responsibilities, and securing social j



ABrighterFutureFor Britain
NewLaboursRecord
Ourcountryischangingforthebetter,because wefulfilledthepromisesofour1997and2001 manifestos.Hereiswhathaschanged.
■ ProsperityforAll
Britainnowhasastable,growingeconomywith thelowestinflationsincethe1960s.Since1997,two millionmorepeopleareinwork,andtheUKhas thelowestunemploymentfor30years.Taxcredits andtheminimumwageareensuringthatwork paysforeveryone.Becauseofthiswearesaving £5billionayearonthecostsofunemployment–that’s£84foreverycitizeninBritain–moneythat isbeinginvestedinfrontlineservicessuchas schoolsandhospitals.Thereareoveronemillion morehomeowners,savingonaveragenearly £4,000ayear,thankstothelowestmortgage ratesfor40years.Since1997,averageincomes haveincreasedby19percentandtheincomeof atypicalfamilyhasincreasedby17percent,with livingstandardsrisingindoubledigitsforevery partoftheincomespectrum.Thereare300,000 morebusinesses,providingjobsandincreased prosperity.Therearetwomillionfewerchildren andnearlytwomillionfewerpensionerslivingin absolutepoverty
The
■ World-classpublicservices
Investmentinpublicservicesisup–anextra £1,000perpupilperyearinrealtermssince1997, andspendingontheNHShasmorethandoubled to£69billion.Thereareover28,000more teachersand105,000extrateachingassistants andsupportstaff.TheNationalHealthService nowhas79,000morenursesandover27,000 moredoctors.Andpublicservants–fromnurses topoliceofficers–arebetterrewardedfortheir work
Ourten-year-oldpupilsarerankedthirdbestin theworldinliteracyandarethefastestimproving innumeracy.Sincetheintroductionoffreeentry, visitstoournationalmuseumsandgallerieshave risenby75percent.Deathsfromheartdisease aredownby27percentandcancerdeathsare downby12percent.
■ AModernWelfareState
ThankstoourNewDeal,long-termyouth unemploymenthasbeenvirtuallyeradicated, withoverhalfamillionyoungpeoplehelpedinto work.ByOctober2005,familieswithchildrenwill beonaverage£1,400ayearbetteroffasaresult ofourtaxandbenefitmeasurescomparedto 1997.
Thankstoourreformspensionerhouseholdsare onaverage£1,500ayearbetteroff,risingto £2,000forthepoorestthird.Maternityleavehas increasedto26weeksandmaternitypayhas almostdoubled.Thereare1.2millionmoreolder peopleinemployment.Theemploymentratefor peopleagedbetween50andpensionagehas increasedbyoverfivepercentagepointsto70 percent.
■ StrongandSafeCommunities
Crimehasfallenby30percentoverall,with almostfivemillionfewercrimesayearthanin 1997.Therearerecordnumbersofpolice,nearly 13,000more,assistedby4,600newCommunity SupportOfficers.Newpowerstotackleanti-social behaviourhavebeenintroduced,withnearly 4,000Anti-SocialBehaviourOrdersissuedsofar andnearly66,000fixedpenaltynotices.Wehave halvedthetimefromarresttosentencingfor persistentyoungoffenders.Morethan80percent ofinitialdecisionsonasylumclaimsarenow processedintwomonths.


ABrighterFutureFor Britain
OurNewDeclaration
Eightyearsago,weaskedyoutojoinusona journeytoabetterBritain.Stepbystep,we've madeprogress.Butnowit'stimetopickupthe pace.
Ensuringeveryonehastheopportunitiesthey needtogetoninlife.Buildingacompetitive economy,thatcanfundworldclasspublic services.Andsecuringsocialjusticeathome whilestandingupforourvaluesabroad.Thisis theBritainthatLabourarebuilding.
Itwon'talwaysbeeasy.Changeneveris.There willbetoughchoicesandhardtradeoffsalong theway.Butifweholdfirmtoourvisionand values,theprizeisgreat.Afair,inclusive,dynamic Britainfitforthe21stcenturychallenges.
Nomore"themandus",justus.Usworking together,toforgeabetterfuture.Freeingpeople fromthebarriersofclassandbackground. Equippingourcountrytosucceedinthenew globaleconomy.Makingsocialjusticeareality, notjustadream.
Somewillsaywe'reaimingtoohigh,thatchange shouldwait.Butthat'snottheBritainwebelievein orthefuturewewantforourchildren.
“This is our new declaration.
A vision to inspire Britain, and a plan to make it
happen. So now I ask you to
choose the future. Seize the
moment. Let's get to work and finish what we started.
Together, we can change Britain for good. ”


