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General election 2019: Tories to unveil manifesto 'to get Brexit done' General election 2019: Tories to unveil manifesto 'to get Brexit done'
(32 minutes later)
The Conservative Party will launch its general election manifesto later, promising to bring back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill before Christmas to achieve Brexit by the end of January.The Conservative Party will launch its general election manifesto later, promising to bring back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill before Christmas to achieve Brexit by the end of January.
Other key pledges include a promise not to raise income tax, National Insurance contributions or VAT and an extra £250m a year for childcare support.Other key pledges include a promise not to raise income tax, National Insurance contributions or VAT and an extra £250m a year for childcare support.
Hospital parking charges will be axed for selected patients and NHS staff.Hospital parking charges will be axed for selected patients and NHS staff.
Boris Johnson will vow to "unleash the potential" of the UK.Boris Johnson will vow to "unleash the potential" of the UK.
Speaking in the West Midlands, the prime minister will promise to "get Brexit done" and "turn the page from the dither, delay and division of recent years".Speaking in the West Midlands, the prime minister will promise to "get Brexit done" and "turn the page from the dither, delay and division of recent years".
Other headline manifesto commitments are set to include a national pothole-filling programme, and a pledge to raise the National Insurance threshold to £9,500 in 2020, with an ambition to raise it further to £12,500.Other headline manifesto commitments are set to include a national pothole-filling programme, and a pledge to raise the National Insurance threshold to £9,500 in 2020, with an ambition to raise it further to £12,500.
Speaking ahead of the launch, the prime minister said: "Our One Nation agenda will unite this great country for years to come."Speaking ahead of the launch, the prime minister said: "Our One Nation agenda will unite this great country for years to come."
The manifesto will promise to bring back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in Parliament before 25 December - if the Conservatives get a House of Commons majority in the 12 December election.The manifesto will promise to bring back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in Parliament before 25 December - if the Conservatives get a House of Commons majority in the 12 December election.
The aim is for MPs to ratify the prime minister's Brexit deal before the UK is due to leave the EU on 31 January. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill passed its second reading - an approval of its general principles from the Commons - in October.The aim is for MPs to ratify the prime minister's Brexit deal before the UK is due to leave the EU on 31 January. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill passed its second reading - an approval of its general principles from the Commons - in October.
Key pledgesKey pledges
The promise of a "triple tax lock", ruling out increases in income tax, VAT and National Insurance for five years, is similar to one made by former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015.The promise of a "triple tax lock", ruling out increases in income tax, VAT and National Insurance for five years, is similar to one made by former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015.
The Conservatives have already promised more investment in the NHS, schools and tackling crime.The Conservatives have already promised more investment in the NHS, schools and tackling crime.
Other policies contained the manifesto will include:Other policies contained the manifesto will include:
Groups covered by the hospital parking proposals would be people with disabilities, frequent patients, the gravely ill, families of long-stay patients, carers and NHS staff working night shifts.Groups covered by the hospital parking proposals would be people with disabilities, frequent patients, the gravely ill, families of long-stay patients, carers and NHS staff working night shifts.
The Conservative Party says this will be funded by £78m per year, which it claims is new funding for providing extra parking capacity, or compensation for lost fees.The Conservative Party says this will be funded by £78m per year, which it claims is new funding for providing extra parking capacity, or compensation for lost fees.
Boris Johnson's pitch to the voters will feel similar to the pitch he's been making since he became prime minister.Boris Johnson's pitch to the voters will feel similar to the pitch he's been making since he became prime minister.
Deliver Brexit - and the country can focus on domestic priorities.Deliver Brexit - and the country can focus on domestic priorities.
Today we'll see in detail what Mr Johnson's priorities are - but we already know there will be more money for the health service, for extra police and for schools.Today we'll see in detail what Mr Johnson's priorities are - but we already know there will be more money for the health service, for extra police and for schools.
There will also be pensioner-friendly policies like keeping the triple lock, winter fuel payments and free bus passes for the elderly.There will also be pensioner-friendly policies like keeping the triple lock, winter fuel payments and free bus passes for the elderly.
Add into the mix cash for childcare support, fixing potholes and a skills fund and it's clear the Tories are loosening the purse strings.Add into the mix cash for childcare support, fixing potholes and a skills fund and it's clear the Tories are loosening the purse strings.
The party says the manifesto will be fully costed.The party says the manifesto will be fully costed.
But it's already removed one way of raising extra funds to pay for its pledges - by promising not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT under a Conservative government.But it's already removed one way of raising extra funds to pay for its pledges - by promising not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT under a Conservative government.
Labour wants to make hospital parking free for everyone in England, in line with Wales and Scotland.Labour wants to make hospital parking free for everyone in England, in line with Wales and Scotland.
The Tories also promise to maintain current policies, such as the triple lock on the UK state pension - meaning it will rise the by the rate of average earnings, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is higher - and continuing the older person's free bus pass.The Tories also promise to maintain current policies, such as the triple lock on the UK state pension - meaning it will rise the by the rate of average earnings, inflation or 2.5%, whichever is higher - and continuing the older person's free bus pass.
Writing in the Sunday Times, cabinet minister Michael Gove said the manifesto showed "clear practical steps towards a brighter future". Chancellor Sajid Javid told the Sophy Ridge on Sunday show on Sky News that the manifesto would be accompanied by the "most detailed and most transparent costings ever published in British electoral history".
"It is unambiguously, unapologetically and unashamedly pro-worker, pro-growth and pro-British values," he wrote. Challenged over how the Conservatives would pay for their spending commitments without any major tax rises, he suggested that borrowing would go up but insisted the nation's "debt will be lower at the end of this parliament than at the start".
Mr Gove said delivering Brexit would allow the rest of the manifesto to be implemented and would "enable us to deliver on our investment in more police in the street, hospital building and levelling-up education". But Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank, said the Conservatives' position on taxes could "come back to bite" the party, as it could limit the ability to deal with growing financial pressures on the NHS from an ageing society.
"If we are going to undo austerity to any extent, we are going to need more money for the health service," he told the Andrew Marr show.
"At some point over the next decade we are going to have to raise taxes or accept we are going to have less in the way of public services... No party is taking that serious message to the electorate... In the Conservatives' case they are saying, 'Nobody needs to pay.'"
What are the parties promising you?What are the parties promising you?
Here's a concise guide to where the parties stand on key issues like Brexit, education and the NHS.Here's a concise guide to where the parties stand on key issues like Brexit, education and the NHS.
Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced a Tory government would legislate to make sure rail services continue to operate even when strikes occur.Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced a Tory government would legislate to make sure rail services continue to operate even when strikes occur.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he said the party would make it obligatory for rail employers and unions to enter into "minimum service agreements".Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he said the party would make it obligatory for rail employers and unions to enter into "minimum service agreements".
These would set in advance the number and nature of staff who would remain at work during any strike, he added.These would set in advance the number and nature of staff who would remain at work during any strike, he added.
"This will give some level of guarantee to commuters that their trains will continue to run in a safe manner," Mr Shapps wrote."This will give some level of guarantee to commuters that their trains will continue to run in a safe manner," Mr Shapps wrote.
Mr Shapps criticised a series of strikes planned by rail workers in the run-up to Christmas, saying passengers were being "held to ransom".Mr Shapps criticised a series of strikes planned by rail workers in the run-up to Christmas, saying passengers were being "held to ransom".