This week, the second week of the British General Election campaign, has been the week that the parties have launched their manifestoes, which set out their "promises" of what they would do should they be elected.
And it's been interesting to find out the location where each party launched its manifesto.
On Monday, the left-wing Labour Government launched its manifesto (complete with a Soviet style design on its front colour) at the brand spanking new Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, one of Europe's largest, which will open in June. The Government were hoping to use it as a symbol of the type of public services they have delivered during their 13 years in power, although the Tories have said that Labour have broken the rules.
Yesterday, the Tories launched their blue, hardback booklet containing their manifesto in, for some unknown reason, the derelict Battersea Power Station in London.
And today, the Liberal Democrats launched their manifesto at the Bloomberg offices in London.
One of the LibDems' election promises is to give a pay rise to "lower ranks" in the army to bring their salaries into line with the starting salary of their emergency services counterparts.
The manifesto says: "The brave men and women of Britain's armed forces are the most precious military asset we have."
The 109-page document details the "four steps to a fairer Britain" - a fairer tax system, smaller class sizes, economic reform and sweeping constitutional changes.
But, because they are very much only Britain's third party, there is almost no chance of the LibDems (who were formed in 1988 when the Liberal Party and the Social Democratric Party merged) gaining power outright, but they could form a coalition government with either the Tories or Labour should their be a hung parliament. Britain has not had a coalition government since a loose Labour/Liberal pact in 1977/78.
Lib Dems Pledge Pay Boost For Troops
Wednesday April 14, 2010
Miranda Richardson, Sky News Online
Daily Mail
The Liberal Democrats have called for frontline troops to be paid a "fair wage" in their General Election manifesto.
LibDem leader Nick Clegg shows off the 103-page booklet containing his party's manifesto during its launch in London today
Party leader Nick Clegg unveiled the pledges he hopes will win the support of voters in what may be the hardest-fought contest in years.
He said his party offers a real alternative to Labour and the Conservatives.
And he pledged to "sort out our rotten political system once and for all", if voters back him on May 6.
The manifesto says: "The brave men and women of Britain's armed forces are the most precious military asset we have.
"They must be treated fairly, with pay and conditions that reflect their outstanding commitment to this country, and properly valued and supported after they leave the services."
The party is pledging to give a pay rise to "lower ranks" to bring their salaries into line with the starting salary of their emergency services counterparts.
The LibDems today launched their manifesto at the Bloomberg offices in London.
Yesterday, the Tories launched their manifesto at the derelict Battersea Power Station in central London
And, on Monday, the Labour Government launched their manifesto at the huge new Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, one of the largest in Europe, using the hospital as a symbol of what they have achieved for Britain's NHS and public services.
The Lib Dems' manifesto also offers a "triple guarantee" to protect the value of pension funds so that they would rise in line with earnings, or by 2.5%, or in line with the retail price index, whichever is higher.
Treasury spokesman Vince Cable sets out the party's economic proposals in a final chapter on "credible and responsible finances".
It includes tables of his spending commitments and how they can be funded, which the Lib Dems say contrasts with the lack of detail offered by Labour and the Conservatives.
We've had 65 years of Labour and the Conservatives: the same parties taking turns and making the same mistakes, letting you down.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg
Mr Cable said: "We take the economy seriously, we take the Government deficit seriously.
"That's the elephant in the room. The elephant was banished yesterday and the day before at the Labour and Tory launches.
"We don't think you can banish it, you have to confront it - and I guess I'm the elephant man."
The emphasis on the economy has been further underlined by the choice of venue - the offices of financial newswire Bloomberg.
The 109-page document details the "four steps to a fairer Britain" - a fairer tax
system, smaller class sizes, economic reform and sweeping constitutional changes.
LibDem Manifesto Pledges
Raise income tax allowance to £10,000
Future tax rises not ruled out
"Mansion tax" on £2m homes
Scrap ID cards
No like-for-like replacement for Trident
£400 cap on pay rises in the public sector
£2.5bn "pupil premium" to reduce primary class sizes
Raise pay of new members of armed forces
Scrap strategic health authorities
3,000 more police officers
Cut number of MPs by 150
Mr Clegg said: "I believe that every single person is extraordinary.
"But the tragedy is that we have a society where too many people never get to fulfil that extraordinary potential.
"My view, the liberal view, is that government's job is to help them do it."
He said the way to achieve that was to "take power away from those who hoard it, to challenge vested interests, to break down privilege, to clear out the bottlenecks in our society that block opportunity".
Mr Clegg said the manifesto was built on one word: "Fairness". He continued: "Our manifesto will hard-wire fairness into British society.
"This isn't a promise. It's a plan."
Clegg, Miriam and the kids in No.10 still looks a long shot but if the opinion polls stay as they are the Lib Dems will be players in the formation of the next government.
