Labour must have an opportunity

It is no surprise that the Tories will do everything to encourage you to not look into the detail.

The Labour manifesto is fully costed and puts the party firmly on the side of the vast majority of people in the country.

Under a Labour government we will see those who earn the most shoulder a little bit more to ease the crippling weight that so many of us are under. Instead of tax cuts to the wealthy that the Tories have overseen, Labour will modestly increase taxes on those earning over £80,000 a year.

Education, health, infrastructure and housing all have carefully thought-out ideas that work for the many and not the few. Workers will have more rights such as the right to an employment tribunal at no cost and the public sector pay cap that has forced people such as nurses to use food banks will be lifted.

The Trade Union Bill introduced under Cameron – which was the biggest attack on worker rights since the 1980s – will be repealed under Labour.

A Labour Brexit will see us negotiate a deal in a more grown-up fashion, abandoning Theresa May’s reckless gramophone diplomacy, with the priority on a deal that works for every community in Britain.

There will be those who, without even reading the manifesto, will scream that it is unaffordable and unrealistic.

Well, as the costings of the manifesto sets out, Labour will spend £48.6bn a year, but in perfect symmetry, their proposals will also raise £48.6bn.

Labour have undoubtedly set out an ambitious vision for a better society, but perhaps more importantly, it is also forward thinking to how we can leave things better for the next generation. What the manifesto also shows is that this is not only possible, but it is also affordable.

What an opportunity we have. Let’s seize it.

Andrew Scattergood, Wednesbury