Labour manifesto launch as it happened: Key highlights on Starmer’s ‘change with caution’

Keir Starmer unveiled the Labour party’s manifesto today three weeks out from the 2024 general election,  outlining a wide-ranging policy programme that he dubbed an “immediate repair job on Britain” that prioritises “wealth creation.

Follow the day’s launch, key highlights, reaction and analysis as it unfolded in the liveblog below. Launched in Manchester this morning, the document defies convention by offering few new policies, and analysts noted tax-and-spend measures are much smaller than recent Labour manifestos or the Tories’ or Lib Dems’ plans.

Starmer said he could not wave a “magic wand” and those keen for a “rabbit out of the hat” should head to Clacton for pantomime. One former New Labour aide dubbed it the “Ming vase manifesto”, offering “change with caution”.

But Starmer said the manifesto would still deliver a “fairer, healthier…more secure Britain”.  The Fabian Society’s Luke Raikes writes on LabourList that policies on planning reform, a National Care Service, devolution and industrial strategy are “substantial”, while ex-Labour research chief Tom Hamilton writes that supporters should be “excited” by workers’ rights, housebuilding and growth reforms.

The Common Wealth think tank says GB Energy is vital and “hugely popular”, and Labour’s under-reported “radicalism” on measures to prevent health inequalities wins plaudits too.

Among union affiliates, GMB general secretary Gary Smith called it a “vision of hope” and Usdaw’s Paddy Lillis dubbed the reaffirmed New Deal “transformative”. But Unite’s Sharon Graham – and the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ Paul Johnson – suggested Labour’s manifesto seemed insufficient to fix Britain’s many problems, while the FBU’s Matt Wrack pledged to “hold Labour’s feet to the fire” delivering existing promises.

7pm: Get the low-down…

6.45pm: PPC shares their take on the manifesto

6.27pm: ‘Neither party acknowledging the key problem for public finances’

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research’s Stephen Millard has given his response to the manifesto launches this week, arguing that “neither party seems to have acknowledged the key problem for public finances”…

5.40pm: IfG sets out ten takeaways from the manifesto

The Institute for Government has published its ten takeaways from Labour’s manifesto. It argues that Labour “acknowledges the scale of public service problems but doesn’t yet have solutions that are equal to the task”.

“If Labour wins the election, then it will soon need to make some potentially unpopular decisions. While the lack of detail is understandable at this point, it would have been preferable to better prepare the public, and secure a mandate, for the difficult trade-offs ahead,” it says.

The IfG also argued that Labour “ducked important questions about implied cuts to public spending” but said its plans for House of Lords reform show the party is “serious about doing constitutional change properly”.

You can read the IfG’s full list of takeaways here.

4.58pm: Read up on all things manifesto

A reminder to find out more through our wider 2024 Labour party manifesto coverage so far…

OVERVIEW:

READ MORE: Labour manifesto launch: Live updates, reaction and analysis

READ MORE: Full manifesto costs breakdown – and how tax and borrowing fund it

READ MORE: The key manifesto policy priorities in brief

POLICY NEWS:

READ MORE: Labour vows to protect green belt despite housebuilding drive

READ MORE: Manifesto commits to Brexit and being ‘confident’ outside EU

READ MORE: Labour to legislate on New Deal for Working People within 100 days – key policies breakdown 

READ MORE: Labour to give 16-year-olds right to vote

READ MORE: Starmer says ‘manifesto for wealth creation’ will kickstart growth

ANALYSIS AND REACTION:

READ MORE: Fabians: ‘This a substantial core offer, not the limit of Labour ambition’

READ MORE: ‘No surprises, but fear not: Labour manifesto is the start, not the end’

READ MORE: ‘What GB energy will do and why we desperately need it’

READ MORE: GMB calls manifesto ‘vision of hope’ but Unite says ‘not enough’

READ MORE: IFS: Labour manifesto doesn’t raise enough cash to fund ‘genuine change’

READ MORE: Watch as Starmer heckled by protestor inside with ‘youth deserve better’ banner

4.40pm: Manifesto buzzwords

LabourList‘s Cathleen Clarke has crunched the numbers, and found a few interesting keywords were mentioned…

Honesty – once

Integrity – five times

Pension – 16 times

Housing – 17 times

Schools – 19 times

Young People – 31 times

Tax – 48 times

NHS – 52 times

Conservative – 63 times

Work – 246 times

4.10pm: What GB Energy plans mean – and why it’s vital

Great to have leading experts Melanie Brusseler & Mathew Lawrence write for us here on how GB Energy would work, why it’s vital and what more’s needed.

