Mike O'Brien

Compare the Manifestos

"The Tory and Labour manifestos reveal the different values of the two parties", says Mike O'Brien.

 “Labour offers a helping hand to families and pensioners to ensure we get better schools, an improved NHS and tackle crime.  Labour would deal with the economic issues facing Britain, using the enormous power of government to chart a course out of the global recession. 

“The Conservative Manifesto tells families they are on their own now.  Want better schools? DIY.  Want better public services?  DIY.  No time because you are working? Tough.  Indeed the whole manifesto is tough on families with problems because there will be little help from a Conservative government.  It’s the B&Q version of government.  Do it yourself or it won’t get done.  It is quite a reactionary manifesto, harking back to the traditional small government views of the past.

“In my view the choice is between a Labour government offering a helping hand up to families and a Tory government that is hands off. 

“The challenges Britain faces are so great that we need a government willing to act rather than wash its hands of problems as David Cameron proposes.

“Labour’s proposals are ambitious but affordable.  They are based on the values of fairness, respect, decency and openness.”

Mike said, “The Labour manifesto sets out plans to address the main future challenges we face in our economy, our society and our politics.  Rebuilding our economy means securing the recovery and investing in future growth and jobs, for the many not just the wealthy few.  Renewing our society means further strengthening the communities that bind our country together, and continuing improvement in our public services. Restoring trust in politics means greater transparency and accountability in a system battered by the expenses scandal.”

Rebuilding our economy

“Business will be helped to create one million more skilled jobs and grow our economy through advanced technology, exports and business investment.  Labour's manifesto sets out our plan, equipping more people for the jobs of the future with up to 70,000 advanced apprenticeships and new Skills Accounts.” 

Renewing our society

“We believe that personalised public services and strong communities are fundamental to British society.” 

“Our manifesto sets out a plan to ensure that excellence is spread across all our public services - with a thousand schools becoming part of high standard accredited schools groups, every hospital a Foundation Trust and underperforming police forces or borough commanders replaced or taken over.  Our manifesto also sets out a plan to revitalise communities, protecting the institutions people care about such as the local pub and post office; improving care for the elderly with a new National Care Service, and giving new powers to  PCSO`s to deal with anti-social behaviour.”

Restoring trust in politics

“We know that the political system has let people down and there can be no return to business as usual at Westminster.  Our manifesto sets out plans to give people a right to recall MPs who let them down, a referendum on moving to the alternative vote for the House of Commons and a referendum on a democratic Second Chamber.”

Mike said that: “A key issue for me as Minister of Health is the NHS. The National Health Service is the Labour Party's greatest achievement. We created it, we saved it, we value it and we will always support it.

“Now that our investment and reform have brought waiting lists down, we are turning waiting time targets into legally enforceable guarantees for all patients: a maximum two-week guarantee on cancer referrals, and a maximum 18-week guarantee for hospital treatment, as well as rights to free health checks and to evening and weekend access to GPs.

“Over the next five years we will deliver a new guarantee of cancer diagnosis within one week - saving up to 10,000 lives a year.

“The Conservatives say they will scrap all of Labour's guarantees for patients. That means an end to the two-week guarantee on cancer referrals, an end to the one-week commitment on cancer diagnosis, and an end to the 18-week guarantee on treatment times.”

“At every step of the way the Conservatives have been on the wrong side of the argument on health – opposing the guarantees that have made lengthy waiting lists a thing of the past, opposing extended GP opening hours and opposing new health centres across the country.

“A Conservative Government would not have a target allowing people the right to see a cancer specialist and no guarantee that you wouldn’t be left waiting months for your operation.

“Today, people wait just weeks for a heart bypass operation. The average wait for an operation is now 8 weeks.  Under the Tories, it could be over a year. When the Conservatives were in charge many never made it off those shameful Tory waiting lists – we can’t let that happen again. But that’s exactly what David Cameron’s plans would mean – a trip back in time to an era when standards slipped and waiting times were unacceptably long.”