Blair sets out election battleground
The economy, child care, health care, education and asylum and immigration have topped Labour’s 2005 election pledges.
Tony Blair has now unveiled his six key pledges for the next general election, with the final promise revealed at the opening of the Labour Party spring conference in Gateshead.
Mr Blair told delegates that there were clear differences between Labour and the Conservatives as he unveiled the last of his six election pledges. He said the Conservatives had opposed the action the Government had taken on each of the six areas covered by the pledge card.
The sixth pledge – entitled “Your children with the best start” – was, he said, intended to reassure parents that the Sure Start childcare centres would be expanded, they would be given help with their work-life balance, and all children would get a “proper, decent” start in life.
Mr Blair said he had been told that Labour’s six pledges, which include statements such as “Your family better off” and “Your child achieving more”, were so vague as to be meaningless, and could have been put forward by any political party.
But, reeling off Labour’s policies on the economy, waiting lists, school standards, police and immigration, he said the Conservatives had consistently opposed them, and could not deliver the government Britain needed.
He told Labour delegates: “Those are things the Conservatives didn’t deliver; those are things the Conservatives opposed every single inch of the way.”
Mr Blair said Labour’s campaign slogan – “Forward, not back” – represented “the biggest choice any country can ever make”.
Admitting that some people still faced severe poverty, he added: “In seven-eight years not everything has been changed for the better … but my goodness this country’s moved forwards.”
Starting a tour of the country early this morning in south London, Mr Blair unveiled the first pledge on the economy that reads: “Your family better off”.
The party pledged to keep inflation and mortgages low, bring more people off benefit and into work, deliver a rising minimum wage and offer more help to first time buyers.
Mr Blair said good economic management was central to Labour’s successes, adding: “Without that, nothing can be achieved.”
Second, came health, with the pledge reading: “Your family treated better and faster”.
Mr Blair said that no-one would wait for more than 18 weeks for a hospital appointment in a third Labour term.
He said extra investment in health would allow his party to guarantee a maximum 18-week period that covered the patient’s entire dealings with the NHS. That meant no ‘hidden waits’ such as when people needed preliminary tests done, he added.
The Prime Minister said: “There has been a huge amount of investment but we need to keep it coming – we’re coming from a long way back.”
Waiting times had already come down but must be even shorter, he continued, also promising patients choice over where and when they were treated.
Alighting at a school in Warwick, Mr Blair and the Education Secretary Ruth Kelly unveiled the third pledge: “Your child achieving more”. They promised “modern schools for all, strong discipline, and a guaranteed place in training, six-form or an apprenticeship.”
Meeting Home Secretary Charles Clarke at Leeds airport Mr Blair unveiled the fourth pledge: “Your country’s borders protected “. He promised to introduce ID cards and strict controls to combat asylum abuse and illegal immigration.
The fifth pledge on crime – “Your community safer” – was also announced in the company of Mr Clarke.
