Labour manifesto focuses on reform of public services

10 April 2012
WEST END FINAL

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Pledges to crack down on under-performing public services are contained in a draft Labour manifesto being finalised this week.

Inefficient police forces could be taken over by neighbouring forces under proposals designed to spread good practice and efficiency across the country.

Constitutional reforms are expected to be given unusual prominence in the document, largely because they are cost-free and the Government has run out of cash for late giveaways on top of flagship promises such as better care for the elderly.

Cleaners and other low-paid staff working in Whitehall could get a pay boost from a pledge to bring in a living wage of £7.60 for them, a move that matches Boris Johnson's pay policy at City Hall.

It would be funded by capping salaries of the highest paid public sector workers.

Labour's campaign headquarters in Victoria Street, Westminster, was packed with some 200 staff and 100 volunteers this morning as the party moved into full election gear.

Lord Mandelson, who has wrested effective control over strategy, Harriet Harman, the party chairwoman and deputy leader, and campaign co-ordinator Douglas Alexander held their first planning meeting at 7am in a boardroom at the heart of an open-plan office.

After the whole Cabinet ended at 10am, ministers were sent across the country to take part in photocalls to mark the start of campaigning.

A "mass canvas" of target voters by phone and face-to-face is being planned for tomorrow, involving Cabinet ministers and some 200 staff based in a call centre at Newcastle.

Labour's national executive will approve the manifesto tomorrow night, ready for next week's launch that will mark the formal beginning of the election campaign period.

The final version is under wraps but leaked policies from an early draft seek to counter Tory claims that Whitehall has been allowed to grow wasteful by pledging reforms.

"Where service is not good enough, it will be taken over by the best," the draft said.

Mr Brown, who took part in a football supporters' buy-out of his team, Raith Rovers, is expected to advance "rights" to fans of other struggling clubs do the same.

Voting at 16 has been hinted at by the Prime Minister, along with referendums on changing the voting system and having elected Lords.

Lord Mandelson, however, warned Labour to be bold, saying that a "safety first" campaign would not be enough to win.

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