“The policy is hugely popular and has been a consistent theme of Labour’s campaign, presented as the route to energy security, lower bills, and rapid decarbonisation.

“But what exactly are its benefits, and what more is required to ensure GB Energy can turn Britain into a clean energy superpower?” they write.

3.42pm: What a manifesto is and isn’t

3.35pm: Reynolds proud of pledge to boost co-operatives

It may not get much fanfare, but Labour’s pledge to “aim to double the size of the the UK’s co-operative and mutuals sector” is a big one.

3.18pm: ‘A core offer, not the limit of our ambition’

Luke Raikes, deputy general secretary of The Fabian Society, has written his thoughtful take on the manifesto for us here.

“This is a set of policies that match what people want with what Labour can deliver. It offers significant but believable change, putting improving lives above pleasing crowds. It was, you might say, very Fabian,” he writes.

“There may be some people arguing it should go further or faster, given the dire state of the country. But the state of the country both requires a Labour government, and constrains it. And this manifesto should be seen as the core of Labour’s offer, not the limit of their ambition.”

Worth a read in full.

3.05pm: A ‘quietly radical’ document?

George Eaton of The New Statesman reckons son.

Meanwhile Rachel Wearmouth of the i suggests the plans might be seen as bolder if they were new today, posting on X: “IF Labour landed all of this as one package, and some measures not been watered down/treated with scepticism very publicly before today, then it would be being received very differently right now.”

2.50pm: ‘Straitjacket’ warning from Ed Balls

Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls says the manifesto may one day be seen as a “straitjacket” given tough fiscal rules and ruling out of certain tax hikes.

More via The Guardian here.

2.30pm: ‘Demonstration of how Labour has changed under Starmer’

National executive committee member Abdi Duale told LabourList: “The manifesto launch today was [a] great demonstration of how the Labour Party has changed under Keir Starmer. Our manifesto offers the hope and change the country desperately needs after 14 years of Tory mismanagement.

“But no votes have been casted in [the] election yet and we have three more weeks to convince the British public to vote for that change.”

2.26pm: LGBT+ Labour: Manifesto ‘promises transformative change’

Labour affiliate LGBT+ Labour said earlier today that the manifesto “promises transformative change for LGBT+ people” and that the group is “proud that so many of our priorities have been included”.

Here’s the group’s thread highlighting its policy priorities that have been included in the document:

2.16pm: ‘Potentially more enduringly transformative than 1945’

Political economist and Observer columnist Will Hutton said of Labour’s manifesto: “The Labour manifesto in its unassuming , unsung but purposeful way is as radical and potentially more enduringly transformative than Labour’s in 1945. Everyone under-rated Attlee, his ambition and capacity to bring it off. They are doing the same with Starmer.”

2.11pm: Comparing this manifesto to 2017 and 2019

Sky News economics editor Ed Conway has shared a graphic contrasting the pledges made on new spending, taxes and investment in Labour’s 2024 manifesto to those of 2017 and 2019 under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership:

Conway has also shared the following graphic comparing Labour’s 2024 manifesto to those of the Tories and the Liberal Democrats.

“For me, the single most striking thing about the Labour manifesto is how small the fiscal numbers are. Comparatively tiny extra spending and tax commitments vs either the Conservatives or Lib Dems,” he writes.

1.59pm: Usdaw ‘fully endorses’ the Labour manifesto

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “Keir Starmer has today set out a vision and a plan that will deliver the much-needed change that our members desperately need. We can only achieve that change by voting for it.

“After years of Tory chaos and attacks on workers’ rights, Labour’s plan to make work pay includes transformative policies to turn the minimum wage into a genuine living wage, remove discriminatory age bands and deliver new rights to make work more secure.

“Labour is committed to deliver a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; end the perverse £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and provide more uniformed officers patrolling shopping areas along with town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.

“Usdaw fully endorses the Labour manifesto and we are urging our members to vote Labour on 4 July.”

