Transformation Decade:

Our Manifesto of Change.

My Message to You:

In Britain, elections are about more than

choices: they are about our values, our

priorities and our aspirations for this great

nation that we love. This nation knows the

values that underpin the Labour Party and

the achievements Labour can deliver when

they find ways to put those values into

action, but I believe it necessary to make

my roots and values clear to the electorate.

I was born to a modest families in a small town in Merseyside both of my

grandfathers worked in Liverpools dockyards, and my parents made their money by

running a restaurant: the strong sense of family, their business and our community

had allowed me to thrive and achieve my full potential. But these opportunities that I

had werent, and still arent, available to everyone. That is what motivated me to go

in to politics and it is what forms the core of this Manifestos Transformation Decade

programme, the belief that Britain is strongest when we put families, businesses and

communities first. That is why I believe no child in Britain should ever go hungry or

have opportunities denied because of their familys postcode and no parent should

choose between his or her career and children. That is why I believe in creating a

Britain that is open for business and a Britain that continues to innovate and create

businesses that form the backbone of our nations economy and communities. That

is why I believe in a Britain where public services are seen and treated as essential,

not as a mere afterthought.

My record, and Labours record before me, has, despite buzzwords and rhetoric from

the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, been one of overwhelming success.

Waiting times in the NHS have been reduced and overall satisfaction increased, and

my government will continue to oversee a strengthened NHS. Labour has seen

improved test scores for our pupils and my government has taken steps to reduce

class sizes. Labour has oversaw a reduction in crime, and my government has

continued with its record investments in rehabilitation and our hiring of 10,000 new

police officers that this reduction has continued. Labours economic record has

been one of long and uninterrupted prosperity, and that record of reduced

unemployment, low inflation, controlled finances and increased economic growth has

been continued under my government. We know a vote for Labour is a vote for
safety and stability.

But that does not mean the pride I have for the past must quench any thirst I have for

the Britain I wish to see in the future. I love this nation, which is why I want to see it a

Britain where nobody lives in want, where our economy is strong and dynamic and

where anybody if they so want has the true potential to achieve his or her dreams

without obstacle or disadvantage. This Manifesto will outline my plans to create this

new Britain. I hope, after reading it, the nation can unite behind my vision and take

the first big leap to a better Britain and a better world.

Diana Edwards,

Prime Minister
The Deficit and Taxation

When Labour entered office after 18 years of Conservative rule, we inherited a

national debt that had doubled in 5 years. We sought to transform the public finances

after years of Tory irresponsibility and recklessness. It was wrong for the

Conservative Government to expect our children and grandchildren to pick up the bill

because they failed to get our fiscal house in order. Labour changed that. We stuck

to tight spending limits to reduce the deficit and decrease debt as a percentage of

GDP. We continue to do that with the deficit under the Growth and Stability Pacts

3% limit. Over the past two budgets we have cut the deficit by 4 billion and have

committed to eliminating it entirely by 2015. Only Labour can do this and deliver

record levels of public investment for our National Health Service and schools. We

will:

Continue to keep the deficit below 3% of GDP as required by the Growth and

Stability Pact. The deficit will be reduced every year and eliminated by 2015

unless yearly predicted growth is below 0.5%.

Our commitment to fiscal responsibility, after 18 years of Tory irresponsibility, has

not dimmed our reform agenda on taxation. Since 1997, we have ruled out any

increase in the basic rate of income tax and VAT. Every year we have kept that

promise, yet we also managed to ensure the taxation system is progressive and fair

for all. It is correct that the richest pay more than the poorest. Low incomes have

been prioritised for tax cuts and they will continue to be under the next Labour

Government. Over the past two years, every individual has been able to earn 2,200

more before paying income tax. Millions pay none at all thanks to Labours policies.

Over the next five years we will go further in ensuring our tax system is progressive,

fair and revenue-maximising. Labour will not levy extortionately high taxes simply
because we can. That only encourages tax evasion and avoidance and, in the end,

we would all be worse off. We will also ensure that our taxation system is fit for the

future; that requires abolishing plainly unfair taxation methods, introduce new ones to

meet environmental targets, and maintain Britain as an excellent place to invest. We:

Rule out any increase in the basic rate of income tax, National Insurance and

the rate of VAT. We will continue to ensure that food, childrens clothes,

books, newspapers and public transport fares are exempted from VAT.

