Labour manifesto leak: Seven ways Jeremy Corbyn wants to change Britain

Labour are suffering a huge embarrassment this morning after a draft of their manifesto was leaked to the national press.

Jeremy Corbyn will go into the General Election pledging to nationalise key industries and reverse years of austerity, according to the 43-page document.

Labour is expected to finalise its manifesto at a meeting on Thursday, but the extraordinary leak saw details released a week ahead of its planned publication in a blow to the party’s campaign strategy.

The policies have already been jumped on by critics as a demonstration of how Mr Corbyn intends to transform Britain with left-wing ideas.

Here are seven ways he wants to change Britain, according to the leaked manifesto.

Renationalise the railways

It may not be surprising but Labour plans to relationalise the railways, bringing them back into public ownership. Mr Corbyn would repeal the Railways Act 1993, which privatised the network. Labour argues that this means profits would be kept by the taxpayer, rather than handed out to shareholders. Supporters of the policy argue it would mean profits would be used to invest in infrastructure, eventually cutting fares.

Abolish university tuition fees

Labour brought in tuition fees in 1998 and the cap was raised by the Coalition government in 2010, but Mr Corbyn has now pledged to scrap them altogether. The controversial cap increase seriously damaged the Lib Dems, who had promised to oppose any rise before they went into government with the Tories. Mr Corbyn is adamant about getting rid of them altogether, something that will make him more popular with younger voters who want a free education.

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Not cutting immigration

The Tories have repeated their promise to cut immigration to the tens of thousands but Mr Corbyn takes a very different stance in the manifesto. He would scrap the rules which stop Brits bringing in their spouses from outside Europe unless they earn a minimum of £18,600 a year, replacing it with an obligation to live in the country without relying on benefits.

An increase in social housing

Mr Corbyn has promised to build 100,000 council houses every year of a Labour government, while also suspending the Tory policy of selling off existing social housing. The manifesto also outlines plans to build 4,000 new homes for rough sleepers in an attempt to tackle homelessness.

No ‘no deal’ on Brexit

The Tories have stated that no deal is better than a bad deal on Brexit. Mr Corbyn disagrees – the manifesto states that Britain would not break away from Brussels without a deal in place. Remainers might be pleased to hear this, however critics might argue that this would mean Brussels could opt to give us the worst deal possible as Labour would rather accept it than walk away.

Retirement age review

Pensions will be protected by Labour, with the triple lock that guarantees a 2.5% rise every year or an increase in line with inflation staying in place – something that the Tories have been hesitant to promise so far. However, perhaps the biggest change for the elderly would be the introduction of a “flexible” retirement age that would reflect the type of work and the background of the worker. This would mean a possible scrapping of plans to raise the state pension age to 67 between 2026 and 2028.

Overhaul on workers’ rights

Trade unions would be bolstered by Labour, with all workers given right to union representation, and trade unions guaranteed access to workplaces. The Tory Trade Union Act 2016 would be scrapped by Mr Corbyn, who also wants to create a Ministry of Labour to boost workers’ rights, as well as doubling paternity leave from two weeks to four weeks.

Top pic: PA