Conservative 2024 Election Manifesto
Key Pledges Unveiled
The Conservatives have launched their 2024 election manifesto, outlining their plans if they secure victory on July 4th. Here are some of the standout pledges from the document are:
Help to Buy Scheme Revival
Under the leadership of Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives aim to tackle the housing crisis by reintroducing the Help to Buy scheme. This initiative would offer first-time buyers an equity loan of up to 20% towards newly built homes, aiming to facilitate home ownership. Critics, however, argue such schemes can inflate house prices.
Stamp Duty Relief and Rental Reforms
To support first-time buyers further, the manifesto proposes making the £425,000 stamp duty threshold permanent in England and Northern Ireland. Additionally, there's a commitment to eventually ban no-fault evictions and provide a two-year tax break for landlords selling to existing tenants, though concerns remain over housing availability.
Tax Relief for the Self-Employed
In a surprise move, the manifesto pledges to abolish National Insurance contributions for the self-employed, benefiting over four million individuals. This reduction aims to support entrepreneurial activity and will be phased in over the next Parliament, costing £2.6 billion annually.
Tougher Sentences and Prison Expansion
The Conservatives promise to enhance penalties for crimes like knife crime and assaults on retail workers, underscoring their tough-on-crime stance. However, concerns arise over prison overcrowding despite previous pledges to build new facilities, with only 6,000 of the targeted 20,000 places delivered so far.
Regular Flights to Rwanda for Asylum Seekers
Introducing a contentious plan, the manifesto outlines a proposal to establish monthly flights to Rwanda for asylum seekers. Legal challenges and logistical complexities pose significant hurdles, especially with a deal currently covering only 300 individuals amid a higher influx of migrants.
Increased Defense Spending
A cornerstone of the Conservative campaign is a commitment to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, surpassing NATO’s 2% target. This move aims to bolster national security and contrasts sharply with Labour’s conditional approach to defense funding.
Quality Assurance in Education and Climate Policy
The manifesto promises to close university courses with high dropout rates and focus on apprenticeships to enhance employability. Regarding climate policy, the Conservatives pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 without new green taxes, opting for parliamentary votes on major climate decisions.
Fiscal Responsibility and Welfare Reforms
To fund tax cuts, the Conservatives propose a crackdown on tax avoidance and reductions in the welfare budget by £12 billion annually by the end of the next Parliament. These plans face scrutiny amid uncertainties over achievable savings and their impact on social welfare.
Social Housing and Health Initiatives
A three-strikes policy for anti-social tenants and new NHS-linked employment obligations for dentists are also part of the manifesto. Plans for an £86,000 cap on social care costs by 2025 aim to provide financial relief for elderly and disabled individuals, albeit with funding uncertainties.
Migration Policy and Public Services
The manifesto advocates for a legal cap on migration to regulate annual work and family visas, a move critics argue could strain labor markets. Lessons from past immigration caps are highlighted amid ongoing debates over their impact on public services and economic contributions.
The Conservative manifesto outlines a wide-ranging agenda aimed at addressing economic challenges, enhancing security, and reshaping social policies, setting the stage for a closely watched election on July 4th.