Ensure that you can keep more of the money you earn. By 2010, everyone

will be able to earn 10,000 a year without paying a penny in income tax. It

will lift millions out of tax altogether while cutting the tax bills of millions more.
Continue to ensure that Britain remains the best place in the world to invest

and innovate. We will reduce corporation tax, especially for small businesses,

in a sustainable manner. This tax cut will be complemented by an Innovation

Box for intellectual property revenue.

Reform inheritance tax to make it fairer and more progressive. We shall

introduce bands, remove certain exemptions that encourage tax avoidance

and make it easier to pay on homes. Inheritance tax will continue to be not

paid by the vast majority of the population.

Phase out the empty premises relief of Uniform Business Rates which

currently costs 1.1 billion a year and introduce a time-limited Green

Buildings Incentive to stimulate firms to meet energy efficiency and carbon

abatement targets.

Give local councils and the Greater London Authority the right to levy a

business rate supplement for infrastructure projects.

Introduce a Land Value Tax by 2010 to replace Council Tax and Stamp Duty.

Work with allies such as Germany, France and the United States to introduce

a tax on high frequency trading. We will increase the stamp duty reserve tax

of on transactions of equities.
 Investigate the potential of introducing a revenue neutral carbon tax that

provides a Tax Credit to families living in fuel poverty, increases the Winter

Fuel Allowance and funds policies to reduce fuel poverty such as insulation

and energy efficiency improvements.

Create a Social Wealth Fund when economic conditions allow.

The Economy

Since 1997, Labour has proven that economic competence and social justice can go

hand in hand. We have seen strong growth combined with rapid reductions in

poverty, especially child poverty. With independence for the Bank of England, the

introduction of the minimum wage and the creation of the British Business Bank, we

have ensured that economic stability can also mean transformational change. In this

election, we offer the continuation of reform with a purpose.

Labour is looking ahead towards the economy of the future. There will be breath-

taking opportunities for everyone, especially the next generation, but there are also

significant challenges. As opportunities globalise so do the risks we face. We are

clear about the scale of reform that is needed over the rest of the Transformation

Decade. But we recognise one thing: government, workers, and businesses must

work together to secure these reforms. It does not make sense to exclude one and
favour another. They all have their part to play; we all have our part to play in

ensuring the economy works for all.

So in this election, Labour offers a genuinely radical set of proposals that will share

prosperity, encourage growth, and support the next generation of businesses and

entrepreneurs. From tackling low pay to sharing prosperity, from eradicating

inequalities to lifting working conditions, only Labour has the plan to reform the

economy that is bold and realistic. We believe that everyone should be empowered

by economic change, not made powerless. This is what Government should be

about: supporting people to make choices and change lives in their own way.

Expanding opportunity and prosperity to all is what we offer for the next five years of
Labour Government. To do that we will:

Double the Research and Development tax credit which encourages

innovation and research.

Do more to encourage employee ownership schemes a collective, democratic

voice. We shall provide employees with a statutory right to request employee

ownership during business succession or sale.

Introduce a Capital Gains Tax relief for the sale of a controlling interest in a

business into an employee ownership structure. This tax concession would be

limited to trust-based, indirectly-owned, models to preserve long-term, stable

ownership in a company, and to minimise the risk to employees.

Strengthen workers voice in corporate governance, all publically listed

companies with more than 50 employees will be required to have employee

board-level representation as well as on remuneration committees. 50% of

employee board-level representation must be women.

Legislate by the end of the Parliament to require all British businesses with

more than 50 employees are obliged to set up a profit sharing scheme with

their staff.
 Reform the Low Pay Commissions remit to make it the governments

independent watchdog on low pay: the LPC must publish a preliminary

intention for next years minimum wage alongside its recommendation for this

years; provide advice on policy actions for achieving a higher rate; publish

analysis on which sectors it believes can pay a higher rate.

