This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/16/one-nation-labour-policy-blueprint

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'One Nation' Labour's policy blueprint 'One Nation' Labour's policy blueprint
(4 months later)
EconomyEconomy
Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, is determined not to make premature commitments and his primary goal remains to destroy the credibility of George Osborne. Two years ago he offered a five-point plan, including a temporary VAT cut – at the time seen as an emergency measure. The aim is to show that Osborne's austerity plan was too quick for a slow economy to absorb.Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, is determined not to make premature commitments and his primary goal remains to destroy the credibility of George Osborne. Two years ago he offered a five-point plan, including a temporary VAT cut – at the time seen as an emergency measure. The aim is to show that Osborne's austerity plan was too quick for a slow economy to absorb.
Balls faces two big moments. The coalition summer spending review will set out the spending totals for 2015-2016, and Balls will be asked whether he will match the departmental numbers. He intends to say something more about this thinking shortly. But he faces a decision on whether he is willing to cut spending as fast through the next parliament as the coalition or instead raise extra taxes, or countenance extra borrowing.Balls faces two big moments. The coalition summer spending review will set out the spending totals for 2015-2016, and Balls will be asked whether he will match the departmental numbers. He intends to say something more about this thinking shortly. But he faces a decision on whether he is willing to cut spending as fast through the next parliament as the coalition or instead raise extra taxes, or countenance extra borrowing.
ImmigrationImmigration
The party has promised action against employers who exploit migrant labour to undercut domestic labour, to tackle gangmasters and for a more rigorous enforcement of the minimum wage laws. It has backed ending immediate claims for jobseekers allowance by new migrants and stopping child benefit payments to those with children in other EU countries.The party has promised action against employers who exploit migrant labour to undercut domestic labour, to tackle gangmasters and for a more rigorous enforcement of the minimum wage laws. It has backed ending immediate claims for jobseekers allowance by new migrants and stopping child benefit payments to those with children in other EU countries.
It is looking at requiring any employer taking on EU migrant labour also to take on a British apprentice.It is looking at requiring any employer taking on EU migrant labour also to take on a British apprentice.
The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has not said yet if she will retain a coalition target to get net migration down below 100,000 per year by the time of the next election. Cooper has hinted Labour would remove overseas higher education students from that target so making it more obtainable.The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has not said yet if she will retain a coalition target to get net migration down below 100,000 per year by the time of the next election. Cooper has hinted Labour would remove overseas higher education students from that target so making it more obtainable.
HealthHealth
Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, faces the dilemma of repealing the government health reforms and integrating health and social care without imposing another top-down reorganisation.Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, faces the dilemma of repealing the government health reforms and integrating health and social care without imposing another top-down reorganisation.
A single personal budget to fund services rather than simply paying hospitals for admitting patients, would create a powerful incentive to shift services out of hospitals into the community and at home, and towards prevention and early intervention. Burnham has appointed an Independent Commission on Whole-Person Care led by former Department of Health clinical lead for efficiency and productivity Sir John Oldham. Its first report will be this Autumn.A single personal budget to fund services rather than simply paying hospitals for admitting patients, would create a powerful incentive to shift services out of hospitals into the community and at home, and towards prevention and early intervention. Burnham has appointed an Independent Commission on Whole-Person Care led by former Department of Health clinical lead for efficiency and productivity Sir John Oldham. Its first report will be this Autumn.
Labour supports a minimum alcohol price, standardised cigarette packets and is consulting on maximum salt and fat contents, as opposed to fat taxes.Labour supports a minimum alcohol price, standardised cigarette packets and is consulting on maximum salt and fat contents, as opposed to fat taxes.
TransportTransport
Policies include: banning rail companies from raising fares beyond a cap set by ministers; a legal right to the cheapest ticket; bringing station car parking charges within regulation for the first time; enabling councils to set bus fares and requiring bus companies to deliver a concessionary-fare scheme for 16-19-year-olds in education or training. There is a proposal to run the InterCity East Coast rail services on a not-for-private-profit basis as a public sector comparator.Policies include: banning rail companies from raising fares beyond a cap set by ministers; a legal right to the cheapest ticket; bringing station car parking charges within regulation for the first time; enabling councils to set bus fares and requiring bus companies to deliver a concessionary-fare scheme for 16-19-year-olds in education or training. There is a proposal to run the InterCity East Coast rail services on a not-for-private-profit basis as a public sector comparator.
Support for third runway at Heathrow has been dropped.Support for third runway at Heathrow has been dropped.
WelfareWelfare
Labour backs a cap on individual welfare benefits, and will require the current 155,000 people who have been unemployed for over two years and who are over the age of 25, to work. The same applies to the 77,000 young people who have been unemployed for a year or more. It also says it supports a regional welfare benefit cap.Labour backs a cap on individual welfare benefits, and will require the current 155,000 people who have been unemployed for over two years and who are over the age of 25, to work. The same applies to the 77,000 young people who have been unemployed for a year or more. It also says it supports a regional welfare benefit cap.
The aim is to look at the drivers of higher benefits – a mix of ageing society, more people living in high priced social housing and unemployment, rather than the level of benefits. The party is also looking at a greater contributory element before benefits are made available, but only in limited areas.The aim is to look at the drivers of higher benefits – a mix of ageing society, more people living in high priced social housing and unemployment, rather than the level of benefits. The party is also looking at a greater contributory element before benefits are made available, but only in limited areas.
The party has criticised the introduction of universal credit, but is unlikely to tear it up.The party has criticised the introduction of universal credit, but is unlikely to tear it up.
