forward
not back
Pledge No 1: Your family better off. Low inflation, and mortgages as low as possible, more people off benefit and into work, a rising minimum wage and more help for first time buyers. (Red)
Pledge No 2: Your child achieving more. Modern schools for all, strong discipline, and a guaranteed place in training, sixth-form or an apprenticeship. (Purple)
Pledge No 3: Your children with the best start. More choice over parental leave for mums and dads, more childcare for under-5s, and after school care for over 5s. (Orange)
Pledge No 4: Your family treated better and faster. No-one waiting more than 18 weeks, guaranteed, for hospital treatment - with choice over where and when - in an NHS free at the point of need. (Dark purple)
Pledge No 5: Your community safer. Local policing teams cracking down on graffiti, gangs and drug-dealers. (Green)
Pledge No 6: Your country's borders protected. ID cards and strict controls that work to combat asylum abuse and illegal immigration. (Magenta)
- - -
Expanding slightly, with some comments made by Tony Blair at the Gateshead conference ...
Pledge No 1: Your family better off. Low inflation, and mortgages as low as possible, more people off benefit and into work, a rising minimum wage and more help for first time buyers.
Pledge No 2: Your child achieving more. Modern schools for all, strong discipline, and a guaranteed place in training, sixth-form or an apprenticeship.
"What does it mean?
"The Building Schools for the Future programme - rebuilding or renewing every secondary school in England within a generation.
"Every secondary school able to become a specialist school and 200 Academies. (Michael Edwards - Nottingham has 1 and is being considered for 2, and possibly 3 more).
"Since 1997 places in Pupil Referral Units almost doubled and headteachers now with the powers and the guaranteed budgets to expand provision in and out of school for disruptive pupils.
"And 100,000 extra sixth form places by 2008 and up to 300,000 apprenticeships every year - four times the number in 1997.
Pledge No 3: Your children with the best start. More choice over parental leave for mums and dads, more childcare for under-5s, and after school care for over 5s.
"Look what we've done - maternity leave up from 14 to 28 weeks and now we pledge up to 9 months by 2007; a guaranteed free part time nursery place for every 3 and 4 year old, rising in our third term to 15 hours a week. 1.2 million new child care places and now we pledge to create a Sure Start Children's Centre in every community and every school age child up to 14 years old with access to out of school care and activities between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 pm."
Pledge No 4: Your family treated better and faster. No-one waiting more than 18 weeks, guaranteed, for hospital treatment - with choice over where and when - in an NHS free at the point of need.
"In 1997, 119,000 patients waiting over 9 months, today 306.
"Look at our progress on heart surgery. By the end of this March, 2005, no one will wait more than three months - a goal originally scheduled for 2008.
In 1997 maximum waits over 18 months, by 2008 no one waiting more than 18 weeks, from door of GP surgery to operating theatre. For the first time since the 1970s, spending up to the EU average and on a par with France and Germany."
Pledge No 5: Your community safer. Local policing teams cracking down on graffiti, gangs and drug-dealers.
"This means 12,750 more police since 1997 and plans now to create a dedicated neighbourhood policing team in every community including an additional 25,000 CSOs and Neighbourhood Wardens by 2008."
(Michael Edwards - Nottingham’s pro-rata share could well be over 100 extra offciers or wardens)
"New powers will deal with anti-social behaviour and alcohol related violence including Drink Banning Orders, Alcohol Disorder Zones and shutting pubs which sell to under age drinkers."
Pledge No 6: Your country's borders protected. ID cards and strict controls that work to combat asylum abuse and illegal immigration.
The two sides to this issue -
“This country won't ever regret these kids being here" and tackling “trafficking in human beings”.
The 2001 Pledges ...
For the many, not the few The pledge card was launched 09 May 01 with five pledges for the next five years Economic pledge 1. Mortgages as low as possible, low inflation and sound public finances As we deliver economic stability not return the economy to Tory boom and bust Schools pledge 2. 10,000 extra teachers and higher standards in secondary schools As we invest in our schools not make reckless tax cuts Health pledge 3. 20,000 extra nurses and 10,000 extra doctors in a reformed NHS As we improve NHS care for all not push patients into paying for operations Crime pledge 4. 6,000 extra recruits to raise police numbers to their highest ever level As we tackle drugs and crime not cut police funding Families pledge 5. Pensioners' winter fuel payment retained, minimum wage rising to £4.20 As we help hard working families not the privileged few
1997 Pledge card
we will cut class sizes to 30 or under for 5, 6 and 7 year olds
by using money saved from the assisted places scheme;
we will introduce a fast track punishment scheme for persistent young offenders
by halving the time from arrest to sentencing;
we will cut NHS waiting lists by treating an extra 100,000 patients
as a first step by releasing £100m saved from NHS red tape;
we will get 250,000 under-25 years-olds off benefit and into work
by using money from a windfall levy on the privatised utilities;
we will set tough rules for government spending and borrowing and ensure low inflation
and strengthen the economy so that interest rates are as low as possible to make all families better off.
[web-page last updated 2006-01-29; text as published before each election]
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