July 3rd 2024.
Ed Davey's campaign trail has been filled with unexpected and attention-grabbing stunts as he vies for the position of Lib Dem leader. But amidst all the excitement, what exactly does his manifesto contain for the upcoming July 4 election? As the fourth-largest party in the last General Election, the Lib Dems hope to overtake the SNP and become the third-largest party in this one. On their campaign trail, they have made pledges on various issues such as care, water quality, the NHS, national parks, and rail travel. But their manifesto is the most comprehensive representation of what they hope to achieve if they become a part of the government.
In the past few weeks, Sir Ed has taken a personal approach, sharing his own experiences of caring for his family members to demonstrate why he has placed care at the center of the party's campaign. At the launch of their manifesto, he even got emotional while discussing the impact of issues like bereavement support on himself and his loved ones. And to end the event with a bang, he announced that he would be heading to Thorpe Park to ride a rollercoaster.
The Lib Dems' manifesto is focused on fixing the NHS, with 75% of Ed Davey's speech at the launch dedicated to the issue. They promise that every person in England will have the right to see a GP within seven days, or within 24 hours if it's urgent. To achieve this, they plan on recruiting and retaining an additional 8,000 GPs. They also guarantee that 100% of cancer patients will be able to start treatment within 62 days of their urgent referral. The party also plans on introducing free personal care, with the help of a new Royal College of Care Workers and a higher Carer's Minimum Wage. They also aim to expand the eligibility for Carer's Allowance and increase it by £20.
The environment is another top priority for the Lib Dems, as seen by Sir Ed's stunt of falling off a paddleboard in Windermere to bring attention to water quality. Their manifesto pledges to tackle the "sewage scandal" by banning bonuses for water bosses until discharges and leaks are stopped. They also aim to double nature by 2050, which includes doubling the size of the Protected Area Network, the area of important wildlife habitats, the abundance of species, and woodland cover in the UK. However, their previously announced plan to create new National Parks did not make it into the final manifesto.
International issues are also addressed in the manifesto, with the Lib Dems remaining pro-European and aiming to place the UK-EU relationship on a more formal and stable footing by seeking to join the Single Market. They also plan on officially recognizing the independent state of Palestine with immediate effect, which is something that sets them apart from Labour.
In the education sector, the Lib Dems promise to combat the mental health crisis among children by placing a dedicated and qualified mental health professional in every primary and secondary school. They also aim to close the attainment gap by giving disadvantaged three and four-year-olds an extra five free hours a week of early years education. Additionally, they plan on giving all adults a £5,000 Lifelong Skills Grant to spend on education and training throughout their lives, with the intention of increasing it to £10,000 when the public finances allow.
The Lib Dems also aim to tackle the cost of living by introducing an emergency Home Energy Upgrade program to reduce bills and a National Food Strategy to bring down food prices. They also plan on reversing tax cuts for big banks and providing HMRC with the resources needed to properly tackle tax avoidance and evasion. With their manifesto, the Liberal Democrats hope to present a clear and comprehensive vision of their goals and values as they strive for success in the upcoming election.
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