The Public Gallery

On the 11th June 2024, the Conservative Party announced their manifesto at Silverstone, with Rishi Sunak giving a launch speech.

“Things have not always been easy and we haven’t got everything right.”

-Rishi Sunak

Ah. Well, isn’t that just the Tory party slogan now: “we haven’t got everything right”? The manifesto is 76 pages long, shorter than the 116 page Lib Dem manifesto, but Sunak claims this manifesto is the manifesto of the “only party with big ideas to make this country a better place to live”. So let’s take a look, shall we?

In an attempt to remind the public the work he did during the pandemic (looking at you “I brought in the furlough scheme”) Rishi Sunak announced the return of the Help to Buy scheme. Privately rented properties have increased, whilst full home ownership or mortgages have decreased, with younger people finding it ever harder to find their way on to the property ladder. In a BBC interview before the manifesto was launched Rishi Sunak promised he would build 1.6 million homes in 5 years. The Help to Buy scheme that would be reintroduced as these houses would be built would provide first time buyers with an equity loan of 20% of the price of the property. They would also raise the stamp duty threshold to £425,000, meaning that 8 out of 10 first time buyers would not have to pay stamp duty.

Rwanda. He’ll keep it going. It’s all part of the “tougher on immigration” plan the Conservatives have proposed in recent years as immigration rises within Britain.

Net Zero by 2050! A recurring topic within published manifestos so far has been the climate as it is a very divisive issue that can lose or gain you the vote. The Conservatives have pledged to the 2050 Net Zero target, whilst also giving more power to local communities on the decision to implement offshore wind power. Any big climate decisions would also be put through Parliament.

National Insurance is a big thing in this Conservative manifesto. They pledge to cut 2p off of National Insurance, but in the long term they look to abolish it all together. However, there is a slight problem with this. You contribute to National Insurance to receive your State Pension later on in life, the thing the Conservatives have claimed to never tax as well with Triple Lock Plus. How do they intend that people “earn” their State Pension if they abolish National Insurance?

National Service. They are dedicated to it. Either a year in the armed forces full time or one weekend a month doing community service/volunteering. Armed Forces officials openly disagree with this policy idea, but Rishi Sunak has included it in his manifesto.

Other policies on the manifesto include:

• They want to save £12bn by reforming welfare payments, however this is difficult due to disability benefits with a long term sickness population of 2.8 million
• As part of a tackle on anti-social behaviour, the Tories will implement a “three strikes and you’re out” system to make it easier for social housing landlords to kick anti-social tenants out
• The cap on personal care would be £86,000
• They want to cut the civil service in Whitehall to save £3.9bn whilst also removing 5,500 NHS managers to save £550m
• An end to “Mickey Mouse” degrees – this comes with an extra 100,000 apprenticeships to be accessible to young people, which will greatly increase opportunities young people are given in education
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of the GDP, giving us ensured security in the midst of international tensions
• 4 new prisons. That means 20,000 more prisoner places. And these come with tougher sentences. However, the prison system is already overcrowded so tougher sentences may cause more overcrowding
• 8,000 more community police officers!
• Legal migration limits
• 92,000 more nurses! 28,000 more doctors! Increase NHS productivity! Where are they getting this money from as they’re cutting taxes? Don’t worry!
• 30 hours of free childcare a week. This would save eligible families £6900 a year. Childcare has become a financial burden on families, leaving many families wondering if they can afford it. This policy would greatly support these families

And that’s the Conservative Manifesto. Some say its a letter showing they’ve given up, some say it’s what this country needs.

Sources:
1. The Conservative Manifesto
2. BBC Analysis