Labour wants to promise five guarantees in its manifesto aimed at winning over a sceptical electorate in the post-expenses world. The party hopes to tackle voter mistrust with new legally binding rights on public services, jobs and Britain’s deficit. This is part of a “personal offer” designed to rebuild confidence with the electorate and accountability in government.
The guarantees are at the core of a document drawn up last week by Ed Miliband [pictured above, with 'a friend'], the Cabinet minister charged with writing the draft manifesto. There are fears that he may come under union pressure to make impossible spending commitments. Union leaders want to add promises to protect public sector pensions, cut taxes for the lower paid and end the privatisation of the welfare state. Whitehall sources say that the manifesto cannot be “signed off” until after the Budget next week, which will set out some of the spending constraints for the Government. Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, is determined to remove any uncosted pledges in the manifesto that might undermine the Government’s credibility on cutting the deficit.
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