May, champion of the working people
• Conservatives’ manifesto declares war on elitism
UK Prime Minister Theresa May presented herself to voters as the champion of “ordinary, working people”, positioning her Conservatives as a party against “elites” and unafraid to shake up the rules governing business.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May presented herself to voters as the champion of “ordinary, working people”, positioning her Conservatives as a party against “elites” and unafraid to shake up the rules governing business.
“Rather than pursue an agenda based on a supposed centre ground defined and established by elites in Westminster, we will govern in the interests of the mainstream of the British public,” said the 84-page manifesto.
“We will also stand up to those in positions of power who abuse that privilege.”
After decades in which Conservative and Labour governments have relied on free markets and relaxed immigration rules to deliver increasing prosperity, May said the formula hadn’t delivered.
The manifesto — which also sounded a tough note on Brexit — revealed tighter immigration rules and more worker protections, while “making executive pay packages subject to strict annual votes by shareholders”.
May will subject mergers and acquisitions to more scrutiny, ensure foreign ownership of crucial infrastructure does not undermine security or “essential services”, and allow bids to be stalled while authorities probe the details. Workers will also be represented on boards, the party pledged. A Conservative government would also create sovereign wealth funds.
The prime minister also demonstrated a willingness to confront her base by announcing that wealthy people would be expected to use the value of their homes to pay for their own care as they got older.
The announcement on elderly care sought to tackle a problem her predecessor David Cameron had ducked.
Cameron, who came from a wealthy family, had focused on making it easier for people to pass on more of their property to their children. May’s solution will protect those with small estates, but not the rich.
The measure has the unexpected support of one of the most crucial opinion formers in the UK — the high-circulation Daily Mail newspaper, which in the past has always attacked any proposal that threatened people’s inheritances.
May’s wooing of the Conservative-leaning tabloid has paid off now that she needs political support.