UK election: Labour’s Corbyn unveils ‘radical’ manifesto

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unveiled the “most radical and ambitious plan to transform Britain,” on Thursday.

If elected on December 12, Corbyn said he would “take on vested interests.” 

“The big polluters, financial speculators and corporate tax-dogers have had a free ride for too long,” said Corbyn, insisting Labour’s agenda was “fully costed” and deliverable.

It was “time for real change,” said Corbyn, claiming nine years of austerity under the Conservatives stemmed from a system working “just fine for them — it’s rigged in their favour.”

Read more: Johnson and Corbyn face off in TV debate

Free broadband for all

Infrastructure nationalizations sought by Labour would include the fixed line network of telecoms provider BT to provide free broadband and state takeovers of rail, water and mail delivery services.

Taxes for the top 5% of earners would rise, with workers placed on company boards and funds boosted for health, education and transport.

“We will give Britain a pay rise starting with a real living wage of at least 10 pounds (€11,68; $12,95) an hour,” he said, also pledging 150,000 new “social” homes and “green jobs” based on renewables to combat climate change.

On Brexit, Corbyn reiterated his plan for another plebicite, but added that a Labour government would “get Brexit sorted within six months,” without “ripping up Britain’s main trading relationship” with Europe.

Read more: UK election campaign: Who wants what on EU issues?

High earners to pay for extra spending

Labour’s public spending would rise by 83 billion pounds by 2023/24, covered by higher taxes on top earners and businesses.

Corbyn’s pledges coincided with a Ipsos MORI survey down for the Evening Post, showing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party with a 16% lead.

Up 3% from last week, the conservatives were on 44%, with Labour up four points at 28% as support was sucked away from the Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party.

Televised duell, November 19: Johnson counters Corbyn

Already, Johnson’s conservatives had accused Labour of reckless spending and proferring outmoded socialist ideas — althought the Tories too have signaled more spending on infrastructure, health care and public services.

Analysts say the election outcome is unpredictable because Brexit — favored by 52% of voters in 2016 but since widely debated at Westminster — unpredictable because the issue cuts across traditional party loyalties.

ipj/rt (AP, Reuters, AFP)

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