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Election 2005: Britain goes to the polls

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UK Politics
20 Apr 2005 16:18 ~ Edward Jacobs

Election 2005: What the parties have to offer students

Campaigning for the general election is well underway and all the main parties published their manifestos last week. We give the low-down on what they have on offer for students.

Labour

Wednesday saw the launch of the Labour Party's manifesto, Britain Forward not Back, a handy 112-page pocket guide to what they'd do if re-elected. The stage was set, with cabinet members lined up in a row, at podiums not unlike the set of The Weakest Link. Some of the highlights from Tony's little red book (as it has inevitably become known):

  • Commitment to abide by the Low Pay Commission's recommendation to increase the minimum wage to £5.05 from October this year, rising to £5.35 the year after
  • Funding reforms already introduced will create an extra £1 billion for universities by 2010
  • Commitment to adhere to the legislation passed to introduce variables fees of up to £3,000, along with the help and support for poorer students
  • Commitment to get 50% of young people into higher education by 2010
  • Promise to make PhD studies more attractive to high achievers
  • Promise to make all public areas and workplaces that aren't licensed premises no smoking areas, along with all restaurants, bars and clubs that serve food
  • Commitment to establish a national framework for youth volunteering, action and engagement, a youth service to be run by young people with up to £100 million of funding to be matched by business, the voluntary sector and the lottery

The full manifesto is available here.

Conservatives

The Conservatives had their big day on Monday, with leader Michael Howard publishing the party's slimmer 30-page manifesto, with its front cover of a handwritten note with the party's 11 word promise: "More Police, Cleaner Hospitals, Lower Taxes, School Discipline, Controlled Immigration, Accountability". For students, they offer:

  • Scrapping tuition fees and the new access regulator
  • Government funding for Higher Education will follow the student
  • Assisting universities to increase their independence through building up each institution's endowment
  • Commitment to tackle the problem of Sexually Transmitted Infections among young people

The full manifesto is available here.

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats' 20-page broadsheet newspaper-style manifesto, entitled "The Real Alternative", was launched on Thursday, having been delayed by the birth on Monday of Donald Kennedy, who now has odds of 100-1 of becoming the Prime Minister - the same odds as his father. For students, the Liberal Democrats have promised:

  • Free dental and optical checks for all
  • Abolition of all tuition fees, paid for by a 50% income tax on all those earning £100,000 or more, and grants for the poorest students
  • Universities will be given the increased funds they need

The full manifesto is available here.

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