O U R P O L I C I E S
As we are still building the party, we of course won't have manifesto; not yet anyway, however we do have some headline policies, in line with our Accords with Britain, that are our outline for a better tomorrow. Every party has to start somewhere, and typically when laying down foundations, the manifesto is usually the last thing thing you will put together.
The United Party hasn't long begun in it's founding, but already there are many issues that need to be addressed, some of these issues are already being addressed by the Labour party currently in government; none the less it's important not to lose sight of those, as is the way with politics, some actions and or policies can either be supported, held to account or even opposed.
Below is a list of areas and issues we want to address in the our first party manifesto be to introduced next year. As we live in the digital age; people will often seek immediate answers, the below outlines where we stand, and the headline policies we will develop. We will be adding to this list over the course of the next 6 months, but we want to hear from you as well.
So far, this is what The United Party will stand for:
01. Poverty and Homelessness
The United Party is committed to lifting millions out of poverty and ending homelessness; this is our first task through the door, through short term solutions that will transform into long term solutions, to future proofing society to ensure that no one will be left behind, everyone should have the human right to live a dignified life.
02. Multilateralism and Rejoining the EU
Multilateralism, international relations are key to supporting the United Kingdom, whether its with nations within the UK, re-establishing our connection with our closest allies in the EU and other countries around the world, we cannot shy away from globalism; it is a necessity for solving many of the challenges all countries face, the climate crisis, future proofing against disease or pandemics, trade, the energy crisis, defence and establishing a better way navigate safe immigration. These are not issues we have to face alone; our greatest strength is our ability to work together.
03. Green Solutions and the Environment
Promoting, developing and creating green solutions is a pathway to new technologies and infrastructure that can help create new industries, new jobs, transportation, and housing or retrofitting existing housing, to boost a green economy. Solving environmental issues, finding practical solutions to net zero and building an economy from those solutions should go hand in hand. Creating a green oversight committee, to ensure no one is left behind as we transition to greener housing and transportation. Cross party support to take steps in nationalising our water, through heavily legislated Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) supporting a short term process of transition to nationalisation which can take years; this would help mediate the up front costs and impacts of this long term goal. This would see a reduction in bills and much needed support in infrastructure.
04. The Economy, Business and Jobs
We believe a transformative economy, can embrace change through green solutions to create new technologies as a pathway to new industries, jobs, transport and housing, this will either help transform business or create new businesses to embolden employment. Transformation should not mean loss of jobs, but either change or new job creation. Rejoining the EU should also stem the Brexit loss to our economy, making trade and international business easier and more cost effective once more. Through multilateralism the benefits go both ways.
A complete overhaul of the job market, wages and affordability need to meet in the middle, the gap has been too wide in many areas for far too long. New protections for temporary workers ending unequal and discriminatory conditions between those on permanent contracts and those on temporary contracts. Work/Life Balance bill, not only to improve physical but mental well being, between the work place and home.
05. Taxation
We have to get taxation right, for decades we have not struck the balance while gross inequity has increased poverty exponentially. We need tax reform, those with more should pay their way, this would also introduce an additional wealth tax; action will also be taken on tax evasion and avoidance, closing loopholes that have been abused far too long.
06. Energy
We must continue to increase reliance on clean and renewable energy, finding new and innovative ways to produce power. To be a self sufficient but also a sustainable energy provider. Like other political parties looking at nationalisation of utilities, we too will be looking at steps towards this, and will take steps for mutuial co-operation; cross party support, to achieve this.
07. Defence
Defence of the U.K. should be multilateral, with the nations that make up these isles, we must also look at bridging a mutual defence force with our neighbours in the EU. Conflicts around the world require a call for peace, we must never start the fight, but we can call for a fight to end. Russia 2 enquiry, the public deserve transaparency.
08. A New NHS Service
Our NHS is the beating heart of our nations, but it is need of recovery and revival. We believe that rebuilding our NHS, to also incorporate a new national social care and mental health service, is crucial to bringing this service up to date but also to solve the current social care and mental health crisis. This would be a long term solution, to go further than just reforms, money management, but actual investment; a new NHS for a new century and still free at the point fo use.
09. Housing
We need to get serious about housing in the United Kingdom, we have an affordability crisis, that is only getting worse. New housing and retrofitting existing buildings must be built with supporting infrastructure, to help build new community hubs or embolden existing locations and communities. We can't simply build housing, be must build communities.