1.53pm: IFS: Labour ‘conspiracy of silence’ on the difficulties they would face

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has given its initial assessment of Labour’s manifesto. IFS director Paul Johnson said: “This was not a manifesto for those looking for big numbers. The public service spending increases promised in the “costings” table are tiny, going on trivial.

“The tax rises, beyond the inevitable reduced tax avoidance, even more trivial. The biggest commitment, to the much-vaunted ‘green prosperity plan’, comes in at no more than £5bn a year, funded in part by borrowing and in part by “a windfall tax on the oil and gas giants”.

“Beyond that, almost nothing in the way of definite promises on spending despite Labour diagnosing deep-seated problems across child poverty, homelessness, higher education funding, adult social care, local government finances, pensions and much more besides.”

He continued: “Like the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, Labour continues in a conspiracy of silence on the difficulties they would face. These challenges are already perfectly clear. The books are open. A post-election routine of shock-and-horror at the state of the public finances will not cut it.”

Johnson added: “This is a manifesto that promises a dizzying number of reviews and strategies to tackle some of the challenges facing the country. That is better than a shopping list of half-baked policy announcements.

“But delivering genuine change will almost certainly also require putting actual resources on the table. And Labour’s manifesto offers no indication that there is a plan for where the money would come from to finance this.”

Johnson’s full statement is well worth reading and can be found here. The IFS said further analysis of the manifesto from its researchers will be published later today.

Read our full write-up on the statement from the IFS here.

1.46pm: Labour vows to preserve England’s green belt zones

Labour has vowed to preserve England’s green belt zones in its election manifesto – despite promises for a big push on housebuilding if elected.

The party claims to support a “more strategic approach” to the green belt amid its plans to build more than a million new homes.

Green belt zones put stringent planning restrictions in place to prevent the spread of towns and cities into the countryside.

The manifesto reads: “Labour is committed to preserving the green belt which has served England’s towns and cities well over many decades.

“Under the Conservatives, greenbelt land is regularly released for development but haphazardly and often for speculative housebuilding.”

Read the full story here.

1.43pm: Unions react to Labour’s manifesto

We’ve rounded up the reaction of Labour’s affiliated unions to the manifesto launch here.

GMB general secretary Gary Smith said the manifesto “offers a vision of hope for the UK after 14 years of disasters” and added that the New Deal for Working People is a “once-in-a-generation chance to completely transform the lives of working people”.

But Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham has called on Labour to “make government count”, following the union’s decision not to fully endorse the party’s election manifesto.

While Graham said “workers need Labour to win” in reaction to the manifesto launch, she suggested that Labour’s policy platform would not go far enough in fixing the country’s problems. 

Read the full story here.

1.38pm: ‘Bold’ commitment to consult public on replacing House of Lords

The Institute for Government’s senior researcher Dr Rebecca McKee has given her taken on Labour’s proposals for House of Lords reform:

1.33pm: Former Blair and Brown adviser: ‘Great determination, little detail’

Theo Bertram – director of the Social Market Foundation think tank and No 10 adviser to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown – said in a thread on X: “The Ming vase manifesto: change with caution. Great determination, little detail.

“No fireworks, no surprises, no great adventure but plenty of policies previously announced. If polls are right, Labour will have a big majority in favour of change that is significantly undefined.

“If today was the first time Labour was announcing GB Energy, rail nationalisation and a new industrial strategy, the manifesto might be regarded as bold so the fact that these are pre-announced and familiar doesn’t diminish their ambition.

“The extravagances of Labour’s previous two manifestos have been traded for commitments that are likely to be actually delivered in government. Notably there is no bold commitment on public sector reform, even though it is sorely needed.

“The commitments on which taxes will be frozen are not balanced by which taxes will be raised. The door is left open to a variety of wealth taxes and – much needed – council tax revaluation but we will have to wait to see what Labour does in government.”

1.25pm: ‘We will hold Labour’s feet to the fire’ on workers’ rights, FBU says

Commenting on the manifesto, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack  said: “The Fire Brigades Union has fought hard for this manifesto to deliver for firefighters, by committing to national standards for the fire and rescue service and defending collective bargaining in our sector.

“For 14 years, workers have faced constant attacks on their pay, pensions and public services under Conservative rule.

