Jermey Corbyn's Labour Party introduced a bold set of proposals Thursday in a paperbound manifesto as the United Kingdom approaches national elections scheduled for December 12.
The manifesto (pdf), which was introduced at a packed event at Birmingham City University Thursday, addresses the climate crisis, housing, a changing economy, and more—funded by taxes on the country's richest people and corporations.
"This Labour Manifesto is more than just a book," tweeted Labour candidate Laura Pidcock. "It represents real hope for communities up and down these four nations."
As Labour promoted the manifesto on social media, Corbyn took to Twitter with a 60-second video that crammed in as many of the agenda's policies as possible.
How did I do?#RealChange #LabourManifesto pic.twitter.com/a1ryOvHvx4
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 21, 2019
The manifesto aims to deliver what Corbyn called "the most radical and ambitious plan to transform our country in decades"—one underpinned by funding from a huge tax increase on the country's wealthy. Labour promised to increase taxes by £82.9 billion if elected, with the increase coming from the top 5% of earners in the U.K.
£11 billion would come from taxes on the fossil fuel industry, earmarked for a "just transition fund" to help the country make the change to a green economy without suffering job losses.
Wow. Labour announce a windfall tax on the big polluters to create a million skilled jobs in renewable energy, insulating homes, reforesting the country and making new electric vehicles.
— Owen REGISTER TO VOTE Jones (@OwenJones84) November 21, 2019
We either let the climate emergency destroy us - or we build a new society #LabourManifesto
The document covers a range of ambitious plans, including:
- Increasing spending on the National Health Service by 4.3% a year;
- Renegotiating Brexit and holding a new referendum on leaving the European Union, one that would be legally binding;
- Expanding free schooling, continuing education, and nursery care across the U.K.;
- Free broadband for all by 2030; and
- Abolishing the House of Lords and replacing it with a Senate
The manifesto also promises a new foreign policy direction, including an audit of the U.K.'s colonial history.
Under @jeremycorbyn, the UK Labour party promises to "conduct an audit of the impact of Britain’s colonial legacy, to understand our contribution to the dynamics of violence and insecurity across regions previously under British colonial rule."https://t.co/LyebnjZVRu
— Alex Emmons (@AlexEmmons) November 21, 2019
Author Naomi Klein tweeted that "having this kind if vision on the international stage would be a game changer."