Adam Boulton, "Boulton & Co", Sky News
Liam Byrne, Labour’s Chief Secretary to the Treasury emphasised an area of agreement between his party and the Lib Dems.
"We may disagree with the Liberal Democrats on some issues but there is something we do agree on - that the Tories’ commitment to immediate cuts would put the recovery at risk," he said.
"But what the Lib Dems have shown today is that their sums simply don’t add up and what they offer comes at the price of cuts for families."
David Cameron holds his party's hardback, 28,000-word election manifesto during its launch at Battersea Power Station yesterday
The Conservatives also cast doubt on the manifesto's spending plans.
"There are lots of things in this manifesto that look appealing. The problem is that the sums just don’t add up," shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Philip Hammond said.
"Instead of tackling the deficit, there’s actually an £11.6 billion black hole in the Lib Dems’ numbers which means that instead of reducing borrowing they would actually increase it by £900 million," he added.
Some key Labour Manifesto measures:
Secure the economic recovery by supporting the economy and halving the deficit by 2014 through growth, fair taxes and cuts to lower priority spending.
National Minimum Wage to rise in line with average earnings by the end of the next Parliament .
New rights for parents at schools (in England only) to initiate change in school leadership, with under-performing schools taken over by more successful management teams.
Every young person guaranteed education or training until 18, with 75% going on to higher education or workplace training by the age of 30.
An option to turn Northern Rock into a mutual rather than privatising it as part of a wider commitment to building societies.
Promise to keep business taxes "as low as possible".
A commitment not to raise any of the rates of income tax and not to extend VAT to food, children's clothes, books, newspapers and public transport fares.
Some key Tory Manifesto measures:
Number of MPs to be cut by 10%.
Blocking next year's rise in National Insurance using £6billion cut from wasteful spending.
Parents, charities and businesses would get the power to set up their own schools, there would be a community 'right to bid' to run post offices and the right for public sector workers to take over services.
People would be able to trigger local referendums on any issue if 5 per cent of residents backed it.
Tax breaks for married couples.
A Tory government would never take Britain into the euro, and would change the law to ensure no future Labour administration could do so - or transfer any more powers to Brussels - without a referendum.
More flexible working rights and extra health visitors to support the family.
NHS spending to rise every year.
GPs to be open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
In other election developments on Wednesday:
And it's been interesting to find out the location where each party launched its manifesto.
On Monday, the left-wing Labour Government launched its manifesto (complete with a Soviet style design on its front colour) at the brand spanking new Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, one of Europe's largest, which will open in June. The Government were hoping to use it as a symbol of the type of public services they have delivered during their 13 years in power, although the Tories have said that Labour have broken the rules.
Yesterday, the Tories launched their blue, hardback booklet containing their manifesto in, for some unknown reason, the derelict Battersea Power Station in London.
And today, the Liberal Democrats launched their manifesto at the Bloomberg offices in London.
One of the LibDems' election promises is to give a pay rise to "lower ranks" in the army to bring their salaries into line with the starting salary of their emergency services counterparts.
The manifesto says: "The brave men and women of Britain's armed forces are the most precious military asset we have."
The 109-page document details the "four steps to a fairer Britain" - a fairer tax system, smaller class sizes, economic reform and sweeping constitutional changes.
But, because they are very much only Britain's third party, there is almost no chance of the LibDems (who were formed in 1988 when the Liberal Party and the Social Democratric Party merged) gaining power outright, but they could form a coalition government with either the Tories or Labour should their be a hung parliament. Britain has not had a coalition government since a loose Labour/Liberal pact in 1977/78.
Lib Dems Pledge Pay Boost For Troops
Wednesday April 14, 2010
Miranda Richardson, Sky News Online
Daily Mail
The Liberal Democrats have called for frontline troops to be paid a "fair wage" in their General Election manifesto.
LibDem leader Nick Clegg shows off the 103-page booklet containing his party's manifesto during its launch in London today
Party leader Nick Clegg unveiled the pledges he hopes will win the support of voters in what may be the hardest-fought contest in years.
He said his party offers a real alternative to Labour and the Conservatives.
And he pledged to "sort out our rotten political system once and for all", if voters back him on May 6.
The manifesto says: "The brave men and women of Britain's armed forces are the most precious military asset we have.
"They must be treated fairly, with pay and conditions that reflect their outstanding commitment to this country, and properly valued and supported after they leave the services."
The party is pledging to give a pay rise to "lower ranks" to bring their salaries into line with the starting salary of their emergency services counterparts.
The LibDems today launched their manifesto at the Bloomberg offices in London.
Yesterday, the Tories launched their manifesto at the derelict Battersea Power Station in central London
And, on Monday, the Labour Government launched their manifesto at the huge new Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, one of the largest in Europe, using the hospital as a symbol of what they have achieved for Britain's NHS and public services.
The Lib Dems' manifesto also offers a "triple guarantee" to protect the value of pension funds so that they would rise in line with earnings, or by 2.5%, or in line with the retail price index, whichever is higher.