“Labour’s commitment to strengthening workers’ rights has the potential to improve the lives of millions. Reversing recent draconian anti-trade union laws will be a vital first step in undoing the damage of the last decade.

“It will be our duty to ensure that a new Labour government makes good on these promises within the first 100 days of taking power. We will hold Labour’s feet to the fire.”

1.20pm: Jim McMahon posts some more pictures of the launch event

1.01pm: Compass: ‘We need a radical rewiring of our democracy’

Compass director Neal Lawson said: “Labour’s manifesto commitment to ‘deepen our democracy by reforming parliament and devolving power to communities’ is welcome, particularly after yesterday’s findings that trust in politics is now at rock bottom.

“What this will mean in practice beyond a few pledges remains to be seen, but Labour must take this agenda seriously. We need a radical rewiring of our democracy – no more tinkering around the edges and hoping the problems just go away by themselves.

“Any such agenda must start with introducing proportional representation for the House of Commons, which would ensure that everyone’s voices are heard and all votes would count equally.

“Compass, via the national campaign Win As One, is actively building support on the ground and in parliament to deepen our democracy, starting with proportional representation.”

12.59pm: Details about Labour’s manifesto policy costs revealed

Labour has announced tax plans to raise around £8.5bn in its election manifesto, as well as £3.5bn in borrowing, to fund its policy programme.

The proposals include pledges to charge VAT on private school fees and a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, as well as plans to borrow for investment in projects such as Great British Energy and the National Wealth Fund.

Read Labour’s costings in full here.

12.49pm: LGND: Manifesto ‘represents a totally unfinished job on climate’

The Labour for a Green New Deal campaign group said the manifesto “represents a totally unfinished job on climate”.

The group’s statement continued: “It recognises the importance of Britain becoming a ‘clean energy superpower’, but the policies it proposes simply won’t do the job. With 3.7 million households in fuel poverty and the promise of 1.5 degrees of warming rapidly disappearing, we can’t waste time with half-hearted solutions. The energy companies that got us into this mess won’t get us out of it.

“We need a publicly-owned energy system that can be run in the interests of people and the planet, not private profit. That means investing in infrastructure and renewables at much higher rates and strengthening trade unions to make sure no workers are left behind in the transition.”

12.35pm: GMB: Manifesto ‘shows a clear plan forward for change’

The GMB has said in a post on X that Labour’s manifesto “shows a clear plan forward for change in our country”.

Gary Smith, GMB general secretary, said: “Labour’s manifesto offers a vision of hope for the UK after 14 years of disasters. The New Deal for Working People is a once-in-a-generation chance to completely transform the lives of working people.

“Equal pay, new collective bargaining structures for care workers and school support staff, trade union access and simplifying union recognition will be life-changing for GMB members. Now is the time to make sure Labour wins the election and the legislation is delivered.”

12.32pm: Christina McAnea: ‘Manifesto sets out a clear plan for the future’

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “This manifesto sets out a clear plan for the future. It shows how a Labour government could rebuild a Britain broken after years of Tory austerity and chaos.

“Unlike the party that’s been in power for the past 14 years, a Labour government would be committed to public services. Essential services aren’t a drain on the public purse, but a driver of economic growth. The public wants good public services and they’re fed up of seeing them driven into the ground.

“People want to be able to see a GP when they’re poorly, potholes to be filled on local roads and elderly relatives to get care packages when they become too frail to look after themselves. Simple things like this have become ever-more challenging under the Conservatives.

“A fair pay agreement in social care will be the first huge step towards ending the growing crisis in the sector. A national care service will alleviate pressure on the NHS and give everyone who needs it the support they deserve.

“Labour’s manifesto is gimmick-free and full of costed measures designed to make a real difference to people’s lives at work, at school or at home.

“Solving Britain’s many problems won’t be easy. But the manifesto is an appreciation of the hard work that lies ahead. It’s high time grown-ups were back in charge of the country. And hopefully in a matter of weeks they will be.”

12.30pm: Starmer posts picture of shadow cabinet following launch

Starmer has posted a picture of his shadow cabinet following the manifesto launch:

12.28pm: Gething: ‘Manifesto sets out a bold offer for Wales’

Welsh Labour leader Vaughan Gething said: “For 14 long years, we’ve been swimming against the Tory tide, with a government in Westminster that disrespects devolution. This election is about the change Wales and Britain needs. And the UK Labour manifesto sets out a bold offer for Wales.

