The Party's 2019 election manifesto has been published and thanks to the input from CPF members across the country, we can with good cause claim that it reflects the views and suggestions of the Party's membership:
57% of commitments in the published manifesto can be traced back to ideas proposed by CPF groups;
47% of ideas in the CPF Members' Manifesto are reflected in the published manifesto.
Policies suggested by the CPF range across the full spectrum of what defines us as Conservatives—our belief in freedom, responsibility and enterprise. For a selection of examples, see the list below.
With proposals from CPF Groups lying behind more than half of our manifesto commitments; and almost half the ideas in the CPF Members’ Manifesto reflected in our party’s offer to the nation, we can fairly claim to have had a big input.
It’s a level of involvement and influence which other think-tanks can only dream of, and it wouldn’t be possible without the collective brain-power and thoughtful dedication of every CPF member around the country. Well done and thank you all!
Now, back to delivering those leaflets…
Examples of policies in the Manifesto suggested by the CPF:
We will not borrow to fund day-to-day spending, but will invest thoughtfully and responsibly in infrastructure right across our country in order to increase productivity and wages. (p.7)
We will expand ‘alternative provision’ schools for those who have been excluded. (p.13)
We will raise the National Insurance threshold to £9,500 next year… Our ultimate ambition is to ensure that the first £12,500 you earn is completely free of tax. (p.15)
We will back the National Citizen Service and promote it in schools as a way of bringing communities together. (p.23)
We will cut taxes for small retail businesses and for local music venues, pubs and cinemas. (p.26)
We will build Northern Powerhouse Rail between Leeds and Manchester and then focus on Liverpool, Tees Valley, Hull, Sheffield and Newcastle. We will invest in the Midlands Rail Hub, strengthening rail links including those between Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Coventry, Derby, Hereford and Worcester. (p.27)
We will…bring in a stamp duty surcharge on non-UK resident buyers. (p.30)
We will end the blight of rough sleeping…working to bring together local services to meet the health and housing needs of people sleeping on the streets. (p.30)
We will encourage innovative design and technology to make housing more affordable, accessible, and suitable for disabled people and an ageing population. (p.31)
We will continue to prioritise brownfield development, particularly for the regeneration of our cities and towns. (p.31)
Through our Red Tape Challenge, we will ensure that regulation is sensible and proportionate, and that we always consider the needs of small businesses when devising new rules. (p.33)
We will look at the interest rates on loan repayments with a view to reducing the burden of debt on students. (p.37)
We will strengthen academic freedom and free speech in universities. (p.37)
We are committing to the fastest ever increase in domestic public R&D spending, including in basic science research. (p.40)
We will create up to ten freeports around the UK, benefiting some of our most deprived communities…to be successful innovative hubs for global trade. (pp.44,57)
We will get rid of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. (p.48)
We will make it easier for British expats to vote in Parliamentary elections, and get rid of the arbitrary 15-year limit on their voting rights. (p.48)
We will support gas for hydrogen production and nuclear energy, including fusion, as important parts of the energy system, alongside increasing our commitment to renewables. (p.55)