ABrighterFutureFor Britain EconomicPolicies
Britain'seconomyisfinallyonastableand prosperouspathafteryearsofToryboomand bust.Thechoicenowiswhethertoentrenchthis progressunderLabour'scontinuedleadershipor riskitallbygoingbacktotheConservatives' failedpoliciesofthepast.
Labour'seconomicapproachisrootedinour valuesofsocialjusticeandourcommitmentto spreadingopportunityandprosperitytoall.We rejectthefalsechoicebetweeneconomic dynamismandfairness-ourgoalistoachieve both,handinhand.
Inourthirdterm,wewillbuildonthefoundationof stabilityandgrowthtomakeBritainatrue opportunitysociety,withnewladdersofsocial mobilityandadvancementforhardworking people.Ourvisionisaneconomythatrewards effortandinitiative,thatcreatesgoodjobs,that equipseverypersonwiththeskillstosucceed, andthatharnessesthepowerofscienceand innovationtokeepBritainattheforefrontofthe globaleconomy.
The Labouor Party Manifesto 2005
■ FiscalPolicyandPublicInvestment
Inourcommitmenttomaintainingeconomic stabilityandpromotingpublicinvestment,Labour willcontinuetoadheretoourprudentfiscalrules, keepinginflationata2%targetandonly borrowingtoinvestovertheeconomiccycle.We pledgetoincreasetheshareofnationalincome devotedtoeducation.Wewillboostinvestmentin scienceandinnovation,raisingitto2.5%of nationalincomeby2014,toensureBritainremains attheforefrontoftechnologicaladvancement andresearchexcellence.
■ MarketPolicies
Wepledgetoboosttheminimumwage,raisingit to£5.05inOctober2005and£5.35inOctober 2006,ensuringfairpayforBritain'shardworking families.TheNewDealandJobCentrePlus programswillbeexpanded,tackling unemploymentheadonandcreatingnew opportunitiesforthoseseekingwork.
WewillalsooverhaultheIncapacityBenefit systemby2008,providingthesupportand encouragementneededtohelppeoplerejointhe workforceandcontributetoourthrivingeconomy.
The Labouor Party Manifesto 2005
■ TaxPolicy
Wepromisenottoraiseincometaxratesforboth lowerandhigherearners,ensuringthat hardworkingindividualsintheUKcankeepa largerportionoftheirearnings.Ourcommitment alsoextendstokeepingessentialgoodsand servicesaffordablebynotapplyingVATtoitems likefood,children'sclothing,books,newspapers andpublictransportation.Prioritizingtargetedtax reductionsforfamiliesandworkingindividuals remainsakeyfocusforus,offeringmuchneeded financialsupportandfosteringtheoverallwelfare ofourcommunities.
■ FamilySupport
Labouracknowledgesthesignificanceof supportingfamiliesduringthecrucialearly stagesofachild'slife.Thisiswhyweplanto extendpaidmaternityleaveto9monthsstarting from2007,withanambitiousaimtofurther increaseitto12monthsbytheconclusionofthis Parliamentterm.Additionally,weintendtoraise childtaxcreditsinlinewithearningsupuntil2007 08,providingextrafinancialassistancefor familiesinmeetingtheexpensesassociatedwith raisingchildren.


ABrighterFutureFor Britain SocialPolicies
■ Education
Educationisvitaltoourfuture.Wepledgetomake allsecondaryschoolsindependentspecialist schools.Wewillaimfor200academiesby2010in disadvantagedcommunities.Nomorewillpeople dropoutat16,wewillexpand6thform,college andapprenticeshipplaces.Wehopethatby2010, 50%ofyoungpeoplewillenterhighereducation.
■ Health
Bytheendof2008,therewillbeamaximum18 weekwaitfromGPreferraltotreatment.Wewill increaseourbudgetaryspendingonnational health.Wewillalsopromotepublichealthand preventativecampaigns,bybetterlabellingfood andrestrictingjunkfoodadstochidren.Wewill providesafeguardsforcompulsarytreatmentof peoplewithseriousmentalhealthproblems.
The Labouor Party Manifesto 2005
■ FamiliesandChildren
Wepromisetoensuretherewillbeaffordable childcarefor3-14yearolds,with3500SureStart centersby2010.Aspreviouslynoted,wewill extendmaternityleaveto9monthsby2007,and to12monthsbytheendofParliament.Wewill expandtherightoftheworkingfamilytorequest flexibleworking,andincreasetheChildTaxCredit inlinewithearningsupto07-08.Weaimtohalve childpovertyby2010-11
■ PensionSupport
Wepledgetoincreasethepensioncreditinline withearningsto07-08.Wewillaimtoget consensusonreformstoprovidesecurityforall, rewardingsavingsandaddressthe disadvantageswomenface.Wewillalso encourageandprovidesupporttothosewho choosetoworkpast65,iftheywishto.


