10 point common sense plan Labour must follow after winning huge majority
The Daily Express launches its own manifesto to put you at the heart of our job holding the Labour government to account.
Our ten pledges include the issues that matter most to readers, including protecting Britain’s borders, social care reform and proper investment in our armed forces.
They also include our biggest crusading successes - Brexit and the pension triple lock - that are always at risk of being chipped away at by ministers who were never committed to them in the first place.
And we will always fight to protect women’s rights after alarming and contradictory messages from Labour about single-sex spaces.
Our mini-manifesto is backed as a “common sense agenda” that “all Conservatives should be able to unite behind” by Esther McVey.
The senior Tory said it encapsulates what the public want to see as she urged her party to stop its “circular firing squad” and focus on holding Sir Keir to account.
Ms McVey wrote: “This is a programme that all Conservatives should be able to unite behind, and unite we must, as the country needs a united, focussed and disciplined Conservative Party to stand up to Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner.
“For far too long, there have been too many self-indulgent Conservatives who have been too busy talking about themselves and falling foul of Ronald Reagan’s famous 11th commandment - ‘thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Conservative’.
“We have tried circular firing squads - spending time shooting each other - and we must all accept they never work.
“Now is the time for all Conservatives to speak up for the country, get behind this sensible Daily Express manifesto, and turn all of our guns on taking down this ideas-free, principle-free Labour government.”
The Daily Express has worked in lockstep with Silver Voices to protect the triple lock, which means the state pension rises by the highest of 2.5 per cent, wages rises or inflation.
Director Dennis Reed backed our pledges on protecting the guarantee, as well as our calls for social care reform.
He said: "The Express is spot on to put reform of social care as one of its campaigning priorities.
“We were disappointed that the Labour manifesto was so vague on this issue.
“The social care crisis is now, with 2.6 million older people not getting the social care support they need.
“The decline in availability of social care to keep people in their own homes has had an enormous impact on the NHS, and the problem of waiting lists and lack of hospital beds will never be resolved until social care is sorted out.
“With a huge majority, Labour can safely involve the other parties in seeking a cross-party solution fit for the 21st century.
“Silver Voices has worked closely with the Express to safeguard the triple lock over the last few years.
“Our joint campaign forced Labour to commit to the Lock for the whole of this Parliament and we will hold the new Government to that promise.
“We will also campaign to ensure that other potential policies such as taxing the state pension, or means-testing it, do not weaken this vital bulwark against pensioner poverty. “Urgent attention must be given to the lower personal tax allowance to make sure millions more older people are not brought into the tax system for the first time.”
Another crusade, to Protect Women’s Rights, also remains absolutely vital.
Sir Keir has repeatedly changed his position on key issues, including previously saying that some women could have penises.
Maya Forstater, chief executive officer at Sex Matters, said: “Keir Starmer promised to protect single-sex services: now he needs to deliver.
“This issue will not go away. Female athletes are being beaten by men in their own competitions, which is grossly and obviously unfair.
“NHS nurses are being forced to get changed in front of male colleagues. Police officers and courts are referring to rapists as ‘she’.
“There is a simple way for the new government to solve the problem: by bringing back a clear definition of ‘sex’ in law.
“Sir Keir needs to act swiftly to defend women’s rights against men identifying into women’s spaces. If he doesn’t, this issue will prove a thorn in his side as long as he is in power.”
The NHS has never got over the massive pressures the covid pandemic heaped on it and needs huge reform.
But one key area we are pushing for is a change in cancer care, with relatively inexpensive reforms that could have a huge impact.
Prof Pat Price, leading oncologist, chair of the charity Radiotherapy UK and co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer Campaign, said: “Upgrading our ageing radiotherapy machines and getting more of them, as well as supporting and expanding our world class front line workforce, is one of the most obvious ways to dramatically cut cancer treatment waiting times.
“Commitments for more diagnosis scanners are welcome and will improve early diagnosis. “But without more treatment, we'll just be adding cancer patients to long waiting lists for treatment.
“There is an incredible opportunity to really help cancer patients and save more lives for a modest cost.
“New high tech radiotherapy treatments cost very little over their life and offer one of the best cure rates.
“They can reduce hospital visits from 20 or more to just one or two, thereby slashing waiting times.
“I can't overstate the gratitude of the cancer community for the Express's continued championing of the radiotherapy cause.”