“With Jo Stevens as our Secretary of State for Wales, and Keir Starmer in No 10, I’m confident of Wales’ place in a changed Britain. That change can only be secured by voting Labour on 4 July.”

Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “Our manifesto will guarantee a stronger Wales in a changed Britain. We will sweep away the chaos and division, and deliver the ambitious future Wales deserves.

“Two Labour governments, working together, will build a new partnership for Wales, focused on people’s day-to-day priorities.

“The Tories have taught us to expect less from our UK governments, to expect less for ourselves and our families. Labour’s manifesto is the antidote. It is a promise to turn the page, rebuild hope and deliver change.”

12.25pm: Fabians react to Labour manifesto

Fabian Society deputy general secretary Luke Raikes said Labour’s manifesto “meets the moment” and “gives real substance to Labour’s one-word slogan: change”.

12.22pm: Renters’ Reform coalition says more needed on housing

Tom Darling, campaign manager of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said: “We welcome Labour’s continued commitment to “immediately abolish” no-fault evictions – a crucial first step to rebalance renters’ rights – as well as other proposals like extending Awaab’s Law to private renters.

“However, we have urged all parties they need to go much further for private renters. Preventing new evictions grounds being used as no-fault evictions and limits on how much rent can be increased within a tenancy – only then will we have a system that offers renters real security in their own homes.”

A recent Labour-commissioned report had recommended in-tenancy rent controls capping potential hikes, but the proposals do not feature.

12.17pm: Sharon Graham: ‘We need Labour to be bold’

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite wants a change in government, workers need Labour to win. But we must also be realistic about where we are and the scale of the challenges we face. Workers have been paying the price for too long.

“Our public services have been driven into the ground and are underfunded to the tune of tens of billions of pounds. Workers faced with plans to cut fossil fuels need new jobs to stop their livelihoods being lost. And we have an investment gap compared to our competitors that will require billions more to fill.

“We will have to start facing up to the truth. To fix Britain after years of Tory neglect is going to need more money and there are clear choices to be made. Whilst we all want growth and Labour’s proposed changes may move the dial somewhat – that alone is not likely to be enough.

“Labour need to make government count. They can and need to make real change. The rise of the far right throughout the west should send alarm bells ringing in Westminster. People want to see tangible results and politicians must listen to workers and communities.

“With rising geopolitical tensions, a cost-of-living crisis and rampant inequality, now is not the time to be timid. As we vote Labour – we also need them to be bold.”

12.14pm: Sarwar: ‘Opportunity for change Scotland cannot afford to miss’

Commenting on the launch of Labour’s manifesto, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “This is the start of the journey to change and renew our country. These transformative plans will kick start a decade of national renewal and deliver the change that Scotland desperately needs.

“After 14 years of Tory chaos and 17 years of SNP incompetence, the time for change is now. Labour will deliver lower bills for people across Scotland and higher pay for working people.

“We will create opportunities for young people, drive down NHS waiting lists, restore integrity in politics and put Scotland’s voice at the heart of government.

“This is an opportunity for change that Scotland cannot afford to miss. Every vote for Scottish Labour is a vote to make sure we get rid of the Tories, put Scotland at the heart of a Labour government and deliver the change our country needs.”

12.11pm: Read our wider Labour Party manifesto coverage

Find out more through our wider 2024 Labour Party manifesto coverage so far:

READ MORE: Labour manifesto launch: Live updates, stream, reaction and analysis

READ MORE: Key manifesto themes revealed as Starmer unveils policies

READ MORE: Watch as Starmer heckled by protestor inside with ‘youth deserve better’ banner

READ MORE: Manifesto commits to Brexit and being ‘confident’ outside EU

READ MORE: Labour to legislate on New Deal for Working People within 100 days

READ MORE: Labour to give 16-year-olds right to vote

READ MORE: Starmer says ‘manifesto for wealth creation’ will kickstart growth

READ MORE: Dodds: ‘Our manifesto is a fully funded vision, while Tories offer a Christmas tree of gimmicks’

12.09pm: Labour pledges to keep UK outside EU

Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto has explicitly pledged to keep the UK outside of the European Union – despite pressure from other parties to pursue closer ties.

Read more here.