Police and JusticePolice and Justice
Lord John Stevens, the former head of Metropolitan Police, is chairing Labour's independent commission into policing looking at different responses needed at local, regional, national and international level to deal with changing patterns of crime and disorder. It is likely to find police and crime commissioners are a waste of money and create confusion. Cooper has raised the idea of a new Police Standards Authority to replace the IPCC, with stronger powers to investigate claims of dishonesty.Lord John Stevens, the former head of Metropolitan Police, is chairing Labour's independent commission into policing looking at different responses needed at local, regional, national and international level to deal with changing patterns of crime and disorder. It is likely to find police and crime commissioners are a waste of money and create confusion. Cooper has raised the idea of a new Police Standards Authority to replace the IPCC, with stronger powers to investigate claims of dishonesty.
The shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan, has spoken of greater emphasis on restorative justice, reinstating the youth justice board, and introducing a similar body for women offenders. Clegg's travails on constitutional reform have reduced Labour appetite for such changes.The shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan, has spoken of greater emphasis on restorative justice, reinstating the youth justice board, and introducing a similar body for women offenders. Clegg's travails on constitutional reform have reduced Labour appetite for such changes.
But Angela Eagle, shadow leader of house is looking at political alienation including voting on Sundays and in supermarkets.But Angela Eagle, shadow leader of house is looking at political alienation including voting on Sundays and in supermarkets.
EducationEducation
Labour is likely to back creating a new middle tier between the Department of Education and schools on the basis that Whitehall cannot monitor underperformance in thousands of independent academies. They say that local authorities should be a voice for local communities and parents, a planner and commissioner of school places and provider of schools especially in the primary sector. But the party wants to increase collaboration between independent academies so that they share experiences. They are critical of free schools if unplanned – but say 240,000 new primary school places are needed by the next election.Labour is likely to back creating a new middle tier between the Department of Education and schools on the basis that Whitehall cannot monitor underperformance in thousands of independent academies. They say that local authorities should be a voice for local communities and parents, a planner and commissioner of school places and provider of schools especially in the primary sector. But the party wants to increase collaboration between independent academies so that they share experiences. They are critical of free schools if unplanned – but say 240,000 new primary school places are needed by the next election.
It also supports incentives for teachers to work in challenging schools or poorer communities by providing a rebate on teacher tuition fees. Supports a new Royal College for Teachers to provide advice on high quality teacher training and professional development. Labour child care commission, set up in May 2012 will propose expansion of hours for 2 and 3 year olds.It also supports incentives for teachers to work in challenging schools or poorer communities by providing a rebate on teacher tuition fees. Supports a new Royal College for Teachers to provide advice on high quality teacher training and professional development. Labour child care commission, set up in May 2012 will propose expansion of hours for 2 and 3 year olds.
IndustryIndustry
Labour is now willing to embrace an industrial policy as part of its responsible capital agenda. It supports a properly funded British investment bank with funds distributed through a new network of geographically mandated regional banks, a British version of the German Sparkassen.Labour is now willing to embrace an industrial policy as part of its responsible capital agenda. It supports a properly funded British investment bank with funds distributed through a new network of geographically mandated regional banks, a British version of the German Sparkassen.
The party wants strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships built around city region clusters, modelled on Lord Adonis's plans for the north-east. Labour's Cox review proposed extending the governance code so that sufficient long-term incentives are incorporated in the pay of executive and non-executive directors; changes to takeovers rules and reporting requirements , including an end to quarterly reporting, improving the functioning of equity markets through changes to the tax system;The party wants strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships built around city region clusters, modelled on Lord Adonis's plans for the north-east. Labour's Cox review proposed extending the governance code so that sufficient long-term incentives are incorporated in the pay of executive and non-executive directors; changes to takeovers rules and reporting requirements , including an end to quarterly reporting, improving the functioning of equity markets through changes to the tax system;
It plans measures to encourage support for, and investment in, small businesses; infrastructure investment decisions possibly farmed out to an independent commission, currently being examined for Labour by Sir John Armitt, who headed up the Olympic Delivery Authority; proposals on apprentices and proposals for a "Technical Baccalaureate" in schools and colleges to be achieved by students by the age of 18.It plans measures to encourage support for, and investment in, small businesses; infrastructure investment decisions possibly farmed out to an independent commission, currently being examined for Labour by Sir John Armitt, who headed up the Olympic Delivery Authority; proposals on apprentices and proposals for a "Technical Baccalaureate" in schools and colleges to be achieved by students by the age of 18.
Other issues to be addressedOther issues to be addressed
• Trident replacement – whether to back a full-scale replacement being proposed by the Conservatives, or a more scaled-down option similar to the one expected to be proposed by the Liberal Democrats in a review led by Treasury chief secretary.• Trident replacement – whether to back a full-scale replacement being proposed by the Conservatives, or a more scaled-down option similar to the one expected to be proposed by the Liberal Democrats in a review led by Treasury chief secretary.
• Votes at 16 – Ed Miliband supports it, but it has yet to be formal party policy.• Votes at 16 – Ed Miliband supports it, but it has yet to be formal party policy.
• Abolition of zero-hour contracts, one of many areas of employment law the unions will seek to repeal.• Abolition of zero-hour contracts, one of many areas of employment law the unions will seek to repeal.
• Restrictions on concentrations of media ownership, and any outstanding issues on newspaper regulation.• Restrictions on concentrations of media ownership, and any outstanding issues on newspaper regulation.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.