Labour manifesto: Corbyn vows to take on ‘wealthy and powerful’ and save NHS from privatisation, as election pledges unveiled
Labour leader reveals plans to solve Brexit crisis and tackle climate emergency
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox
Get our free View from Westminster email
Jeremy Corbyn has unveiled Labour’s general election manifesto, branding it “the most radical and ambitious plan to transform our country in decades”.
However, the document watered down existing Labour policies in a range of areas, including abolishing private schools, extending freedom of movement and making the UK carbon neutral by 2030.
In a defiant message to critics of his left-wing agenda, Mr Corbyn said that “ferocious” attacks on him were a sign that the powerful elite are scared of his determination to change a system “rigged in their favour”.
And quoting Franklin Roosevelt, the president who led the US out of the Great Depression, he added: “They are unanimous in their hate for me, and I welcome their hatred”.
Recap our live coverage of the manifesto launch below
Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, is warming up for Jeremy Corbyn, who is about to unveil the manifesto for next month's general election.
She says he has a "track record" of sticking to his principles for decades, who has already "transformed politics in Britain."
"Please welcome our next prime minister, Jeremy Corbyn," she says.
Jeremy Corbyn launches Labour's manifesto event
He describes it as a manifesto of "hope", full of popular policies that the political generation has blocked for decades.
"Over the next three weeks they are going to tell you everything in this manifesto is impossible - that's it's too much for you. They do not want to see real change. It's rigged in their favour."
“But it’s not working for you. If your wages never seem to go up and your bills never seem to go down, if your public services only seem to get worse, despite the heroic efforts of those who work in them, then it’s not working for you.
“And that’s why so many people in Britain have given up on politics. That’s why you hear people say about politicians: “They’re all the same.”
“Well not any more. Because this party, this movement, this manifesto is different."
Labour to pilot universal basic income
Manifesto says: "We will explore other innovative ways of responding to low pay, including a pilot of universal basic income."
Corbyn launches attack on vested interests and billionaires
"The billionaires and the super-rich, the tax dodgers, the bad bosses and the big polluters - they own the Conservative Party.
"But they don’t own us. They don’t own the Labour Party. The people own the Labour Party.That’s why the billionaires attack us. That’s why the billionaire-owned media makes things up about us.
"The US president who led his country out of the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt, had to take on the rich and powerful in America to do it.
"That’s why he said: “They are unanimous in their hate for me, and I welcome their hatred.”
"He knew that when you’re serious about real change those who profit from a rigged system, who squirrel away the wealth created by millions of people, won’t give up without a fight."
Corbyn adds: "These policies are fully costed with no increases in VAT or income tax or National Insurance for anyone earning less than £80,000. That’s no tax increases for 95% of taxpayers.
"We’ll deliver real change for the many and not the few. That’s what this manifesto is all about. And you really can have this plan for real change because you don’t need money to buy it.
"You just need a vote - and your vote can be more powerful than all their wealth."
Corbyn says Conservatives want to use Brexit to unleash Thatcherism on steroids
"The Conservatives want to use Brexit to unleash Thatcherism on steroids, to inflict more pain on the very communities so viciously attacked by Margaret Thatcher’s government in the 1980s, to benefit the billionaires and the vested interests they represent.
"That’s why Johnson is preparing to sell out our NHS for a US trade deal that will drive up the cost of medicines and lead to the runaway privatisation of our health service.
"£500 million a week of NHS money - enough for 20,000 new nurses - could be handed to big drugs companies as part of a deal now being plotted in secret.
"If you watched the TV debate on Tuesday night, you’ll have seen me hold up the censored, blacked-out reports of secret talks between British and American officials about opening up our health service to US corporations and driving up the cost of medicines.
"You’ll have seen Johnson lose his cool, because he’s been found out."
On Brexit, he adds: "With Labour it will be very different. We will get Brexit sorted within six months, because we’re not going to rip up our main trading relationship.
"We’ll secure a sensible deal that protects manufacturing and the Good Friday Agreement, and then put it to a public vote alongside the option of remaining in the EU.
"So if you want to leave without trashing our economy or selling out our NHS, you’ll be able to vote for it.
"If you want to remain, you’ll be able to vote for that. Let’s take this out of the hands of politicians and give the British people the final say.
"It’s time to bring a divided country together so we can get on with delivering the real change Britain needs."
Corbyn highlights climate crisis as he launches manifesto
"We can no longer deny the climate emergency we can see it all around us, as the recent floods in Yorkshire and the East Midlands have shown.
"We have no time to waste.The crisis demands swift action, but it isn’t right to load the costs of the climate emergency onto the nurse, the builder or the energy worker.
"So a Labour government will ensure the big oil and gas corporations that profit from heating up our planet will shoulder the burden and pay their fair share through a Just Transition Tax.
"North Sea oil and gas workers have powered this country for decades, often working under dangerous conditions. We won’t hang them out to dry.
"This fund will safeguard a future for their skills and communities with new careers and secure, well-paid jobs.The scale of climate breakdown is huge. Our response must be on a scale to match.
"So as it says in our manifesto, Labour will create one million new green jobs as part of a Green Industrial Revolution."
Labour will scrap universal credit, Corbyn says
"If you’re reaching old age, Labour is on your side. We’ll protect pensions and provide free personal care. If you’re living with a disability, Labour is on your side. We’ll update the Equality Act and scrap Universal Credit."
... and tuition fees
"If you’re a student, Labour is on your side. We’ll create a National Education Service, make lifelong education a right, value technical education as highly as academic learning and we’ll bring back maintenance grants and, yes, scrap university tuition fees."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies