UNDER A Conservative government major powers would be returned to local communities, including the right to veto council tax rises and to have greater control over the police, the party said yesterday in its general election manifesto.
Offering an invitation to voters “to join the government of Britain”, party leader David Cameron said the government on its own cannot “solve the big problems we face – everyone is going to have to get involved”.
Describing his ambition as the creation of “the Big Society”, Mr Cameron said: “The Labour way assumes that only big government can solve our problems, but the alternative to big government is not no government: it’s good government, effective government.”
He went on: “Government has an important role to play, but the people’s role is even bigger. Together we can get rid of our debts, get the economy moving, mend our broken society, and even make politics work better.” Under the theme of “We Are All In This Together”, the manifesto commits the Conservatives to major cuts in the UK deficit, but does not offer detail on how this will be achieved.
The party pledged to keep interest rates low by controlling spending, but made no commitment on future income tax rates, as Labour did on Monday.
Under its plan some married couples would be given a £150 tax break, the inheritance tax threshold would be almost tripled to £1 million, and those who refuse job offers could lose welfare benefits for up to three years.
Immigration would be cut to levels last seen in the 1990s, down to “tens of thousands a year, not hundreds of thousands”. The manifesto said: “Immigration is too high and needs to be reduced.”
The Conservatives once more highlighted their determination to implement only part of Labour’s planned national insurance rise next year – an issue which played well for them in the first week of the campaign.
Public sector workers would be encouraged to set up co-operatives to take over state services, while local communities would be able to set up schools and take over post offices and local pubs threatened with closure.
The party pledged to increase national health service (NHS)spending each year, though not, it seems, by much more than inflation, while Labour’s focus on multiple targets would be ended.
Instead, targets would be set to cure diseases and cut deaths, and patients would be given the right to treatment anywhere in the NHS, or in private medicine. Doctors’ pay would be linked to performance.
On the European Union, the Conservatives seek a mandate to negotiate the return of powers over human rights, and social, employment and criminal justice legislation, while future EU changes, if any, would have to go to referendum.
Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats criticised the document, particularly for its determination to cut the role of the state.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the Tories want a “DIY society”, not a “Big Society”.
Labour’s Peter Mandelson said the Conservatives’ core message is: “Sink or swim – you’re on your own”.
“They say they will reduce taxes, protect spending and lower the deficit. This is something-for-nothing Santa Claus economics. It will kill the recovery and mean we would be paying the price for years to come,” he added.
Meanwhile, Labour’s cash-strapped campaign has been given a boost by the decision of billionaire Alan Sugar, best known for presenting The Apprentice TV programme, to donate £400,000.
Lord Sugar, who was appointed to the House of Lords last year by Gordon Brown, gave £150,000 to Labour in 1997, £200,000 in 2001, but nothing in 2005.