Yesterday I brought you the key highlights from the Conservative Party Conference and today it's Labour's turn. Below is everything you need
to know about what a Labour government will have in store for
jobseekers and workers...
Labour Party Conference, Brighton. Sunday 27th Sept- Thursday 1st Oct.
Gordon Brown- Prime Minister
There will be millions of new opportunities from apprenticeships to
internships, to enable young people to obtain work. Labour will 'discover, coach, develop and showcase' the talent that exists in Britain.
With partnership from the Federation of Small Businesses, Labour is offering ten thousand skilled internships in a bid to 'embrace British enterprise'.
By working with the Eden project and Mayday Network Brown plans to
create up to 10,000 green job placements, to ease unemployment and
support the low carbon economy.
National Insurance will be
raised by half a percent in 2011 and taxes will be raised at the top
end in an attempt to cut costs and make savings.
The minimum wage will continue to rise ever year for at least the next five years.
Yvette Cooper- Work and Pensions Secretary
The number of jobs created through Local Employment Partnerships
(LEP's) will treble from 250,000 to 750,000 by the end of 2010, with
the scheme to also be used to help people over 50 to find work.
John Denham- Secretary of State for Local Government
For the highest local government earners- pension entitlements will be
'slashed'. Council chiefs will also be made to publish their pay,
pensions and bonuses awards.
Alistair Darling- Chancellor of the Exchequer
Job losses have a serious impact on communities, but thanks to Labour and the support already in place, 'more
than half of those who lose their jobs come off Job-Seekers Allowance
within three months, and almost three-quarters within six months.'
Since November Labour has helped over two and a half million people
to come off of Jobseekers Allowance. This has been done by investing 5
billion to provide assistance to those who have lost their jobs. There
has been policy guaranteeing work or training for 18-24 year olds- with
'47,000 jobs agreed for take-up when needed'.
'Those who earn the most should shoulder the biggest burden.' Darling supports the removal of 'unfair pensions relief' for highest earners, and raising the top rate of tax for highest incomes.
Darling highlights the serious need for a government crackdown on offshore tax havens.
Late on Monday 5th Oct the Treasury announced a pay freeze for 750,000 senior and middle ranking civil servants- a contraversial decision to implement major policy whilst Party Conferences are still taking place.
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