Prime
Minister Tony Blair has launched Labour’s election manifesto Ambitions for
Britain targeting the economy, society and the public services.
The
44-page brochure sets out the party’s goals for the next ten years and includes
a pledge not to raise the basic or higher rates of income tax.
The
manifesto commits the party to spending billions of pounds on education,
health, police and transport in the first three years of the next parliament.
The
key points of Labour’s 2001 election campaign manifesto.
The
economy
No
rise in the top or basic rate of income tax
Mortgages
as low as possible
Low inflation
Sound public finances
Increase minimum wage to £4.20
Bring in a new trust fund for every child at birth
Public
services
Increase
spending on education by more than 5% each year for 3 years
Increase spending on health by an average of 6% each year for 3 years
Police – there will be an extra £1.6bn a year by 2003-04
Transport – increase spending by 20% a year for next 3 years
Staffing
public services
Recruit
more staff to drive up public service standards
Education: 10,000 more teachers
Health: 20,000 more nurses, 10,000 more doctors
Crime: 6,000 extra police recruits
Education
Radically
improve secondary schools
Diversify state schools
Direct more money through headteachers – Give more freedom to successful
schools
National
Health Service
De-centralise
power to Primary Care Trusts
Ensure booked appointments by 2005
Cut maximum waiting times by end of 2005
Create specially-built surgical units to cut delays
Welfare
reform
Create
an Integrated Child Credit, and Pension Credit
Establish
an Employment First interview for claimants
Integrate Benefits Agency and Employment Service
Expand childcare places to provide for 1.6 million children
Criminal
justice reform
Overhaul
sentencing to provide tougher punishment
Introduce a victims’ bill of rights
Register criminal drug dealers
Deal with asylum abuse
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