Labour’s pledge to out-of-work Oldhamers

LABOUR has made a manifesto promise to 3,830 Oldhamers who will be given work or training, after being unemployed for two years, or young people out of work for six months.

The minimum wage would also rise “at least in line with average earnings” and there will be a new £40-a-week Better Off in Work guarantee.

Families will benefit from a £4 weekly toddler tax credit, paternity leave increased to four weeks and more cash for Sure Start centres with free nursery places for two-year-olds and flexible free nursery education for three and four-year-olds.

Any child needing one to one tuition in reading Writing and maths will be given the additional help.

Any patient suspected of having cancer will also have tests and results back within a week. Stamp duty will also be raised to £250,000 for first-time buyers to help them get on the ladder.

Labour promised not to raise the basic, higher or top rates of income tax and strongly hinted they would not put up VAT when pledging not to extend it to food, children’s clothes, books, newspapers and public transport. Labour was the first of the major parties to unveil its manifesto. The Tories will set out their plans today and Lib-Dems tomorrow.

Gordon Brown also pledged to make English tests harder and ensure they are done before entering the UK to encourage better community cohesion. Brown said migrants who were fluent in English were more likely to work and find it easier to integrate.

Catch up the with candidates at www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/elections/