Implement the Low Pay Commissions recommendation on the minimum

wage and provide an increase in the minimum wage to 5.35. We have a

long-term goal to increase it to 60% of full-time median earnings.

Phase out over the course of this Parliament the 18-21 minimum wage rate

and aligning it with the main rate.

Welfare and Families

Everyone in Britain will rely on the welfare state at some point in their life: whether
that is as a child in poverty, someone seeking to re-join the workforce, or a recent

retiree. To the millions of people who are supported by it now, and to the millions of

people who will need the help it provides, we have a duty to ensure that spending is

sustainable, well-targeted and cost effective. As the economy and society changes,

the support provided by the welfare state must change also.

Labour in government has used the power of the welfare state to transform lives,

especially new families. We have been resolute and uncompromising in our

commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2015. That has required some tough

decisions that certain politicians could not stomach. But the fact they were difficult

made it more worthwhile. 1.1 million fewer children will live in poverty because of our

decisions. That is a legacy I am proud of; it is a legacy that all progressives should

be proud of.

Over the course of the next Parliament, we will continue to reform the welfare state

to ensure it meets the challenges of the future. This requires pushing forward new

ideas on tackling wealth inequalities, boosting pensions, and supporting families.

Millions of parents across the country just need a little bit of support to help their

child succeed; we will help provide that support. There are millions more who have
taken the bold step to set up their own business and become their own boss but they

lack security; we will help provide that security. Stronger families and empowered

individuals: that is Labours message for this election. The next Labour Government

will:

Legislate for automatic enrolment for employees into either a new National

Pensions Savings System or into existing company pension schemes. The

self-employed would be able to opt-in to such a savings system. This will

ensure that everybody can have a private pension they can rely on.

Increase the Basic State Pension by earnings or inflation, whichever is high,

in every Budget of this Parliament. We will also continue to support the

Second State Pension and the Pension Credit to tackle pensioner poverty.

Scrap Child Trust Funds and replace them with a universal inheritance

provided at 18 worth 5,000 for every individual. Those from low-income

backgrounds and disabled individuals will receive an additional top-up worth

5,000.

Provide every primary school child a credit union account with 100, as part of

a focus on financial education and promoting saving. For children entitled to

 FSM, the government will provide a bonus of at least 100% on up to 60 a

month of savings.

Create a Help to Save scheme for low-income individuals. The Government

would provide a bonus of 50% on up to 150 of monthly savings into a Help to

Save account.

Set up a new national resource could be established, funded through a public-

private partnership, to provide generic, impartial financial advice targeted at

people on low incomes. More than 8 million basic rate taxpayers who have

little or no access to financial advice will benefit.

Consult with self-employed individuals on how to strengthen access to key

welfare provision such as pensions, sick pay and unemployment benefits

without restricting the flexibility self-employment brings.

Roll all maternity and paternity leave into one package by the end of the

Parliament. We will provide 52 weeks of parental leave. Beyond a protected 8

weeks for mothers and four weeks for fathers, parents would be able to share

the paid leave subject to a number of restrictions..

Ensure that self-employed parents-to-be would be entitled to the same rights

as employed parents. Self-employed adopters would be entitled to the same

rights as employed adopters.

Entitle fathers-to-be to paid time off to attend up to four antenatal

appointments.

Provide a lifetime entitlement to every individual for a course of couples

counselling to help sustain relationships through a rough patch. To back

commitment, the Government would end marriage and civil partnership

licence fees.
Health

Since its creation in 1948, the National Health Service has been a national treasure

that every single one of us in Britain appreciates and it remains an envy of people

across the world. It is imperative that no matter who you are or what your income is,

you can be guaranteed world-class health treatment.

It was Labour that had founded the NHS, and it is only Labour that be trusted to

protect it. The Conservatives have consistently underfunded it in their Shadow

Budget, which is why their Shadow Budgets would see increased waiting times. The

Liberal Democrats can only be trusted to invest in our NHS when it is popular: their

investment plans only rivalled Labours after we had set the agenda, they were

initially harsher than the Conservatives.

