Yesterday saw the launch of the Conservative Party manifesto. This covers our programme for the next Government and is our offer to the British people. It is an offer of security and confidence for working people at every stage of their lives.
Over the past five years, we have taken challenging decisions to restore Britain’s economy to growth from the mess that was left. The job is not yet done and we need to ensure we continue on the long-term economic plan that the Conservatives have set out.
Our offer is about security:
The security of owning your own home.
We will extend the Right to Buy to Housing Association tenants allowing 1.3 million families to realise the dream of owning their own home. Our proposals will increase house building, increase home ownership and reduce waiting lists. This goes hand in hand with the Help to Buy programme which here in Rugby and Bulkington has helped 226 families to own their own home. We Conservatives are committed to giving something back to hard working families who have done the right thing.
Security for Hard Working Families
During this Parliament we have legislated to introduce tax-free childcare to help parents who want to work. We introduced 15 hours a week of free childcare for all three and four-year olds and the most deprived two year-olds. Because working families with children under school age face particularly high childcare costs, in the next Parliament we will give families where all parents are working an entitlement to 30 hours of free childcare for three and four year-olds.
Securing Our NHS
We have focused on patients needs. There are now 9,000 more doctors and over 6,000 more nurses than when the Coalition came to office. We have invested in the NHS every year of this Parliament, protecting the Health budget even at a time when Labour said this was “irresponsible.” Here in Rugby and Bulkington I have stood up for our local hospitals as I know their value to residents. At a time when Rugby is expanding it is vital that we invest in our public services and a Conservative Government will continue to invest in our NHS every year.
Security and Dignity in Retirement
We have shown a clear commitment to supporting those who have worked hard and done the right thing. We have defended pensioner benefits and introduced the triple lock. This is a commitment enshrined in law that the State Pension will rise by at least 2.5%, or the rate of inflation or average earnings – whichever is highest. This guarantees that those who have worked hard all their lives will be able to enjoy their retirement secure in the knowledge that a Conservative Government will support them.
The Security of Retaining more of your Hard Earned Salary
A Conservative Government will continue to focus on ensuring that work pays for all by taking more people than ever before out of income tax. I am proud that during the last Parliament we have raised the income tax threshold to £10,500. During the next Parliament, a Conservative Government will go further by raising the income tax threshold to £12,500. This means that no one working up to 30 hours a week on the minimum wage will pay income tax. Thanks to this Government, hard working people are able to keep more of the money they earn. The Conservatives are the party backing people in work.
The Conservatives are the only party at this election offering strong leadership, a clear economic plan and a brighter, more secure future. We are setting out a plan for a bold and prosperous country which thanks to the hard work of the last five years now has 1.9 million more people in work, 2.2 million new apprenticeship starts and the fastest growing economy of any developed nation.