Manifesto that made big promises

JEREMY Corbyn’s Left-wing manifesto – pledging huge rises in public spending and tax rises on the richest – proved much more popular than expected against the Tory offering.

Tories had criticised Labour’s lavish spending plans, warning there was ‘no magic money tree’ and the proposals would threaten the economy.

Conservatives warned families would be hit by a ‘garden tax’ on the value of their land, while experts at the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the figures did not add up.

But it seems millions of voters were not put off by the plans to borrow tens of billions of pounds every year.

Labour’s manifesto had been thrown into chaos when the document was leaked a week before the official launch – but it meant Mr Corbyn benefited from twice the coverage of policy announcements.

The manifesto pledged to reinstate the 50p rate of tax on the highest earners and introduce a 45p income tax rate on those earning £80,000-plus.

As well as refusing to cut corporation tax, Labour said it would scrap Tory plans to lower the inheritance tax threshold – reducing the amount that millions could pass on to their children. However, it guaranteed to keep the triple lock for pensions.

The party also said it would axe university tuition fees and reinstate maintenance grants for the poorest students, costing £11billion a year.

And the manifesto called for the nationalisation of water firms and train operators, 10,000 more police officers and huge rises in NHS spending.