Labour Vows to Restore Safety with 13,000 Officers; Tories Counter with VAT Policy Assault

Labour vows to 'restore safety to UK streets' – while Tories criticize Labour's VAT plans

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commits to reinstating 13,000 neighborhood police officers and PCSOs, as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt critiques Labour's tax strategies.

Political correspondent @NifS

Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 23:

Labour pledges to "reintroduce police presence in local areas" as they concentrate their campaign efforts on addressing crime.

On Thursday, Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, will reaffirm her party's commitment to reintroduce 13,000 neighborhood police officers and PCSOs throughout the nation, emphasizing the promise of "guaranteed neighborhood patrols." She will state that these measures are designed to not only deter criminal activities through a visible police presence but also enhance the capacity to apprehend offenders.

She plans to pledge to operate a highly engaged Home Office that frequently evaluates the department's performance in relation to Labour's governmental "missions," which encompass addressing issues of anti-social behavior.

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Ms. Cooper stated, "Under Rishi Sunak's leadership, 90% of criminal cases remain unresolved, allowing individuals armed with knives, mobile phone thieves, and pickpockets to terrorize our urban centers and communities."

Government officials have failed to address the emerging wave of organized crime impacting neighborhood stores and public areas. This inaction represents the Conservative administration's record on law enforcement, with our local communities bearing the consequences.

"Labour has declared that the current situation cannot continue. The party promises to restore security in British towns and cities by reintroducing 13,000 neighborhood police officers and PCSOs to patrol our local areas. Additionally, they plan to implement stringent new measures to tackle the disruption caused by criminals in commercial districts and aim to address the significant drop in crime resolution rates.

"Labour promises to resolve the disorder created by the Tories and establish a regime focused on legal governance and public safety, prioritizing the well-being of our communities and reclaiming control of our streets."

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However, Policing Minister Chris Philp criticized the policy as ineffective, stating, "It's essentially meaningless," and noted: "Only 3,000 of the newly proposed officers would be full-time with arrest powers, and the remaining 3,000 have already been recruited by this administration."

In comparison, the Conservative party has significantly boosted police ranks, adding 20,000 officers since 2019.

"In this election, the options are distinct: continue with the decisive policies and defined strategy of Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party, which have reduced crime by 54% since 2010, or reset progress with the Labour Party."

On the eighth day of the election campaign, the Conservative Party will criticize Labour's economic strategy, labeling it as disorganized.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt criticized his counterpart, Rachel Reeves, for succumbing to pressure to dismiss the idea of increasing VAT in the upcoming parliamentary session. He pointed out that she had strategically avoided committing to this stance throughout the week, even during her recent interview with Sam Coates from Sky News.

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Following the minister's claim in the Telegraph that Labour intended to fund its initiatives by increasing VAT, Ms. Reeves issued a statement refuting this as "complete rubbish," stating further: "Labour has no plans to raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT."

Mr. Hunt subsequently charged her with being inconsistent, asserting that what he perceived as a policy shift "shows that Labour lacks a coherent economic strategy."

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On Thursday, while on the campaign trail, the SNP plans to target younger voters. First Minister John Swinney will argue that "an entire generation has been deprived of potential opportunities" due to austerity, Brexit, and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The Liberal Democrats are advocating for the presence of a mental health expert in every primary and secondary school. The party's leader, Sir Ed Davey, has accused the Conservatives of neglecting parents and children.

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