There also needs to be greater legislation to protect those renting properties, but we need reform in the buying market too. The designation of what is deemed affordable housing needs changing, as much of it is still out of reach of ordinary people. For too long the cheap housing has been in name only and not in practical value that is genuinely affordable.
Proposal of an 'Empty house tax', those buying up properties and leaving them empty is untenable when there is a housing shortage.
10. Education & Communication
It's paramount that every child gets the education they deserve and access to further education, for the career path they want. This must also continue with adult education, we need greater access and improved routes for those wanting to change careers later in life.
Access to special education needs (SEN) must be vastly improved and not limited from one area to another. We need to plug significant gaps in provision for SEN; to reiterate, no one should be left behind.
Communication is an absolute, and a government must not rely soley on the media to get their message across. So many concerns that people have about government business or how the world works is simply down to poor communication.
11. Pensions
We need to protect people's futures and bring our pensions in line to similar levels in Europe. This will include reforming the UK pension system and increasing the state pension through changes to the current funding model. Justice for the WASPI women must be made.
12. Crime, Policing and Safety
We need reform of our police force, not just in numbers, but how it is distributed and how it operates. Confidence in our policing is paramount, as should be a sense of safety on our streets; day or night. News laws must protect society, but not at the cost of exercising freedoms. Better access for legal aid. Overhaul of the prison system. Review of protection services, police and fire.
13. Food and Agriculture
Better legislation on food manufacture, foods need to be a better standard in terms of nutrition, a minimum threshold needs to be established. Introduce a new agriculture accord with other countries so we can better support each-other, whether in trade, agricultural technology, sustainable farming or agricultural crisis.
14. Mutual Co-operation, Communities and Local
Government
Mutual co-operation is fundamental in creating change or support, especially where budgets could be limited, where some areas may have a surplus of resources or budget, we need to create ways where a burden shared, is burden that's eased. This will invigorate communities, and help find ways to make local budgets go further. In building a support network, we're bringing unity into the fold, not just in times of need, but in everyday.
We understand that there are those countries within the United Kingdom seeking independence, but there is no reason why there can't be independence as well as mutual co-operation, we can all listen to and learn from each other to strengthen our ability to provide a duty of care, and prosperity.
15. Transport
We need to take steps to continue re-nationalising our railways, there is more that can be done, so that we can finally reinvest more in our infrastructure, rolling stock, and safety; a reliable, consistent, and cheaper railway system brought into the 21st century for the paying public to boost confidence in public transport to ease the strain on our road networks. We need a revised ticketing structure that doesn't restrict people's choices of destination because of the price.
16. Culture, Media, Sport and Technology
Opportunities in all three of these mediums should be available to those who wish to pursue them, we need to invest in creating pathways for all ages, and all walks of life.
The media needs greater legislation, a free press is imperative, but we must have balance, the damage and disjointed narratives the media produces has garnered a negative impact on society, it's time we changed that. The public demands a Levenson 2 enquiry, but we must do more; media and journalism is a responsibility to the truth. An overhaul of the BBC news arm to restore balance. Create AI legislation jointly with the EU, to protect individuals, jobs, business, privacy and intellectual property.
17. Immigration and Asylum
Immigration, should not be described as an issue it is a process of life that is global, and as such works better through a process of multilateralism. We would table for immigration accords with other countries, to create safer routes, and greater structure to free movement. This is not an open door policy but a safer, pragmatic and ethical approach to managing, migration and asylum, we are all human at the end of the day, and should be treated as such equally.
18. Human Rights
We will defend human rights to the fullest, everyone deserves their individual liberty. Talks to ring fence the ECHR, it must be protected at all costs. A new humanity bill, to protect human rights. A new equalities act, to end unequal pay between men and women. We wil protect and restore any human rights that have been eroded in recent years. We must protect the right of individual liberty and egalitarianism.
19. Political Reform
It's imperative that our parliamentary and electoral rules, and regulations are brought up to date. Much of our legislation and processes are vastly out of date and ill equipped to deal with those exploiting our political system. In support of a bill suggestion made by Plaid Cymru, we too want to introduce a new honesty bill to effectively make it an offence for politicians to willfully lie to the public. Creating a justice oversight committee, to resolve numerous scandals that have caused loss of livelihoods and lives. Covid 2 enquiry, the families that lost loved ones deserve justice. Ending subsidised food and drink for MPs. Complete reform of MPs expenses with tighter restrictions on what they can and cannot claim. Create an accessible information hub (alongside the .gov website) so the public are kept well informed. This will address any concerns or questions people have about a process, bill, act, policy, legislation etc...