The UK Labour Party held their annual conference last week in Liverpool.
Labour’s leader, Sir Keir Starmer, sought to flesh out his vision of the “decade of national renewal” he hopes to usher in.
Crucial policy announcements on housing, green energy, education and employment rights were made.
Labour promised to “back the builders, not the blockers” in building a new generation of towns.
They hope to reform planning rules to build 1.5 million homes over the next parliament, promote brownfield development and allow first-time buyers “first dibs” on buying newly-built homes.
Labour hopes that planning reforms will also ease the building of critical green infrastructure such as onshore wind farms and electric pylons.
To aid the green transition, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, announced continued support for a £28 billion green prosperity plan.
Labour also announced however, that all spending commitments will be fully costed with strict discipline at the heart of fiscal policy to eschew fears of stoking inflation, taxes and borrowing costs.
Reeves promised to be an “iron chancellor” who grows the economy through reform, not tax rises.
Labour’s spending on the green prosperity plan, which now includes £8 billion already being spent, will comply with national debt falling as a share of national income.
Scrapping the non-dom tax status and increasing taxes on fee-paying schools were among the few low-key taxes announced.
They will fund targeted spending increases.
An additional £1.1 billion will ensure weekend and evening overtime shifts, providing 2 million extra appointments to cut the 7.75 million NHS backlog.
Student debt was also examined. Although Starmer eschewed his leadership pledge to scrap tuition fees, Bridget Philipson, Shadow Education Secretary, is examining reinstating debt-free maintenance loans of £3,500 to disadvantaged students.
Student loan repayments will be fairer, with Philipson suggesting monthly repayments may be lower for the lowest earners.
Some traditional supporters are uneasy with Starmer’s announcements.
Amidst Starmer’s promise of being a pro-business party through a new “partnership” with businesses, Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite the Union, said Labour should be “bolder” on workers’ rights.
Labour announced measures to extend statutory maternity and parental leave, ban fire and rehire and remove zero-hours contracts.
Labour currently holds a 16-point poll lead.
Image: “Keir Starmer, 2020 Labour Party leadership election hustings, Bristol 4” by Rwendland is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.