Treasury spokesman Vince Cable sets out the party's economic proposals in a final chapter on "credible and responsible finances".
It includes tables of his spending commitments and how they can be funded, which the Lib Dems say contrasts with the lack of detail offered by Labour and the Conservatives.
We've had 65 years of Labour and the Conservatives: the same parties taking turns and making the same mistakes, letting you down.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg
Mr Cable said: "We take the economy seriously, we take the Government deficit seriously.
"That's the elephant in the room. The elephant was banished yesterday and the day before at the Labour and Tory launches.
"We don't think you can banish it, you have to confront it - and I guess I'm the elephant man."
The emphasis on the economy has been further underlined by the choice of venue - the offices of financial newswire Bloomberg.
The 109-page document details the "four steps to a fairer Britain" - a fairer tax
system, smaller class sizes, economic reform and sweeping constitutional changes.
LibDem Manifesto Pledges
Raise income tax allowance to £10,000
Future tax rises not ruled out
"Mansion tax" on £2m homes
Scrap ID cards
No like-for-like replacement for Trident
£400 cap on pay rises in the public sector
£2.5bn "pupil premium" to reduce primary class sizes
Raise pay of new members of armed forces
Scrap strategic health authorities
3,000 more police officers
Cut number of MPs by 150
Mr Clegg said: "I believe that every single person is extraordinary.
"But the tragedy is that we have a society where too many people never get to fulfil that extraordinary potential.
"My view, the liberal view, is that government's job is to help them do it."
He said the way to achieve that was to "take power away from those who hoard it, to challenge vested interests, to break down privilege, to clear out the bottlenecks in our society that block opportunity".
Mr Clegg said the manifesto was built on one word: "Fairness". He continued: "Our manifesto will hard-wire fairness into British society.
"This isn't a promise. It's a plan."
Clegg, Miriam and the kids in No.10 still looks a long shot but if the opinion polls stay as they are the Lib Dems will be players in the formation of the next government.
Adam Boulton, "Boulton & Co", Sky News
Liam Byrne, Labour’s Chief Secretary to the Treasury emphasised an area of agreement between his party and the Lib Dems.
"We may disagree with the Liberal Democrats on some issues but there is something we do agree on - that the Tories’ commitment to immediate cuts would put the recovery at risk," he said.
"But what the Lib Dems have shown today is that their sums simply don’t add up and what they offer comes at the price of cuts for families."
'Abuse': The Tories claimed Mr Brown has exploited rules which ban election events being held at sites such as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham
David Cameron holds his party's hardback, 28,000-word election manifesto during its launch at Battersea Power Station yesterday
The Conservatives also cast doubt on the manifesto's spending plans.
"There are lots of things in this manifesto that look appealing. The problem is that the sums just don’t add up," shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Philip Hammond said.
"Instead of tackling the deficit, there’s actually an £11.6 billion black hole in the Lib Dems’ numbers which means that instead of reducing borrowing they would actually increase it by £900 million," he added.
Some key Labour Manifesto measures:
Secure the economic recovery by supporting the economy and halving the deficit by 2014 through growth, fair taxes and cuts to lower priority spending.
National Minimum Wage to rise in line with average earnings by the end of the next Parliament .
New rights for parents at schools (in England only) to initiate change in school leadership, with under-performing schools taken over by more successful management teams.
Every young person guaranteed education or training until 18, with 75% going on to higher education or workplace training by the age of 30.
An option to turn Northern Rock into a mutual rather than privatising it as part of a wider commitment to building societies.
Promise to keep business taxes "as low as possible".
A commitment not to raise any of the rates of income tax and not to extend VAT to food, children's clothes, books, newspapers and public transport fares.
Some key Tory Manifesto measures:
Number of MPs to be cut by 10%.
Blocking next year's rise in National Insurance using £6billion cut from wasteful spending.
Parents, charities and businesses would get the power to set up their own schools, there would be a community 'right to bid' to run post offices and the right for public sector workers to take over services.
People would be able to trigger local referendums on any issue if 5 per cent of residents backed it.
Tax breaks for married couples.
A Tory government would never take Britain into the euro, and would change the law to ensure no future Labour administration could do so - or transfer any more powers to Brussels - without a referendum.
More flexible working rights and extra health visitors to support the family.
NHS spending to rise every year.
GPs to be open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
In other election developments on Wednesday:
- In an interview to be broadcast later Gordon Brown admits he made a mistake in not introducing tougher bank regulation when he was chancellor
- The SNP are pledging "to clean up Glasgow" as campaigning continues in Scotland
- There is a row in the Bolton West constituency after it emerges the Conservative candidate was asked a question by her husband in a live TV debate
- In Northern Ireland Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister fails in a legal attempt to block the DUP's Ian Paisley Jr distributing an election leaflet
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