12.07pm: IPPR reacts to Labour’s manifesto

Reacting to Labour’s manifesto launch, Carys Roberts, executive director at IPPR, said: “If the Labour Party wins the next election, it will be on a mandate for tangible change in people’s lives.

“Fulfilling that mandate will require quickly grappling with some enormous challenges, from tackling NHS waiting lists to rebuilding an economy that benefits people across the country while taking us faster and more fairly towards net zero.

“It’s encouraging that the party has adopted many of the ideas put forward by IPPR, including proposals to develop a green industrial strategy, to deliver more NHS appointments in evenings and at weekends, to make key improvements to how childcare is delivered and to give towns and cities across England greater power to make local decisions for local people.

“If Labour forms the next government, IPPR stands ready to offer further practical proposals to help deliver the missions the party has set itself and to overcome the deep policy challenges the country faces.”

12.03pm: Starmer: ‘A serious plan, carefully thought through’

Asked by Sky News’ Beth Rigby about the lack of new policies in the document and whether Labour is trying to protect its poll lead, Starmer says the manifesto is a “serious plan, carefully thought through” and that it is “not about rabbits out of the hat”.

11.58am: ‘This is a manifesto for hope,’ Starmer says

Starmer is now taking questions from journalists. Asked about voter cynicism and those who think he may not say what he actually plans to do until after he’s won the election, Starmer says: “This manifesto is a manifesto for change. A total rejection of the cynicism.”

He says the document is “based on four years of hard work, hundreds of engagements”, adding: “I understand the cynicism… for many people the hope has been beaten out of them, but this is a manifesto for hope.”

11.50am: Labour left responds to manifesto

Kate Dove, Momentum chair, has said: “We welcome policies such as ending tax breaks for private schools, public ownership of rail and the repealing of anti-union laws as part of a New Deal for Working People. It is no coincidence that Labour’s most popular policies take on the few on behalf of the many.

“Nonetheless, it is clear that Labour’s current commitments fall short of what is needed to fix the Tories’ broken Britain. If elected, Labour must go much further to fulfil its promise to the British people of change.

“That means bold policies like investment in our struggling public services, NHS and schools, renationalising our water and real action to end child poverty by scrapping the two-child benefit cap and introducing free school meals for all. And it means taxing the wealthiest to help pay for it.”

11.48am: The key themes of the manifesto

The key themes of the manifesto have been confirmed, with key focal points including:

• A mission-driven government
• Strong foundations
• Kickstarting economic growth
• Making Britain a clean energy superpower
• Taking back our streets
• Breaking down barriers to opportunity
• Building an NHS fit for the future
• Serving the country
• Britain reconnected
• Labour’s fiscal plan
• Change

Read more here.

11.44am: Starmer heckled by protestor

More on the heckler at the start of Starmer’s speech:

A protester heckled Labour leader Keir Starmer as he unveils Labour’s manifesto for the general election.

The protester held a banner that said “Youth Deserve Better” and shouted at the Labour leader shortly after he took to the stage.

Starmer said: “We gave up being a party of protest five years ago, now we’re a party of power.”

Read the full story here.

11.42am: ‘Britain needs stability, not more chaos,’ Starmer says

Starmer addresses those asking “where’s the surprise, where’s the rabbit out of the hat”, saying: “If you want politics as pantomime, I hear Clacton is nice this time of year.”

“Britain needs stability, not more chaos,” the Labour leader adds.

11.39am: Labour to grant 16- and 17-year-olds right to vote

Labour will grant 16-year-olds the right to vote, its election manifesto has confirmed.

The party’s manifesto reads: “We will increase the engagement of young people in our vibrant democracy by giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all elections.”

11.37am: Starmer: ‘A plan to change Britain’

Labour leader Keir Starmer is now speaking. “A manifesto for wealth creation. A plan to change Britain,” he tells attendees. A plan which is “much more than a list of policies, a plan for change, for growth, for giving our children their future”, he adds.

He faced some heckles at the start of his speech to which he responded: “We gave up being a party of protest five years ago.”

11.30am: Labour manifesto is now online

Labour’s manifesto is now available online.

11.28am: First-time voter “excited” about voting Labour

The final speaker before Keir Starmer takes to the stage is a first-time voter called Holly who says she is “excited” about casting her vote for Labour at the election.