Labours record has been one we can be proud of. Eighteen-month waiting lists are

a thing of the past. NHS satisfaction is at record highs. Winter crises in the NHS are

now a thing of the past. Labours Transformation Decade will continue to see these

improvements. We promise to:

Investigate ways we can reform and modernise the health service to make it

more efficient without compromising the NHS founding values. This starts

with our proposed NHS Redress bill.

 Provide consistent and substantial investment in our health service. However,

unlike the Tories, we understand that reform will not be a cure all pill for the

NHS. The Wanless review made that clear.

Continue to reduce waiting times, particularly in life threatening circumstances

such as cancer and heart disease. By the end of the Parliament we will

ensure not a single person will wait more than six months for treatment.

Look into not just curing illness, but preventing it to take financial strain off our

NHS. We will consistently invest in public health to reduce obesity, smoking,

alcohol abuse and drinking.

Ensure there is a focus on mental illness and treating it. Mental illnesses

make up a third of total illnesses, but this is not yet reflected in our NHS
budget.

Freeze prescription charges until the end of the Parliament. After increasing

prescription charges to inject sufficient funds into our health service, we

believe they should not be increased any further. We will also reform the

exemptions to ensure those with life-long conditions pay less.

Reform the organ donation system to ensure that it is an opt-out instead of

opt-in system to tackle the shortage of organs.

Introduce a new Smoking Bill to tackle the causes and effects of such

activities.

Education
Ensuring that every child has a world-class education is the most important job of

government. It was one we recognised in 1997 when we said our top three priorities

were education, education, education. Equipping every child with the skills and

education to seize opportunity and to better themselves is truly transformative.

Because of our commitment, we have seen funding up and class sizes down. Before

we came into office children were still been taught in schools with toilets outside. No

longer. Since 2005, we have started building over 600 new primary schools while

hiring thousands new teachers and teaching assistants. We have also set out bold

education plans that seek to encourage cooperation between schools, not cutthroat

competition. It will support children, especially those from poorer backgrounds,

realise their potential.

We realise that tackling education inequalities start from birth. By 9 months a poorer

but brighter child falls behind the richer kid, and they never really catch up. That

means potential lost and a child led down because we failed to do what we could.

This pernicious and cruel inequality must come to an end and only Labour has a plan

to do so. We will expand educational excellence everywhere, starting right at birth.

The battle for opportunity has already been lost if we only intervene at primary

school. Therefore we will:

Build on Labours record on expanding childcare provision. By 2010, every

parent will be entitled to full-time childcare. This will benefit the child by

ensuring they have the best start in life and the parent as it will allow them to

go back to work if they so choose.

Work with education providers and nurseries to lift the standards of nursery

care. We will ensure all staff hold child development qualifications and are led

by someone holding a degree in early-years education.

Mandate that all children should be in some form of education or training up

until the age of 18 by 2015.

 Support the creation of new academies and conversion of existing schools.

This is particularly important in deprived areas, where the autonomy and

freedom provided, provides can be vital to making much needed

improvements.

Develop specialist programmes support primary school children with their

literacy and numeracy and to support their teachers in the delivery of these

programmes.

Provide a new focus on language and computing education in primary school,

making them more relevant and helpful for an increasingly globalised world.

Reform the School Admissions Code so that all standard nonfaith schools are

assigned a catchment area with guaranteed child entry that represents

approximately 80 per cent of their places; if possible, catchment areas should

include a mix of housing types; and all remaining places will be allocated by

lottery, without regard to a childs place of residence.

Allow parents to better able decide their childs school by providing impartial

information about local schools, including academic results to enable them to

choose the best path forward for their child. The provision of information will

hopefully ensure more disadvantaged children to go to better schools.

Continue to provide funds that specifically targets low income children and lifts

their attainment. We have provided 600 per free school meals pupil to

schools across the country. The funding provided helps those who start

secondary school below the required standard and to support those already in

school.

Take steps to increase the quality of other vocational routes, such as

apprenticeships. Apprenticeships will be limited to young people aged under

23 and shall be required to offer at least Level 3 training and should last a

minimum of one year.

Continue to implement the White Paper on education that seeks an education

system which provides a broad, stretching and coherent programme of study,

 building up a collection of knowledge, skills and experience to allow them to

move into a prosperous, flexible and rewarding adulthood.

