IN the build-up to Labour’s manifesto launch, Keir Starmer promised no surprises. In that regard, he didn’t disappoint.
It was big on “change” — but gave no indication of how it will be paid for.
There was confirmation that income tax, National Insurance and VAT will not be increased.
But no commitment to bring them down, either.
Overall, the tax burden will go UP by £8.6billion — to the highest level ever.
The door remains open to whacking up fuel duty in what would be a hammer blow to motorists.
In a sign Labour will be no friend to drivers, the sale of new petrol cars will be banned from 2030, as part of a misguided rush to net zero.
The manifesto restated welcome plans to make the NHS provide a proper service at weekends, in order to bring down sky-high waiting lists.
If the party is serious about reforming the Health Service — rather than treating it like a shrine — that is to be applauded.
Likewise, Labour seems better placed than the Tories to finally build the 1.5 million houses the country needs, being less in thrall to Nimbys.
By contrast, giving votes to 16-year-olds is a bad idea.
Ditto making it easier to switch gender — and pushing ahead with a “full-trans inclusive” ban on conversion therapy.
And scrapping the Rwanda scheme — at a time when the rest of Europe is looking to get tough on illegal immigration — could make us even more of a magnet for small boats.
The commitment to reduce legal migration by an unspecified amount is worryingly unclear, as is the timetable for spending 2.5 per cent of our national income on defence.
Sir Keir’s calculation is that none of this really matters.
That voters want to boot the Tories out — so he just needs to keep things vague.
He may be right about the first part. But he should now expect the next three weeks to be all about what is NOT in his manifesto.
Where is the money really coming from to pay for his promised shake-up of public services, should the dash for growth not deliver?
What does his plan for closer ties with Brussels mean for our Brexit freedoms? Should we expect even more wokery to infect our institutions?
The country needs to know before July 4. Not after Sir Keir already has a super-majority in the bag.
BANK of England Governor Andrew Bailey knows all about Britain’s productivity crisis.
Three years on from Covid, only half of his 5,000 staff come in to work every day.
But perhaps — like spiralling inflation after lockdown — bungling Bailey simply hasn’t noticed?
