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When the Labour Government came to power in 1997 it inherited an economy that had been crippled from years of boom and bust, public services which had suffered from systematic under-investment, a statute book crammed full of anti-employee and anti-trade union legislation and a deeply unequal society.
Since then, Labour has embarked on a massive programme of change: working towards economic stability, full employment, investment in public services, improved rights for working people and their trade unions and a more open, fair and equal society.
A great many achievements have been made & trade unions and their members have a huge role to play in helping the Labour Party to win a fourth term.
Unions will continue, quite rightly, to put the interests of their member’s first and to push for further improvements. However, building upon the rights and improvements which have been made, is crucially dependent upon Labour winning a fourth term in power.
Labour’s objective is to build a stronger economy and a fairer society, with opportunity and security for all. Labour’s long-term goal is to deliver world-class public services through investment and reform, and high and stable levels of growth and employment.
The UK economy has grown in every quarter since Labour came to power, with employment up by two million and over 150,000 extra businesses since 1997.
Britain is enjoying the longest period of sustained low inflation and interest rates since the 1960s.
Lower mortgage rates are saving mortgage payers an average of £3,780 a year – £315 a month – compared to under the Conservatives.
Labour is delivering strong and dependable public services through sustained investment and reform.
Economic stability and sustained growth: The British economy has continued to grow uninterrupted in every year of the past seven years and Britain has enjoyed the longest period of sustained low inflation and interest rates since the 1960s. Lower mortgage rates are saving mortgage payers an average of £3,780 a year – £315 a month – compared to under the Conservatives.
Sound public finances: The public finances remain sound and on track to meet the Government’s fiscal rules, with borrowing firmly under control. The national debt has been cut from 44 per cent of GDP in 1997 to just 34 per cent now – lower than in any other major industrialised economy.
Low unemployment: Britain has the lowest unemployment since 1975. Since Labour came to power in 1997, there are two million more people in work.
Strong public services: Labour is delivering strong and dependable public services through sustained investment and reform. The majority of future investment in public services will go on Labour’s key priorities of education, health, transport, housing and the fight against crime.
Labour’s sound economic management and investment in active labour market policies mean that Britain now has the highest employment and lowest unemployment of any of the major (G8) world economies. Labour’s aim is to have, by the end of the decade, a higher proportion of people in work than ever before, as Britain moves towards the goal of full employment in every region.
The number of people in work is now at record levels, up by two million since 1997.
At 4.7 per cent, the unemployment rate is the lowest since 1975.
Over 1 million people have been helped into work through the New Deal
Both long-term unemployment and long-term youth unemployment have been cut by over 75 per cent since 1997.
Lowest unemployment for 30 years: At 28.5 million, employment is at record levels, up by two million since 1997. Employment is up in every region and nation of the UK. Both ILO and claimant unemployment has fallen by over 650,000 since 1997.
Success of the New Deal: To date, the New Deal has helped well over a million people into work, including 535,000 young people and 296,000 lone parents. Since 1997, both long-term unemployment and long-term youth unemployment have been cut by over 75 per cent and the lone parent employment rate has reached its highest level ever with more than half in work.
Making work pay: The Working Tax Credit helps to make work pay and encourages people to move off benefit and into work. The National Minimum Wage – an historic achievement that has benefited over 1.6 million people – underpins the system of in-work tax credits and guarantees a fair minimum income from work.
The minimum wage has lifted 1.6 million people out of poverty wages. The rate has steadily increased by 35 per cent since its introduction and is now £4.85. We have introduced a new youth rate for 16 and 17 year olds, balancing the need to protect young workers while encouraging them to stay in education or training.
Working people now enjoy four weeks’ paid holiday, at least one day off per week and rest breaks.
New mothers enjoy 26 weeks paid maternity leave, fathers 2 weeks’ paternity leave and adoptive parents have gained six months’ paid and six months’ unpaid leave.
Over 1 million parents of young children have taken up their right to request flexible working.
Part-time workers now have the same rights as full time staff including equal pro-rata pay, pension and holiday entitlement.
Introduced the right to trade union recognition where the majority of the workforce is in favour.
Given employees a right to be accompanied in disciplinary and grievance hearings.
Strengthened protection against unfair dismissal and reduced the qualification period for protection from two years to one and increased the upper limit on compensation to over £50,000.
Employment levels are at a record high and new businesses are opening every day creating new work opportunities.
Helped one million people back into work through the New Deal.
Established the Union Learning Fund which has helped over 100,000 workers back into learning.
Introduced protection rights for workers from dismissal and victimisation for whistleblowing.
Introduced protection against discrimination in employment on the grounds of age, sexual orientation and religion.
Employment levels at a record high;
Helped one million people back into work through the New Deal;
The New Deal for Skills;
Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits benefiting six million families;
A National Minimum Wage;
An entitlement to 4 weeks paid leave;
Given workers the option of limiting their working week to 48 hours;
Minimum rest breaks (at least one day off per week, 11 hours uninterrupted rest each day, rest breaks during the day);
The rights for time off for domestic emergencies;
The right to request flexible working;
Improved maternity pay and leave; 2 weeks’ paid paternity leave; 26 weeks’ paid adoption leave;
Parents of young children given an entitlement to up to 13 weeks unpaid leave;
Extended rights for part-time employees;
Strengthened protection against unfair dismissal;
Reduced the qualification period for protection against unfair dismissal from 2 to 1 years. Increased the upper limit on compensation to over £50,000;
Protected workers from dismissal or victimisation for whistleblowing;
Restored trade union rights at GCHQ within 13 days of coming to power;
Trade union recognition when there is a majority of in favour;
Employees have a right to be accompanied in disciplinary or grievance hearings;
Ended two-tier working in local government;
Protection against discrimination in employment on the grounds of age, sexual orientation and religion;
Set up the Union Learning Fund assisting over 100,000 workers back into learning; and new rights for union learning reps;
Introduced Partnership at Work Fund and Union Modernisation Fund.
