PROMISES THAT ECHO DOWN THE YEARS

THERE are stiking similarities between the Labour manifesto under Corbyn and the policies pursued by Attlee’s post-war Labour government:

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

Attlee – The work of health minister Aneurin Bevan set up the NHS in 1948. Corbyn – Plans more than £30billion of extra funding to save the NHS.

HOUSING

Attlee – Built more than a million homes, 80 per cent of which were council houses. Corbyn – Plans to build one million homes, including 100,000 council and housing association homes by the end of parliament.

NATIONALISATION

Attlee – Nationalised the Bank of England, coal, railway and steel industries. Corbyn – Plans to take parts of Britain’s energy industry back into public ownership alongside the railways and the Royal Mail.

WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Attlee – Entitlement to sick leave was greatly extended and pay and conditions for public sector workers improved. Corbyn – Plans to raise minimum wage to £10, repeal trade union bill and ban zerohours contracts and unpaid internships.

WELFARE STATE

Attlee – Created the modern welfare state, including the introduction of national insurance, a flat tax on income. Corbyn – Plans to scrap the bedroom tax, restore housing benefit for under-21s and increase personal independence payments for the disabled.