Investigate the feasibility of expanding home-to-school transport, including a

dedicated school bus network of the type used in North America.

Crime

The first duty of any government is to keep people safe. Labour, since 1997, has

ensured this: Labours well needed investment into our police force has seen crime

decrease by 36% since taking office and the British Crime Survey has found that

now, more than ever, British people are less likely to be victims of crime.

It is time for us to continue on this record. We must invest in our police, our prisons

and our courts to keep our people safe. So too must we continue to adopt a no-

nonsense approach to crime.

However, we must also ensure that there is a renewed focus on rehabilitation: my

government has already taken these necessary steps by establishing record

investment into rehabilitation services. Our ethos towards crime is simple, fair and

effective: those who can be rehabilitated so that they can contribute to our society

and our economy must be, and those who cannot or refuse to be must face the

harsh hand of justice.

Labour also ensures the concerns relating to drug abuse and terrorism. Since taking

office, drug abuse has fallen 17% amongst young people and the Drug Harm Index

has found that is has fallen 24% since 2002. We will continue to work to reduce drug

usage whilst including an educational element in our justice system and reviewing

drug laws so they can best serve Britons. We will also enact tough anti-terrorist

legislation and invest in our security services to ensure the issues and concerns

around terrorism are appropriately addressed. Our priorities are to:

Have a sharp focus on rehabilitation as the option that is better for our

communities and our economy, commit to continuing strong investment into

rehabilitation services.
But ensure that there is a tough, no nonsense approach to the most violent

and irredeemable criminals or those who continue to abuse the system.

Include more community based solutions are used against drug abusers, and

commit to a review to see if there could be potential benefits to reforming the

UKs drug laws.

Ensure there is more of an educational aspect to community service.

Commit to ensuring that there are more bobbies on the beat under Labour.

Commit to tougher actions against terrorism including tougher sentences,

making it easier to seize terrorist assets and establishing a national Terrorism

Database.
Immigration

As an island and maritime nation that has spread its influence around the world,

Britain has always been a host to a proud mixture of different cultures around the

world. The cultural benefits that immigration has given the nation cannot be

overstated. Neither can the economic benefits: immigration promotes growth,

innovation and skill.

That is why, despite rhetoric that has bordered on xenophobia, Labour has always

championed immigration and will oppose any attempts to find arbitrary caps that

could damage our standing and strength in the global economy.

However, we also understand the concerns that many people have related to the

impact of immigration on our public services, jobs and the safety of our people and

we have listened. That is why we will be taking pragmatic action to ensure the

benefits of immigration can be truly felt by the British people, whilst still being

champions for immigration and its benefits. To do this, we pledge to:

Maintain and, if necessary, strengthen the Migrant Impact Fund to protect

communities and public services from the potential impact of immigration.

Ensure, unlike the Tories in their Shadow Budget, that the necessary

investment into our border security is protected.

 Introduce a Borders Act that will introduce new residence permits for non-EU

migrants and give more powers to border security agents so they can take the

necessary steps to keep Britain safe.

Introduce a New Immigration and Nationality Act to make it easier to deport

illegal immigrants and fraudulent Asylum claimants and to shoot down

appeals, whilst modernising border control and promoting greater cooperation

with foreign agencies to keep Britain safe.

Ensure legislation that requires companies to publish pay information is

applied to pay information related to migrants, to ensure that migrant workers

are not exploited and that companies are not exploiting migrant workers to

price British people out of jobs.

Transport, Infrastructure and Housing

For too long, successive Governments have been afraid to take the tough decisions

on infrastructure in Britain. They have cowed behind excuses, beholden to narrow

party interest, and damaged the national interest. The Labour Party, and this

manifesto, will put a stop to that. We will take the big, important decisions that the

national interest requires.

Owning your own home is a dream that many of us have. But for the next generation

it is increasing becoming a dream that is never realised. House prices are increasing

rapidly, bringing prosperity for many but also making it harder to get on the property
ladder. It was Labour who led the way in pushing for solutions on house building. We

have devolved significant amounts of funding to local councils to decide their

priorities. Those in touch with local needs, accountable to local citizens, should be

able to determine the priorities on house building and renting to make shelter more

affordable.

