We’re now just days away from the UK’s general election, set to take place on July 4.
Recent polls have suggested Labour is enjoying a steady lead, but campaigning across the country isn’t over just yet.
Keir Starmer’s party has been running on manifesto pledges about delivering economic stability, reducing NHS times, and turning around a series of failing Conservative policies while taking a tough stance on immigration.
Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak is desperately trying to stop voters from switching allegiances, urging audiences not to “surrender your voice to Labour”.
The run-up to the election has also unveiled some surprising twists and turns, including the Tories’ betting scandal and disgruntled voters throwing milkshakes at the Reform UK’s leader.
While many voters have already made their decisions about who they’ll vote for, here’s what you need to know about Labour’s pledges to voters.
What are Labour’s 2024 policies?
Cut NHS wait times
Labour wants to take a proactive approach to healthcare, stepping “away from a model geared towards late diagnosis and treatment, to a model where more services are delivered in local communities”.
They’re doing this by increasing the amount of appointments available on the NHS by paying staff extra to work evenings and weekends in order to tackle the backlog.
The party will also use spare capacity in private healthcare to clear the NHS backlog, free at the point of use, and will recruit 8,500 new NHS mental health staff.
They promise to reduce waits for cancer appointments with a ‘Fit For the Future Fund’ doubling the number of state-of-the-art MRI and CT scanners in the NHS to ensure early diagnosis.
Labour also wants to make the NHS a “Neighbourhood Health Service” as much as a National Health Service.
They will ensure patients can see the same GP each appointment if they choose to, trial Neighbourhood Health Centres, and bring together family doctors, district nurses, care workers, physiotherapists, and mental health specialists under one roof.
Scrap the controversial Rwanda plan
If they come to power, Labour said they would scrap Sunak’s plans to send migrants to Rwanda.
However, the party is also taking a hard stance on immigration like other parties this election and still pledges to ‘stop the boats’.
Labour also plans to introduce a new returns enforcement unit, made up of 1,000 extra staff, who would work to fast-track the removal of asylum seekers who don’t have the right to be in the UK.
Set up Great British Energy, a new publicly owned British energy company
Labour’s policy offer includes a Green Prosperity Plan to cut energy bills and create 650,000 jobs. They’re also pushing for clean energy by 2030.
The party also promises to invest up to £6.6bn to upgrade millions of homes and cut energy bills.
Closing private education tax loopholes to improve schools
Private schools currently benefit from a tax break that means they avoid paying VAT on fees, which Labour aims to introduce.
Labour pledges to raise money needed to improve standards in stretched state schools with more teachers.
This funding will also help pay for mental health support staff in every school, working to boost the wellbeing of young people.
Stop water bosses’ bonuses when their companies harm the environment
Labour will fine water companies that harm the environment and pollute rivers, and block bonuses until water bosses have cleaned up the filth.
For the most serious cases, Labour will allow the regulator to pursue criminal charges against water bosses.
Greater support for victims of violence against women
There will be a requirement for a rape unit in every police force, specialists in every 999 control room, and fast-track courts and legal advice for rape victims.
It will ensure that early opportunities for prevention and protection are not missed, and will be followed up with requiring police forces to target dangerous repeat offenders with the tactics and tools normally reserved for counter-terror and serious organised crime investigations, getting serious perpetrators off the streets.
They also aim to put specialists in the court system to support rape victims.
Increase spending on defence
Like other parties campaigning ahead of the general election, Labour has pledged to increase defence spending by 2.5% of GDP, and it has reiterated its “unshakable” commitment to Nato.
The party has also promised to introduce Martyn’s Law to deter future terrorist attacks in the UK.
A new fiscal lock to secure economic stability
It will be made law that permanent government tax and spending changes will be subject to an independent forecast to build a rock of economic stability.
This will bring economic security back to family finances.
Make the minimum wage a genuine living wage
The party will strengthen the minimum wage so that it reflects the cost of living.
Free breakfast clubs in every primary school in England
Labour hopes to improve school attendance and save parents money by introducing breakfast clubs for all primary schoolchildren in England.
According to Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary: “Families’ childcare needs don’t end when their kids leave nursery, that’s why we’ll put free breakfast clubs in every English primary school.
“We’ll fund our clubs by clamping down on tax dodgers and save hardworking parents over £400 every year.
“Breakfast clubs are proven to improve kids’ behaviour and grades, and get those regularly missing class back into school – giving them a great start to their day and getting them ready to learn.”