11.25: ‘Labour is a party that will govern for all of us’

The next speaker is cancer patient Nathaniel Dye who has appeared at a number of previous Labour events. He tells attendees that he will be lucky to live another three years and that he represents the “human cost” of an NHS “neglected over the past 14 years”.

“Labour is a party that will govern for all of us,” he says, adding: “Labour is the party of hope for a brighter future I won’t live to see.”

11.20: ‘Labour is the only party offering something different’

Daniel from London is the next speaker. He tells attendees that he is supporting Labour firstly because of its plans to build more homes and second because of the help it plans to offer to first-time buyers.

“Labour is the only party offering something different,” he says, adding: “We need to change. and the only way to do that is to vote Labour.”

11.15am: Iceland CEO Richard Walker is next

Iceland CEO Richard Walker is next up to speak, saying it is a “pleasure” to be at launch of Labour’s manifesto and describing the document as a “goodun”, saying: “I really like what I see in Labour’s plan to ensure that we invest in the people and infrastructure that we need.”

He adds: “It gives me real hope that this can be the start of a better future for all of us.”

11.10am: Rayner kicks of the manifesto launch

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner is kicking off Labour’s general election manifesto launch in Manchester.

“With this manifesto, we can change Britain,” she tells attendees.

11.02am: Team Change

Here’s a nice shot by PA’s Stefan Rousseau of the shadow cabinet holding the manifesto itself just before the event…

10.45am: LabourList at event in Manchester

Reporter Morgan Jones is at Labour’s manifesto launch in Manchester – make sure to check our Twitter/X feed for all the latest updates from her during this morning’s event.

10.30am: Labour’s manifestos of old

With Labour less than an hour away from unveiling its new manifesto, we’ve been thinking of Labour’s manifestos from previous elections.

Luckily the Sutton and Cheam Labour Party has kept a record of the party’s past pledges, all the way back from 1997 to the last general election.

Read more here.

10.15am: Latest on size of manifesto

According to the BBC’s political editor Chris Mason, Labour’s manifesto has the most pages of any of the major parties – coming in at 135 pages on A5 paper, compared to the Lib Dems with 116 (also A5) and the Conservatives at 76 (on larger A4 paper).

Mason also reports that the manifesto features 34 pictures with Keir Starmer, including the cover, and has roughly 23,000 words – shorter than Labour’s manifesto in 2019.

10.05am: Hospital waiting lists up again

As we wait for Labour to launch its manifesto, latest figures from NHS England spell further bad news for the Prime Minister…

Waiting lists in the health service rose for the first time in seven months – from 7.54 million to 7.57 million at the end of April.

10.00am: ‘Labour is the party of wealth creation’

In an extract of his speech, Starmer is expected to stress the need for economic growth, particularly to boost public services.

He will say: “If we could grow the economy at anything like the level the last Labour government did, that’s an extra £70 billion worth of investment for our public services.

“Wealth creation is our number one priority. Growth is our core business – the end and the means of national renewal. The mandate we seek from Britain at this election is for economic growth.

“This changed Labour Party has a plan for growth. We are pro-business and pro-worker. The party of wealth creation.”

9.40am: Hot off the presses – Labour’s manifesto

Change is coming. pic.twitter.com/pOk9QAvIxV

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) June 13, 2024

9.25am: Watch Labour’s latest campaign video ahead of manifesto launch

Labour has published a new campaign video focusing on some of the party’s election commitments ahead of its manifesto launch later this morning.

Growth. pic.twitter.com/HS9B3OclRE

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) June 13, 2024

9.10am: Labour to unveil ‘manifesto for wealth creation’

Keir Starmer will unveil Labour’s manifesto for the general election this morning with “ambitious plans to get Britain building again”.

At a launch event in Manchester, the Labour leader will say that economic growth is at the core of the party’s vision for national renewal and that “sustained economic growth is the only route to improving the prosperity of our country and the living standards of working people”.

Labour’s manifesto commitments will include plans to create a new National Wealth Fund to invest in the industries for the future, launch Great British Energy to accelerate the transition to clean power and build 1.5 million new homes.

The manifesto is fully costed and fully funded and will contain a “tax lock for working people” – a pledge not to raise rates of income tax, National Insurance or VAT.

Read the full story here.

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