The Choice for Britain

Labour today publishes The Choice for Britain – a framework for the debate between Labour and the Conservatives leading up to the manifesto.

Gordon Brown, Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, writes in the foreword:

"We are fighting for a better future for our country. The Tories represent change the many cannot afford. That is the stark choice before the British people at the next election. To win the fight, we must not only defend our record: we must show how we are driving forward to meet new challenges. We are living through extraordinary times given the global economic recession and the crisis of trust in the political system. This is a new world utterly different from 1997.

"Labour is setting out a comprehensive policy agenda for Brit ain's future demonstrating that progressive ideas offer solutions to the major challenges that are transforming our world:


"We are setting out proposals for a post-crisis economy:

- on growth, our policies for sustainable, low carbon growth to secure an investment and export-led recovery and create the green jobs of the future;

- on bonuses: implementing the agreements reached at the G20, so that there is no return to business as usual in the banks;

- on fairness at work: ensuring that workers gain new skills and get a fair share of prosperity when the recovery takes hold.

"We are setting out proposals for a post-crisis society:

- on public services, the reforms to ensure that high standards in education and health are a guarantee, not a gamble;

- on strengthening family life, delivering affordable childcare and care of the elderly for an ageing society;

- on strong communities, getting tough on anti-social behaviour, binge drinking and the misery caused by dysfunctional families, and giving communities new rights to set the priorities for the local police.


"We are also setting out proposals for a post-crisis politics - showing how we intend to reform our democratic institutions, rebuilding trust in politics and public life.


"We will best meet the challenges of the age by holding firm to Labour's core beliefs:
- fighting for the interests of hard-working people and their families resolutely in the centreground of British politics;

- meeting the challenges of the future by forging a new partnership between citizen and state;

- standing up for economic realism, facing up to hard facts and common sense;

- governing for the whole country in the national interest;

- being the rock of stability and security on which people can stand.

"I hope like me you are proud of what we have achieved. On our journey so far we have overcome great challenges, but the challenges that now face us are greater still. Our task is to show not just what has been done but what can be done: to set out our case for the next Labour Government - the first of the new global age.


"By 2015, we want our country to be fairer, greener, more prosperous and democratic. A new Labour Government based on our enduring mission to offer everyone, not just the privileged few, the chance to succeed. The Choice for Britain gives you the ammunition to make and win the arguments: to help us fight and win and serve."