Labour manifesto: 27 key things you need to know

Jeremy Corbyn runs the risk of alienating the north London vote with his tax plans, but the alternative is far worse - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

Labour would not allow Britain to crash out of the European Union if no trade deal was in place at the end of Brexit negotiations.

The party’s manifesto calls a so-called ‘no deal’ scenario ‘the worst possible deal for Britain’, adding that Labour will have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the single market and the customs union.

The manifesto has also pledged to replace the Conservatives’ Great Repeal Bill with proposed legislation to protect things such as workers rights, as well as confirming that freedom of movement would end after Britain leaves the EU.

The key points on Brexit are:

1 Scrap Conservatives’ Brexit White Paper and replace with ‘fresh negotiating priorities’ with strong emphasis on retaining Single Market and Customs Union.

2 Labour government would ‘immediately guarantee’ existing rights for all EU nationals in Britain.

3 It would ‘reject ‘no deal’ as a viable option’.

The manifesto reads: ‘Labour recognises that leaving the EU with ‘no deal’ is the worst possible deal for Britain and that it would do damage to our economy and trade.

‘We will reject ‘no deal’ as a viable option and if needs be negotiate transitional arrangements to avoid a ‘cliff-edge’ for the economy.’

Labour respects the referendum result, the manifesto says, adding: ‘We will end Theresa May’s reckless approach to Brexit, and seek to unite the country around a Brexit deal that works for every community in Britain.

‘We will scrap the Conservatives’ Brexit white paper and replace it with fresh negotiating priorities that have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the single market and the Customs Union – which are essential for maintaining industries, jobs and businesses in Britain.

‘Labour will always put jobs and the economy first.’

Here are some other key elements from Labour’s manifesto:

TAX

4 No income tax rises for those earning below £80,000 a year – but ‘top 5% of earners will be asked to contribute more in tax’ to fund public services.

5 No rise in personal National Insurance Contributions or the rate of VAT.

6 Lower small profits rate of corporation tax will be reintroduced to protect small businesses.

DEFICIT

Jeremy Corbyn (centre) with shadow cabinet members (left to right) Diane Abbott, Ian Lavery, Kate Osamor, Tom Watson and Sarah Champion at the launch in Bradford of the Labour Party manifesto for the General Election. – Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

7 Target of ‘eliminating the government’s deficit on day-to-day spending within five years’.

8 Ensure national debt is lower at the end of the next Parliament than at present.

INFRASTRUCTURE

9 National Transformation Fund will be created to invest £250 billion over 10 years to upgrade economy.

10 Complete HS2 high-speed rail line, and link the project with other rail investments such as Crossrail of the North and the Durham Freight Centre.

11 Build a new Brighton Main Line for South East.

IMMIGRATION

12 Labour will not ‘scapegoat migrants’ and will not set a cap on immigration, describing targets as ‘bogus’.

13 International students will not be included in immigration numbers, but the party will crack down on ‘fake colleges’.

Jeremy Corbyn at the launch in Bradford of the Labour Party manifesto for the General Election. – Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

EDUCATION

14 Labour will create a National Education Service for England to incorporate all forms of education.

15 Overhaul existing childcare system and extend the 30 hours of free childcare to all two-year-olds.

16 Labour promises to reduce class sizes to ‘less than 30’ for five, six and seven-year-old children.

HOUSING

17 Build at least 100,000 council and housing association homes a year by end of the next parliament, for ‘genuinely affordable rent or sale’.

18 Guarantee Help to Buy funding until 2027 and give locals buying their first home ‘first dibs on new homes built in their area’.

HEALTH

19 One million people will be taken off NHS waiting lists by ‘guaranteeing access to treatment within 18 weeks’.

20 Free parking in NHS England will be funded by increasing tax on private medical insurance premiums.

21 Scrap NHS pay cap.

WORK

22 Zero hours contracts will be banned to guarantee workers a ‘number of hours each week’.

23 Maximum pay ratios of 20:1 to be rolled out in public sector.

24 Four new public holidays to mark national patron saints’ days.

SOCIAL

25 Labour will guarantee state pension triple lock, as well as the Winter Fuel Allowance and free bus passes.

26 ‘Rejects’ proposal to increase state pension age further.

27 Cuts to Bereavement Support Payment will be scrapped, as will the Bedroom Tax and the ‘punitive sanctions regime’, while the Housing Benefit for under-21s will be reintroduced.