LETTER: A reminder of Labour Party policies

I feel it necessary to respond to Craig Jackson’s endorsement of Mr Hayes.

 

Whilst I recognise the democratic decision to vote to leave the European Union, I do not consider Theresa May is adequately equipped to handle the Brexit negotiations. This has been made abundantly clear by her stark refusal to enter into a face to face live debate against Jeremy Corbyn and her dreadful performance when questioned by Jeremy Paxman in the #BattleForNumber10.

 

Conversely, Mr Corbyn performed well in a statesman-like fashion despite Paxman’s rude, aggressive attitude and his admission of being a “One nation Tory”.

 

A vote for Mr Hayes could result in a Conservative government with the inept May attempting to negotiate our future with skilled, experienced and erudite counterparts from the European Union. This does not bode well for our nation.

 

I would also like to remind your readers of the empty promises made by the Brexit camp prior to the referendum and would ask that they also make note of the major U-turns Theresa May has made in her short spell as unelected Prime Minister before they decide whether or not to vote in another five years of Tory austerity by electing Mr Hayes.

 

Whilst campaigning locally to encourage our community to vote in their own interests for a party that seeks to serve the many and not the few, I have experienced unpleasant abuse from voters but most people are voting Labour or considering doing so because of our great manifesto.

 

All of our members were consulted and our contributions have been central to the Labour Party manifesto 2017. It is apparent from some of the hate I have received, including a scathing and long comment from Paul Foyster, local UKIP man, that your readers are not familiar with our policies.

 

Here’s a quick summary:-

1) Economy – we will introduce a fair tax system and we will spend £250 billion over the next ten years healing the damage created by the ailed Tory austerity policies

2) Elderly care – we guarantee the triple lock pension scheme, winter fuel payments, free bus passes

3) NHS – we will spend £37 billion, £10 billion on upgrading IT and hospitals

4) Disability – we will reverse the dreadful Tory welfare sanctions and set up a National Care Service increasing the social care budget as well as increasing carer’s allowance

5) Education – we will ensure free education for all, free school meals, free university education and reintroduce grants as well as EMA

6) Foreign Policy – our focus will be on diplomacy in line with findings in the Chilcott report and because the “war on terror” has not improved our safety one hot

7) Equality – we will robustly address LGBT issues, ensure equal rights for all, including the rights of trans people and those currently discriminated against by employers or society

8) Housing – we will build one million homes of which half will be for social housing. We will ensure that rented property is of a suitable standard and offer interest free loans for home improvements. We have also pledged to end rough sleeping by the end of our term

9) Animal welfare – we will increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty, maintain the ban on fox hunting, hare coursing and deer hunting. We will introduce a total ban on ivory trading.

10) Work – we will increase the minimum wage to £10 per hour for all workers over 18, ban zero hours contracts and unpaid internships. We will also introduce four new bank holidays

11) Transport – we will prioritise public service over private transport, link HS2 to a “Cross rail of the North” to improve our network. We will also upgrade our National Cycle network

 

Our manifesto has been clearly costed by our party and we are not “plucking money from thin air” as suggested by some of your readers. In contrast, the Tory manifesto is one of misery and mayhem and I am still awaiting for ten valid reasons to convince me to vote Conservative; incidentally, waxing lyrical over our previous MP does not provide a convincing argument, as nice as he may be!

 

I urge your readers to consider their options very carefully before casting their vote on 8th of June. Please remind them that it is not a popularity contest and that their vote will determine our children’s future.

 

I remain hopeful that the vast majority will believe, as I do, that the Labour Party is the only viable option to heal our hurting nation.