The quality of our transport infrastructure matters for future economic growth. While

other countries have raced ahead with stronger, faster, greener connections

between major cities and towns, we have refused to invest. Until Labour announced

High Speed North, it had been 15 years since a major railway line was electrified.

That constrained growth, restricted opportunity and made us all worse off. Millions of
people rely on public transport to get to work, visit friends and family, and to shop.

They have been let down by poor service, high cost and infrequent service. That

needs to change.

We will continue to do what we have so far in Government to ensure our

infrastructure is ready for the rest of the 21st Century. The national interest dictates

it. We will ensure it by:

Continuing with the largest sustained period of investment in our railways

across the country with High Speed North, the electrification of the Great

Western Railway, and Crossrail for London.

Providing free off-peak travel on buses for over-60s and disabled people

anywhere in England.

Legislating to provide greater powers for local councils to deliver reliable,

efficient and cost-effective bus services.

Approving Heathrow as the world's hub for flights with a third runway. We will

continue to work with the airport and local residents to ensure concerns are
 met. A Labour Government shall also set aside 50 million for a route

development fund to provide funds to regional airports.

Working to combine all public sector pension funds are combined into an

Infrastructure Investment fund. It will deliver high returns for pensions and

high quality infrastructure, especially housing, for the country.

Reforming the greenbelt to encourage the building of affordable housing near

vital transport links, while protecting green spaces and Areas of Outstanding

Natural Beauty.

Constitutional Affairs

Our Union is a source of strength. As we have reformed the constitution since 1997,

it has become more so. It is a Union of equal partners, striving together to create a

fairer, more inclusive country. We have devolved powers down, eliminated historical

oddities at the heart of Westminster, and preserved the constituent-MP link we all

cherish. Over the next Parliament, we will continue to push forward a bold reform

agenda designed to empower people and institutions to effect change. We will:

Protect and extend the powers of devolved institutions in Scotland and

Wales. We will work with parties in Northern Ireland to restore political

institutions.
 Provide new, wide-reaching powers to the Scottish Parliament on tax,

spending and borrowing to meet the needs of Scotland. We will strengthen

cooperation between the Scottish Parliament and Westminster.

Legislate for a new Government of Wales Act to strengthen the Parliament

and create an accountable executive. It will make both bodies far more power

and ease the devolution of further powers.

Preserve Regional Development Agencies as vital contributors to regional

growth across England.

Further empower local government to directly contribute to local economic

development and strengthen local government cooperation to work together

on regional economic matters.

Continue to support Freedom of Information laws. We will extend the scope

of such powers to cover public services run by large private companies.

Remove the 92 hereditary peers that sit in the House of Lords. One of our

legislative chambers should not have members that are awarded a seat on

the basis of who their parents where.

Equality

Labour is the party of equality. Whether fighting for equal pay or against

discrimination on the basis of sexuality, Labour has always been on the frontline in

the battle for equality. We will continue to lead the way in challenging prejudice and
discrimination in government. Peoples differences and the diversity of this great

nation is something to be celebrated.

Our record in government is one to be proud of. From the Human Rights Act, which

protects our most vulnerable, to the repeal of the hated Conservative Section 28,

Labour has stood up for those who have been discriminated against. While our

record is strong, there is still unacceptable discrimination. Therefore over the next

Parliament, we promise a relentless crusade against prejudice and inequality in

Britain, and across the world. We will:

Require every company over 50 employees to conduct mandatory equal pay

audits bi-annually to ensure that women throughout Britain receive equal

treatment.

Strengthen the law against maternity discrimination.

Allow homosexual couples the right to marry while allowing heterosexual

couples the right to a civil partnership if they chose. Full equality and full

choice is vital for determining how you wish to cement your bond and love to

one another.

Protect the Human Rights Act as the most important mechanism to get justice

in British courts. We will never leave the European Convention on Human

Rights.

Provide for a new Equality Act protecting people from discrimination in the

workplace and society. It will seek to simplify laws on discrimination and

strengthen your protections.

