The Labour party intends to implement minimal changes to social care and the House of Lords during their first term in office. They also plan on a smaller green investment plan as part of their simplified general election manifesto. This is in an effort to protect their policies from potential criticism from the Conservative party.
The deadline for shadow cabinet members to submit their policy proposals for the manifesto is February 8th. This comes as the party led by Keir Starmer prepares for an upcoming election, which current polls suggest may result in their return to power for the first time since 2010.
A group of opposition leaders and government employees will evaluate which promises will need to be made into laws in a speech from the king, which will occur shortly after taking office.
The party plans to have both papers prepared by mid-March, in the event that Rishi Sunak announces a snap election in the spring.
The source is aware that in addition to scaling back its annual pledge of £28 billion on green investments (while still maintaining the goal of achieving clean energy by 2030), the Labour party will not push for legislation on establishing a new national care service in their initial king’s speech.
The focus will be on establishing a fair pay agreement for care workers and addressing recruitment and retention concerns, as outlined in a broader workers’ rights legislation. The proposal for a comprehensive transformation of social care will be presented as a long-term goal spanning over a decade and two parliamentary terms.
Furthermore, despite Keir Starmer’s previous pledges to eliminate the House of Lords during his initial term, it is anticipated that he will only propose minimal alterations. This is likely to entail passing legislation solely for the removal of the remaining 91 hereditary peers.
Labour’s cautious approach – which is frustrating some MPs and party members – is partly the result of uncertainty about the economic situation it will inherit and what can be afforded.
However, opposition leaders are also committed to minimizing their vulnerability to Conservative attacks on contentious topics such as social care. In previous elections, Labour’s proposals for care were labeled a “death tax” by the Tories, causing a significant drop in voter support. Similarly, in the 2017 election, Theresa May’s campaign was severely damaged after being accused of proposing a “dementia tax”.
The Labour Party, under Starmer’s leadership, has gained support from unions for their slower approach to addressing social care issues. Christina McAnea, the general secretary of Unison, stated, “The care sector is facing a crisis and the demand for a national service has never been more pressing. However, the sector is complicated and with numerous care employers, creating a new system cannot be done quickly.”
”
“Unlike the numerous unfulfilled pledges made by the current administration, Labour vows to revamp the care system. Through the implementation of a fair pay agreement, care worker salaries will increase and be standardized across all locations in England.”
“Employment opportunities in the care industry will become increasingly appealing, allowing the sector to address its significant workforce shortage. This will enhance the level of assistance for individuals in need of care and alleviate some strain on the NHS.”
Labour’s latest policy, dubbed the “flagship”, is gaining more attention as their green prosperity plan is losing support. The policy, known as the new deal for working people, aims to grant workers additional rights starting from their first day of work and get rid of zero-hours contracts. Deputy leader Angela Rayner is fiercely protecting this deal, which also involves prohibiting the practice of “firing and rehiring”.
A proposed legislation, likely to receive high priority, is the “fiscal lock” which will require the government to submit all tax and spending proposals to the Office for Budget Responsibility for evaluation before implementing them.
The goal is to compare Labour’s dedication to responsible budgeting with the detrimental decision-making of the Liz Truss administration, which triggered almost a state of panic in the financial markets.
In other areas, the Labour Party’s promise to provide breakfast clubs for every primary school in England, financed by eliminating non-dom tax status, remains a key feature of the manifesto.
It is believed within the party that Labour’s plans for their first term may include a significant commitment to childcare. They have expressed interest in increasing the number of nurseries connected to primary schools in order to address the shortage of available spots and staff. The party has enlisted the help of former Ofsted leader, Sir David Bell, to research this issue, but it is unlikely that his report will be completed before the upcoming election in the fall.
The party’s promise to increase taxes for private equity managers has received criticism. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised to raise the tax rate on profits earned from deals to match the top income tax rate of 45p. However, there are rumors that some party members want to weaken the plan, concerned about discouraging investment and damaging Labour’s goal of making the UK the fastest-growing economy among G7 countries. Party insiders have confirmed that the plan is still to tax these profits as income.
The manifesto will also emphasize a commitment to constructing 300,000 homes per year, a goal set in the previous Conservative manifesto that has not been met. Starmer’s readiness to confront those who oppose development on “greenfield” areas is cited by Labour insiders as evidence of his willingness to take on challenging conflicts, rather than always choosing a cautious approach.
Source: theguardian.com
