Manifesto gets mixed responses on range of subjects

CHARITIES, UNIONS and business bodies gave a mixed reaction to the Tory General Election manifest.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “This manifesto seems very relaxed about the exclusion of young people and has no positive ideas on how to help schools work with families and Local Authorities to prevent or bring down the number of child exclusions.

“Disruptive behaviour is demoralising for teachers, but they recognise that it’s often about bullying, mental health challenges or difficulties in home lives. We need ‘no excuses’ for poverty and insecure housing, not ‘no excuses’ by Government for teenagers who are scared, cold or tired.

“We need zero tolerance for cuts to child mental health services and family services rather than zero tolerance for vulnerable children.”

Animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports welcomed a commitment to safeguard the Hunting Act. After a promise that no changes would be made to the law, it said the “Conservatives have finally ditched previous promises to try to make fox hunting legal again”.

British Chambers of Commerce director general Adam Marshall said: “There are some welcome proposals in the Conservative manifesto on real-world business issues such as training, road maintenance and childcare, but businesses still need much more clarity on big-ticket items like HS2, how the UK’s future immigration system will work in practice, and how real power will be devolved to our towns and cities. A fundamental review of business rates is absolutely vital, but firms have been promised action before – and must not be let down this time. “