Labour is reforming tax and benefits to guarantee decent family incomes, extending employment opportunity to all, supporting parents in their parenting role and delivering high quality public services. Labour is committed to halving child poverty in ten years on the way to abolishing it in a generation.
To date, over half a million children have been lifted out of relative poverty and over two million out of absolute poverty.
Compared to 1997, families with children are on average £1,350 a year better off in real terms as a result of Labour’s tax and benefit reforms; the poorest households with children are £3,000 a year better off.
New mothers have gained 26 weeks paid maternity leave, fathers 2 weeks paternity leave. Parents with young or disabled children have the right to request flexible hours.
Six million families are benefiting from the new tax credits – the Child Tax Credit and the Working Tax Credit.
Help for families: In April 2005, Child Benefit will rise to £17.00 for the first child and £11.40 for subsequent children – a 25 per cent real terms increase since 1997. The Child Tax Credit combines with Child Benefit to ensure a family with two children and annual income less than £50,000 are guaranteed £38.90 a week.
Childcare: Since 1997, childcare places benefiting well over 1.6 million children have been created; free part-time nursery education has been guaranteed for all four year olds and now all three year olds; and local Sure Start programmes supporting families in disadvantaged areas have been set up.
Making work pay: The Working Tax Credit helps to make work pay and encourages people to move off benefit and into work. The National Minimum Wage – an historic achievement that has benefited over 1.6 million people – underpins the system of in-work tax credits for workers on low earnings and guarantees a fair minimum income from work. It rose to £4.85 for adult workers in October 2004.
A healthy work-life balance: Employees now enjoy four weeks’ paid holiday, at least one day off per week and decent rest breaks. New mothers enjoy 26 weeks paid maternity leave, fathers 2 weeks’ paternity leave and adoptive parents gain six months’ paid and six months’ unpaid leave.
Labour’s vision is of an equal, inclusive society where every citizen is treated with respect and where there is opportunity for all. Labour wants to measurably improve the lives of all of those who are discriminated against. The task is to promote equality for all regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, age or personal disability.
Labour has widened and strengthened the Race Relations Act to include a positive duty on public bodies to promote race relations.
Section 28, the most significant piece of anti-gay legislation, has been repealed and the age of consent has been equalised at 16 for everyone.
Through Civil Partnerships Labour is giving same-sex couples the opportunity of gaining a legal status for their relationships.
One million women have higher pay, thanks to the minimum wage.
Employees with young children now have the right to request to work flexibly.
There are now more disabled people in employment than ever before.
A fair deal for women at work: Labour introduced the biggest ever package of family-friendly rights – increased maternity leave and pay, paternity rights for the first time, and a new law to help parents to balance work and family responsibilities.
Action for disabled people: Introduced legislation to set up the Disability Rights Commission; introduced the New Deal for the disabled; and since October 2004 this year all businesses need to make reasonable changes – such as adapting premises, removing physical barriers or providing the service another way – so that disabled people can use their service.
Legal recognition for transsexual people: the Gender Recognition Act gives transsexual people legal recognition in their acquired gender and ensures that transsexual people are afforded all the rights and responsibilities appropriate to that gender.
Labour starts from a simple belief: that everyone is of equal value, entitled to respect for their rights. Although gender inequality is not something that Government can tackle alone, Labour has made significant changes. Labour has improved parental rights and pay; given parents the right to ask to work flexibly; introduced legislation to get more women into parliament; and is taking action to tackle domestic violence.
One million women have higher pay, thanks to the minimum wage. Labour is working to reduce the gap between men's and women's earnings;
Increased maternity pay and leave, and a new right to request flexible working, so mothers can better balance work and family life;
Labour has stepped up the campaign against domestic violence and is engaged in the most radical overhaul in domestic violence legislation for 30 years which includes significant new powers and expanded support projects that enhance victim protection as well as a register of civil orders against alleged offenders;
A National Childcare Strategy, and help with childcare costs, through tax credits, benefiting nearly 1.3 million families.
Supporting mothers: The National Childcare Strategy is helping to expand good quality, affordable childcare. Maternity leave has increased from 14 to 26 weeks and pay has increased to at least £102.80 a week. Parents have the right to request flexible working.
A fair deal at work: Around one million women have benefited from the introduction of the minimum wage.
Security in retirement: Helping the poorest and most vulnerable pensioners, the majority of whom are women, through free TV licences for over 75s, the winter fuel payment and the Pension Credit.
Gender pay gap: Has established a new Women and Work Commission (chaired by Margaret Prosser, former TGWU deputy general secretary) which will make recommendations within one year on tackling the gender pay gap.
A public voice: campaigned to encourage more women onto the boards of national public bodies. Gave political parties the right to take measures to increase the numbers of women elected at all levels – only Labour has used these new powers.
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