Labour’s First Ten Years
The Labour Party has formed the Government of our country for ten years now. I can still remember the excitement and enthusiasm that accompanied those early days. Now, everything that is difficult for the Government is headline news, its achievements are less prominently reported.
Over the last ten years we’ve enjoyed the longest period of sustained low inflation since the 1960s. There are record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools. By 2008 funding levels for pupils in the state education system will have doubled. There are record numbers of students in higher education.
The United Kingdom’s economy is strong. Employment is at its highest rate ever. There is a National Minimum Wage, currently set at £5.35 per hour. Child Benefit has been increased by 25% since 1997. The introduction of Sure Start helps children from low income households. All workers now have a right to 4 weeks paid holiday. A million pensioners have been lifted out of relative poverty, as have some 800,000 children. The introduction of the Child Tax Credit gives more money to parents.
At the same time, our strong economy has enabled us to invest more money in public services, creating 85,000 more nurses, 32,000 more doctors, 30,000 more teachers, and record numbers of police officers. Low inflation has brought with it low mortgage rates. Overall crime has been reduced by 35%.
The Government negotiated the historic Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland offering real prospects of lasting peace and prosperity. The Government’s initiatives on overseas aid and debt relief, and Britain’s proposals at international level have led the way in helping the very poorest people in the world. Britain is on course to exceed our Kyoto target to reduce greenhouse gas by 2010 and is playing a leading role internationally in tackling the problems of climate change.
The leadership of our Party is about to change, and as we approach the start of a new era in British political history it is worth reflecting on what has been achieved so far.
