The Conservative manifesto in brief
The Conservative manifesto in brief
By Matthew Clifton
The general election is not far and whilst recently polling hasn ’ t been particularly accurate recently , after it had remain to win the EU referendum and didn ’ t see the majority win for the Conservatives in 2015 . Polls have looked more optimistic for Labour with the latest YouGov poll ( 25 th -26 th May ) shows Conservative ( 43 %), Labour ( 36 %), Lib Dem ( 10 %), UKIP ( 4 %). Meaning Labour are just 6 points behind , a slight decrease from the previous poll .
However , with the campaigns back on after the Manchester attacks , the momentum is still with Jeremy Corbyn and Labour . The manifestos are highly important and set out what each government will look like in power . This is a brief overview of the Conservative manifesto .
Health and social care
Increase NHS spending of £ 8 billion per year by 2022 / 23 , ensure that 95 % of people waiting in A & E are seen within 4 hours and a change in social care funding , that will make sure wealthy elderly people pay for their care .
The policies do sound good on paper , however , when pressed Theresa May couldn ’ t say where the £ 8 billion will come from and after admitting it wouldn ’ t be enough to make sure the NHS is run correctly , she merely stated that the money will come from ‘ other sources ’. In other words , the money will come from further privatisation .
he social care reforms , will see the savings threshold raised from £ 23,250 to £ 100,000 , except they would include assets ( owned homes ) if individuals need care within their own home . They have since added a cap but haven ’ t stated how much that cap would be . If you would like
to read more click here .
Education
Increase spending by £ 4 billion by 2022 , scrap free school lunches but offer free breakfast in primary schools , allow grammar schools to pick pupils based on ability . Not much analysis needs to be done on this as it is evident of their plans .
The Institute of Fiscal Studies ( IFS ) have stated that by 2022 , the Conservatives spending plans for education will result in a drop in real-term funding per pupil . Plus , if you consider their lift on the selfban under David Cameron of no new grammar schools , they are pushing towards a return of a more selective education system , based on ability when leaving primary school . This doesn ’ t consider the children who develop later .
The Economy
Raise the threshold that will of the amount that people earn before paying tax to £ 12,500 , only charge people earning over £ 50,000 the highest tax and stop benefits such as the winter fuel allowance to wealthy pensioners . They have also said they wouldn ’ t raise VAT .
The raising of the threshold is a good policy , however , it doesn ’ t combat the issue of low wages , which it will see the lowest incomes gain hardly anything from it . Theresa May has also refused to rule out a raise in income tax itself , if they did raise income tax , it would cancel out any gains for the poorest from the increased threshold . They haven ’ t defined what they would consider a ‘ wealthy pensioner ’ which has increased fears of a broad spectrum hit , which would see vulnerable pensioners hit by the removal of the winter fuel allowance .
Business
They will continue with their plan to cut corporate tax to 17 % by 2020 , increase the national living wage to 60 % of the average earning wage by 2020 and ensure businesses have access to cheap power .
Little said on how they would combat tax avoidance and whilst the corporation tax is designed to increase our competitiveness across the world , it fails to address the issue as to why we are uncompetitive ( we have an ungenerous set of capital allowances , which sees our tax base as very uncompetitive ). It could also see us become a tax haven , as previously touted by Phillip Hammond .
Continued on page 9 ...
Issue # 7 , 6th June 2017
8