General Election 2017: Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour manifesto makes promises “For the Many not the Few”

Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party is the main opponent to Theresa May’s Conservatives. If the Labour Party wins the General Election on June 8, the negotiations on Brexit will focus on “transitional arrangements to avoid a ‘cliff-edge’ for the UK economy”, as the party’s manifesto claims.

Brexit is the main issue that will attract the British at the polls, the Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, promises that his government will prioritise jobs and living standards, protect workers’ rights and environmental standards, provide certainty to EU nationals and, most importantly, build a close new relationship with the European Union.

“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,” the party’s manifesto reads.

Jeremy’s Corbyn party also pledged to guarantee existing rights for EU nationals living in Britain and UK citizens living in the EU. The Labourists claim that their government will “immediately guarantee existing rights for all EU nationals living in Britain and secure reciprocal rights for UK citizens who have chosen to make their lives in EU countries”.

“EU nationals do not just contribute to our society: they are part of our society. And they should not be used as bargaining chips. It is shameful that the Prime Minister rejected repeated attempts by Labour to resolve this issue before Article 50 was triggered. As a result three million EU nationals have suffered unnecessary uncertainty, as have the 1.2 million UK citizens living in the EU,” the party announced, claiming that a Conservative Brexit will weaken workers’ rights, deregulate the economy, slash corporate taxes, sideline Parliament and democratic accountability, and cut Britain off from our closest allies and most important trading partners.

“The issues that affect our continent now will continue to do so in the future – and Labour will continue to work constructively with the EU and other European nations on issues such as climate change, refugee crises and counter-terrorism. We will build a close co-operative future relationship with the EU, not as members but as partners”.

The Labour Party also wants to maintain membership of (or equivalent relationships with) European organisations which offer benefits to the UK such as Euratom and the European Medicines Agency, and to ensure that Britain remains part of the Erasmus scheme so that British students have the same educational opportunities after we leave the EU.

Recognizing the fact that the EU is the UK’s single largest trading partner in agricultural produce, with the vast majority of British exports being sold to European markets, the Labour Party promises to end the uncertainty for British farmers and food producers by securing continued EU market access allowing them to continue to sell their products on the Continent.

“Throughout the Brexit process, we will make sure that all EU-derived laws that are of benefit – including workplace laws, consumer rights and environmental protections – are fully protected without qualifications, limitations or sunset clauses. We will work with trade unions, businesses and stakeholders to ensure there is a consensus on this vital issue. A Labour approach to Brexit will ensure there can be no rolling back of key rights and protections and that the UK does not lag behind Europe in workplace protections and environmental standards in future”, the manifesto reads.

Just as in the case of Tim Farron‘s Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party says it recognises the vital role that cross-border agencies such as Eurojust and Europol have played in making Britain safer and that European Arrest Warrants have been invaluable, and announces that a Labour government will seek to retain membership of these agencies and continue European Arrest Warrant arrangements.

Moreover, the party claims it will ensure “there is no drop in EU Structural Funding as a result of Brexit until the end of the current EU funding round in 2019/20”. This will also apply to the funding of peace and reconciliation projects in Northern Ireland.

“We will also improve engagement and dialogue with the devolved administrations and seek to ensure the final Brexit deal addresses specific concerns. In particular, Labour will ensure there is no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and that there is no change in the status or sovereignty of Gibraltar. We will also protect Gibraltar’s economy and ensure that its government can continue to create jobs and prosperity in the years to come,” the manifesto also reads.

British involvement in Syrian air strikes could end

The leader of Britain’s main opposition Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn said recently that he could suspend British involvement in air strikes against Syria and would look again at Britain’s nuclear deterrent if he was elected prime minister at a June 8 election, claiming that he is against using nuclear weapons.

Corbyn told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that he believed that “the only solution in Syria is going to be a political one”.

“I want us to say ‘Listen, let’s get people around the table quickly’ and a way of achieving that – suspending the strikes, possibly.”

The leftist leader, whose views on foreign policy have often been at odds with those held by other lawmakers in his party, also said he would have to consider whether he would authorise a drone strike against the leader of Islamic State to limit civilian casualties.

“From the Middle East to Africa, in recent years millions of people have been killed, injured or displaced through wars, terrorism and military intervention. In Syria alone, more than 400,000 people have been killed. Labour will work tirelessly to end the conflict and get the diplomatic process back on track, while fully supporting international efforts to investigate, prosecute and convict the perpetrators of war crimes,” the party’s manifesto reads.

Higher taxes for the rich

When the Labour Party launched its manifesto, leader Jeremy Corbyn pledged to raise the income tax rate for earnings of over 80,000 and 123,000.

“We will measure our economic success not by the number of billionaires, but by the ability of our people to live richer lives. Most working people in Britain today are earning less, after inflation, than they did ten years ago. Too many of us are in low-paid and insecure work. Too many of us fear our children will not enjoy the same opportunities that we have. Labour will turn this around. We will upgrade our economy, breaking down the barriers that hold too many of us back, and tackling the gender pay gap,” the manifesto reads.

The party also promises “a fair taxation scheme for the common good”. “We will take on the social scourge of tax avoidance through our Tax Transparency and Enforcement Programme, and close down tax loopholes. But we will not ask ordinary households to pay more. A Labour government will guarantee no rises in income tax for those earning below £80,000 a year, and no increases in personal National Insurance Contributions or the rate of VAT”.

Thus, under Labour’s plans, 95 percent of taxpayers will not see any increase in their income tax contributions, but only the rest 5 per cent of earners will be asked to contribute more in tax to help fund public services. “We renew our pledge not to extend VAT to food, children’s clothes, books and newspapers, and public transport fares”.

Claiming also that corporation tax in the UK is the lowest of any major developed economy, the party’s “settlement with business will ask large corporations to pay a little more while still keeping UK corporation tax among the lowest of the major developed economies”.

Jeremy Corbyn also has suggested he will look to fight this campaign on domestic issues – railing against austerity, the crisis in the NHS and low wages.

Labour pledged to scrap NHS pay cap and commit to over £30bn in extra funding, Moreover, one million people are to be taken of NHS waiting list by guaranteeing access to treatment within 18 weeks.

“Labour will commit to over £30 billion in extra funding over the next Parliament through increasing income tax for the highest 5 per cent of earners and by increasing tax on private medical insurance, and we will free up resources by halving the fees paid to management consultants”, the party claims.