A question of what you value
I have been asked to write a few words on why I think students at Oxford should vote for Labour and what we plan to do in the future if reelected. First, I think is the strength of the economy because everything else depends upon it. Because of the decisions we took, inflation, interest rates and unemployment are at their lowest level for a generation – and Britain is enjoying an unprecedented period of economic growth.
It means living standards are rising, two million more people are in work and mortgages are half the level they were under the Tories. All this would be put at risk by a Tory party whose policies put three million out of work and cost hundreds of thousands of people their homes last time they were in power. Second, our commitment and investment in our schools and hospitals. We are investing record sums and you can see the improvement in every community. Waiting lists are falling.
School results are improving. I think many Oxford students would have seen the difference this extra investment is already making to local schools. Third, our determination to make our society fairer. We have brought in the minimum wage which will increase under Labour to £5- 35. We have lifted hundreds of thousands of pensioners and children out of poverty. The New Deal has all but abolished long-term youth unemployment.
We have virtually doubled maternity pay and maternity leave – and intend to raise it again to nine months. Fourth, our record on helping the poorest people on our planet and are determination to do more. We have already doubled the aid budget and intend to make a new drive to tackle Africa’s problems – along with climate change, the top priority for Britain’s G8 Presidency.
This contrasts with the Tory party that, no matter what they may now promise, halved the aid budget last time there were in power. Fifth, the values which underpin our programme. We believe in helping everyone the chance to make the most of themselves, no matter what their background. The Tories have always put the few before the many. They want, for example, to take £1 billion out of the NHS and education budget for all to subside a privileged few to go private.
And you can see from the type of campaign the Tories have run, I’m afraid, what sort of Government they would be. And lastly, because the choice at this election is a choice between a Labour and a Tory Government. Charles Kennedy is not going to become Prime Minister. But if you vote Lib-Dem, you do risk waking up on May 6 and finding Michael Howard is on his way to No 10.
And you can be sure that the Tories will be trying every cynical effort they can over the next few days – including pretending they can’t win to persuade Labour voters not to bother voting or to cast a protest vote – to try and get it by the back door. Don’t fall for it.
If you value the changes that have taken place in Britain over the last eight years – even if you have disagreements about some of the decisions we have taken – the only way to be sure that the country will keep going forward is to vote Labour.
28th Apr 2005