Our commitment to protecting Britain’s borders, supporting armed forces personnel - serving as well as veterans - boosting economic growth, reviving the Great British high street and preserving our environment for generations to come are all part of our manifesto.
Admiral Lord West said: “It is good the Express is highlighting the significance of defence as for the last 14 years it has been paid a great deal of lip service but has had its revenue cut.
"Our forces are hollowed out and are unable to do what is expected of them by our nation."
Senior Conservative Neil O'Brien said: "Illegal immigration is completely unfair and fuels criminality.
“It is not fair to those who have played by the rules and contributed to this country when other people push their way to the front of the queue.
“It was one of the biggest issues in the election and it is now essential we do whatever it takes to stop this criminal trade."
Former immigration chief Kevin Saunders said: "The situation on the Channel has now reached a new crisis with the change of government. The only deterrent on the table is gone.
"If we are to have any chance of stopping the boats, we need to make the UK into a less attractive place for migrants to come to. We now have an extra 52,000 would-be asylum seekers to deal with.
"The new Home Secretary must immediately open talks with France about action to prevent small boats leaving French territorial waters. This would mean that the French would deploy the Gendarmerie Maritime onto the Channel to intercept and return any small boats that left France."
10 common sense pledges
BORDERS
Britain needs strong borders to keep the public safe. Since 2018, 130,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel and the UK is now giving France £500 million to tackle the problem. The crossing are dangerous and have led to 240 deaths, including small children. Immediate action must be taken to stop the boats.
SOCIAL CARE
High care costs and an exodus of staff have left social care under even greater strain.
Labour and Conservative governments have promised to work cross-party to secure long term changes that will put the system on a stable footing. It is time for both parties to put their differences aside to make that happen, starting with plans to protect homeowners from being forced to sell up to pay for care.
The triple lock was put in place to end decades of miserly increases as low as 75p a week under Labour to the state pension. It is supposed to be a cast iron guarantee that payments will increase by the highest of 2.5 per cent, wages rises or inflation but has repeatedly been put under threat.
We will always fight attempts to water down the pledge and call for the government to keep retirees who rely on the state pension out of income tax.
ECONOMY
Britain must get out of first gear after more than a decade of high taxes and low growth. Businesses need lower taxes and less red tape to help the country boost its national income. It is also time to deliver on promises to level-up the economy with more investment in infrastructure outside the south east to give the rest of the country a fighting chance.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Single-sex spaces must be maintained for dignity and safety, particularly toilets, changing rooms, rape crisis centres, domestic violence refuges and hospital wards. Children must be protected in schools with support to be happy in their own bodies and separate changing rooms and toilets for boys and girls while women’s sport at all levels must remain for female-born competitors to ensure fairness.
Action must also be taken to make the nation’s streets safer. Around seven in 10 women regularly feel unsafe while walking alone at night.
Britain voted to leave the European Union so it could build a bright future outside the bloc.
The government must make the most of its newfound freedom to strike new trade deals, control its borders and continue to take the leading role in the world shown when Russia invaded Ukraine.
NHS
Millions of people are on waiting lists for NHS treatment with covid backlogs still causing significant pressure on the system.
Radiotherapy is the unsung hero of cancer care and expanding its patchy provision will reduce deaths and speed up treatment. The Daily Express crusade calls for a boost in funding to help pay for 200 extra radiotherapy machines to end the postcode lottery of care.
HIGH STREETS
High streets are the lifeblood of local communities but shops already struggling to compete with online retailers took a hammering during the pandemic. High parking charges and empty, boarded up stores put off shoppers. Ministers must come up with creative ways to restore pride in our high streets.
ARMED FORCES
The Daily Express is proud to support our brave personnel willing to lay down their lives in the defence of Britain and freedom around the World. We believe the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force should be given the best equipment possible and with enough personnel to keep us safe.
Defence is the first duty of Government. The Daily Express will continue highlighting where corners are being cut on this vital area. It's clear our servicemen and women are among the very best in the World. But given the threat from Russia, China and Iran, it is abundantly clear there is not enough of them or key pieces of equipment which could make the difference on the battlefield.
ENVIRONMENT
Britain must play its part in reducing harmful pollutants but that must not come at the cost of the country's treasured beauty spots. A much-need massive upgrade to the UK's energy grid needs to take into account community concerns about the installation of pylons on the landscape. Residents must also be at the heart of the planning reforms needed to meet housing targets, particularly any attempt to concrete over the countryside.