Foreign Policy and Defence

Britain has always had a proud internationalist history of standing up for human

rights across the globe and commanding the respect of nations everywhere, whilst

also using our voice on the world stage to ensure that those of us at home feel safe,

secure and represented. We know that the British people want a government that

continues this legacy.

Internationalist values have always been Labour values. Cooperating across the

globe and ensuring our voice is always present and prominent on the world stage is

not just the ethical choice, but also the choice that keeps Britain safer and stronger.

We will commit to our allies in NATO and the EU, as well as ensure we work within

global institutions such as the UN and the IMF to promote both Britains interests at

home and human rights abroad, as well as cooperating to resolve global issues such

as climate change, international crime, piracy and terrorism. As well as committing to

these institutions, we will work to be a reformatory voice on the foreign stage to

ensure they modernise and best serve British interests.

The British people also want a government that commits to their safety. Only the

Labour Party can do this: as the Liberal Democrats put politics first and the

Conservatives fumble, we will present a united and coherent policy that ensures our
military remains world class and that the job in Iraq and Afghanistan is done

properly. We will:

Remain committed to our membership of NATO and ensure military spending

reaches NATO defence spending goals.
Work within a modern United Nations to promote human rights and work to
address human violations across the world, such as in Sudan and Zimbabwe.
Establish an LGBT envoy and a womens envoy to ensure these essential
human rights are promoted on the world stage by Britain.
Remain committed to promoting free but fair trade across the globe. This
includes continuing to be a promoting influence in the DOTA trade round.
Remain committed to maintaining Trident and adopt a multilateralist approach
to nuclear weapons on the world stage.
Ensure there is a single system of armed service law to simplify coordinated
British efforts, as well as working to grant pardons to those who soldiers who
were wrongfully punished or executed during the First World War.
Work with service charities and the credit union movement to deliver on its
commitment to support the development of an Armed Forces credit union,
similar to the USs Navy Federal.
Work with allies across the world stage to tackle issues such as international
crime, terrorism and climate change.
Adopt a strong anti-piracy stance piracy costs lives and the world economy
billions. We will commit to an anti-piracy taskforce, as well as fight to ensure
global anti-piracy laws are toughened.
Refuse to commit to an arbitrary timetable in Iraq to protect the region from
destabilisation and support the Iraqi government during this sensitive time.
Continue to commit to a fully public and comprehensive inquiry into the Iraq
war when withdrawal from Iraq is achieved.
Continue to move towards the 0.7% target on aid while ensure that every
pound of taxpayers money spent is done so effectively.
 Respect the result from the European Constitutional Referendum and say no
to the European Constitution whilst ensuring we still cooperate and coordinate
with our European partners and allies.
But understand that the European Union needs to be reformed to best benefit
the British people. We will promote a reform package in Europe which
includes:
1. Protecting all of Britains key vetoes.
2. Slimming down the European Commission as outlined in the original
constitution.
3. Granting the European Parliament more powers over the European
Commission.
4. Ratifying an official treaty which explicitly affirms Britains sovereignty
in the European Union and allowing us to opt out of an ever closer
Union.
5. Reform CAP to ensure a maximum limit on CAP payments for the
richest farmers and to promote environmental stability and free trade.
6. Reform Europes fisheries policy to phase out discards, allow
fishermen to trade quotas and work to replace the contest for annual
fishing quotas with long term management plans based on scientific
findings.

Environment

The Labour Party takes tackling climate change and protecting our green spaces

seriously. We agreed the Kyoto Protocol and continue to work to meet its obligations.

The quality of our local environment is vital to our well-being and is a key part of our
national heritage. Under Labour we have seen Britains beaches, rivers and drinking

water increase in quality. To continue this record, we will:

Encourage greater use of public transport to cut our carbon emissions.

Be the first country in the world to put our commitments on climate change

into statute.

Support renewable energy and sustainable business.

Preserve the Hunting Act.

Move towards a zero waste Britain, eventually banning recyclable and

biodegradable materials from landfill.

Continue to support rural communities to keep their shops, pubs, and post
offices open.

Introduce a Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act on biodiversity,

national parks, right of way and the natural environment.