ABrighterFutureFor Britain NationalSecurity
■ ForeignAffairs
Britainisstrongerwhenitplaysaleadingrolein Europeandthewiderworld.Webelievethatby engagingconstructivelywithourpartners,wecan promoteournationalinterestswhilealso standingupforhumanrights,democracyand justice.
Weareproudoftheadvanceswehavemadein Europesince1997,takingBritainfromthemargins toapositionofleadership.TheEUConstitutional TreatywillensurethattheenlargedEUcanwork effectivelywhilekeepingthenationalvetoonkey issues.WewillputthisTreatytotheBritishpeople inareferendumandwillcampaignwholeheartedlyfora"Yes"vote.
DuringourPresidencyoftheEUin2005,wewill driveforwardanagendaofeconomicreform, expansionofmembershiptoTurkeyandEastern Europe,andmoreeffectiveEUaidspendingto helpthepoorestcountries.
The Labouor Party Manifesto 2005
WewilluseourleadershipoftheG8thisyearto makeprogressontacklingclimatechangeand promotingdevelopmentinAfrica.Wewillworkto secureagreementonanewglobaltreatyon climatechangeandaninternationalArmsTrade Treaty.
Labourbelievesinhonouringourobligationsto theworld'spoorestpeople.Wehavealready doubledourspendingoninternational developmentsince1997.Weareontracktoraise itto0.7%ofnationalincomeby2013,andwewill pressforfurtherdebtreliefandaworldtrade agreementthathelpsdevelopingcountries prosper.
■ NationalSecurity
Thefirstresponsibilityofanygovernmentisthe safetyandsecurityofitscitizens.Labourisproud ofthebraveryandskillofourarmedforces,who standwillingandabletodefendourinterestsat homeandabroad.Wewillalwaysgivethemthe resourcesandmoralsupporttheyneedtocarry outthedifficulttasksweaskofthem.
The Labouor Party Manifesto 2005
NATOremainsthecornerstoneofourdefence policy.WewillworkwithalliestodeveloptheEU's capacitytotakeactionwhereappropriateto promotepeaceandhumanitarianaims.
Retainingourindependentnucleardeterrentwill continuetobeanecessityinanuncertainworld wherethreatsmayemerge.
Wearecommittedtosupportingtheemergence ofastableanddemocraticIraq,aslongasthe Iraqigovernmentwantsourforcestostayto providetrainingandassistance.Wewillcontinue toworkthroughtheUnitedNationstoprevent nuclearproliferationandtostoproguestatesand terroristsacquiringchemical,biologicalor nuclearweapons.
WebelieveIDcards,incorporatingbiometricdata, willhelpcombatidentityfraud,illegalimmigration andorganizedcrime.Wewillintroduceanational identityregisterandbeginissuingcards,initially onavoluntarybasis,aspeoplerenewtheir passports.


ABrighterFutureFor Britain Governmentandthe RuleofLaw
■ ConstitutionalReform
WewillcompletethereformoftheHouseofLords, tomakeitamodernandeffectivechamber.This meanstheremaininghereditarypeerswillbe removed,timelimitswillbeplacedforthetimea billcanspendinthesecondchamber,and holdingafreevoteonthecompositionofthe HouseofLords. Wewilldevolvemorepowersto localauthoritiesanddevelopWelshdevolutionto maketheirassemblystronger. Wewillcontinueto improveparliamentaryaccountabilityand supportreformsthatincreasescrutinyinthe Commons.
■ LawandOrder
EstablishingaCommissiononEqualityand HumanRightstopromoteequalityforalland tacklediscrimination.Wewillbeintroducinga SingleEqualityActtomoderniseequality legislation.WewillgivenewpowerstoParish councilstotackleantisocialbehaviourand createoppritunitiesforcommunitiestohave greaterresponsibilities.

ABrighterFutureFor Britain
InClosing...
Britain stands at a crossroads. The choice is clear - forward with new Labour, or back with the Tories. We offer a vision of a brighter future, built on economic stability, strong public services, and social justice. We will expand opportunity, support hardworking families, and ensure our country's security. The Conservatives offer only cuts and division, threatening our prosperity and values. Now is the time to unite as one nation and complete our historic journey of national renewal. With your trust and support, we will build a Britain of rising prosperity and fairness, ready to meet the challenges ahead. Give us your vote and together we will secure a better future for all. Let us get to work and finish what we started. Britain forward, not back - Vote Labour on Thursday.
“Britain stands at a
crossroads. The choice is
clear - forward with new
Labour, or back with the
Tories. We offer a vision of
a brighter future, built on economic stability, strong
public services, and social
justice. ”