The Sun on Sunday launches no-nonsense manifesto to build a better Britain and urges PM to help business, boost defence and take action on tax, health and schools
As the major political parties get set to release their plans for the future of the nation, we set out our demands
Today we steal a march on the main political parties — by launching our own manifesto for Sun on Sunday readers.
With just 25 days to the election, we set out an action plan we believe is needed to build a better Britain.
And we will be watching when the Tories unveil their key policies this week.
Brexit is bound to form the backdrop to their plans and the winner must fully respect the Referendum vote to leave the EU.
But it is vital all the party leaders about to publish their manifestos do not lose sight of the issues which affect millions of hard-working families.
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And our message to Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron today is clear: “Don’t take our readers for granted.”
Our blueprint demands action in eight key areas — including schools, jobs, health, tax, immigration and national security.
Mrs May has proved herself to be a dogged and popular PM over the past ten months.
But some fear that in her eagerness to dominate the centre ground, she is in danger of lurching too far to the Left.
Only trusted aides know the full contents of her manifesto but there is growing concern it may contain ideas her party opposes.
The PM has toyed with a cap on bosses’ pay and putting workers on the boards of major companies.
But we feel she could do more to help White Van Man by stripping out red tape which costs small firms £5billion a year.
The average small business owner spends more than a quarter of their day slogging through admin.
They are hit by rising business rates and hefty fines.
Bosses estimate that if just one in ten potty rules was axed, it would save enough to create 250,000 jobs.
The next PM could make a good start by simplifying VAT rules.
A new generation of grammar schools will help bright kids from poor families reach their full potential.
But more must be done to address those who leave school unable to read, write or add up.
Britain’s schools lag behind the rest of the world, with our kids 27th in international league tables for maths — the lowest placing since testing began. The UK is 22nd in reading and 15th in science.
It is a national disgrace that one in five school-leavers is illiterate.
Teachers must stop championing politically-correct reforms, such as transgender toilets, and focus on providing a decent education.
The NHS needs radical reform, with a crackdown on waste and an end to costly health tourism.
Savings should be ploughed into giving GPs extra resources to open their surgeries seven days a week.
Dissatisfaction has rocketed, with ten million patients a year struggling for an appointment.
Many have to wait more than a week to see a doctor.
Opening surgeries from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week would also ease the pressure on hard-pressed hospitals.
The Sun on Sunday also calls for a whistleblower’s charter to make it easier for NHS employees to speak out about waste, mistakes and wrong-doing in our hospitals without fear of losing their jobs.
As we leave the EU in under two years, there is no excuse for failing to tackle immigration.
The next PM must take back full control of our borders and drive down net migration towards 100,000 a year, as promised by the Tories in 2010. Millions who voted to leave the EU believe the annual figure of 273,000 puts too high a strain on our public services.
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And those who are here illegally should be kicked out. Foreign criminals and terror suspects must be deported swiftly to their country of origin without costly appeals through the European courts.
It is unacceptable that 2,000 foreign criminals, failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants clog up our prison system every year by lodging lengthy appeals.
The next Government must make it clear that if you commit a crime you will get the boot, and quickly.
Tougher action must be taken to force social media sites to remove extremist material used to radicalise vulnerable young people.
On defence, the witch-hunt against British troops has to stop.
A historic investigations unit targeting Armed Forces who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles must be disbanded.
Around 1,000 vets, many in their 60s or 70s, are being treated as manslaughter or murder suspects in a legal inquiry costing taxpayers millions of pounds. Yet more than 80 IRA terrorists walked free under the Good Friday Agreement and the alleged killers of Lord Mountbatten were secretly awarded protection from prosecution.
Ex-servicemen should be given the same amnesty.
Hard-working families struggling on average incomes are sick of seeing their tax bills rise while the mega-rich pay less.
Successive governments have talked about tackling tax-dodging among billionaires and multi- national companies but have failed to match it in their actions.
HM Revenue and Customs set up a team to target the very wealthy, but it has resulted in the tax take from them falling by £1billion.
Over the same period, income tax paid by less wealthy strivers has risen by £23billion.
It’s time to make those with fat bank accounts pay their fair share.
These are the changes we want to see for Brexit-bound Britain.