By Natalie Bloomer
Northamptonshire’s local elections are just days away but at the NN Journal we keep hearing that voters are unsure what each party stands for or where to find their manifestos.
Some of the parties have published manifestos online, others are making theirs available on request and some don’t have one at all so it’s no wonder people are unsure where to look.
To help, we have looked at each party’s summary of key pledges and outlined them below. This is not a detailed account of their policies - for that you will need to read the full manifestos (where they’re available) or contact the parties directly. It’s also important to remember that just because a particular issue isn’t listed here, it doesn’t mean the party doesn’t have a view on it, it may be set out in more detail in their manifestos or campaign literature.
We hope this is a helpful guide to the issues local candidates will be prioritising.
North Northamptonshire
Conservatives (No manifesto)
A new and improved regime for potholes and road maintenance
Support the building of a new hospital and urgent care centre
Enhance systems to reduce waste and promote recycling
High quality services for vulnerable children and adults
Enable all young children and young people to achieve their full potential through education
Promote tourism within our towns, countryside and villages
Deliver high quality services that are value for money
Invest and promote the regeneration of town centres
Work with police to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour
Integrate council, public health, police and fire services to create a ‘one stop network’
Commit to expanding free car parking to support high streets
Improve the environment locally and grow the green economy
Build high quality affordable housing
Promote a support network for skills, training and apprenticeships
Deliver essential infrastructure for residents in line with new developments
Support plans to strengthen the police and update fire and rescue equipment
Promote healthier and more active lifestyles.
Labour (Full detailed manifesto available)
Provide the council with a sound financial base
Work with the Children’s Trust to ensure children are safe and valued
Invest in schools to meet the needs of all children
Put people before profit, deliver a compassionate and caring social services for vulnerable adults and older residents. Stop the waste of millions of pounds on agency staff and consultants
Put people at the heart of decision making by holding meetings around North Northamptonshire and by having meaningful consultations with residents
Keep public services in public ownership and focus on public services from libraries to community centres
Protect our environment and deliver a clean, green, sustainable future to make North Northamptonshire carbon neutral by 2030.
Support our historic towns and villages to recover from the pandemic with access to services including public transport
Build better and secure council and affordable homes for all and deal with rogue landlords in the private sector
Fix potholes promptly.
Liberal Democrats (No manifesto)
Protect the vulnerable and build an open, generous and thriving community
Tackle climate change and keep our area clean, tidy and well maintained
Build the sustainable homes that people need, where they need them
Obey the law, keep you safe and make your Council accountable, honest and transparent
Help you to keep fit, healthy, informed and entertained.
Greens (The pledges are from the party’s national manifesto - figures and details given below are for the UK as a whole not specifically Northamptonshire)
The replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy
The provision of better insulation for all homes that need it, the delivery of major heating upgrades for 1 million homes a year and the creation of 100,000 new energy efficient council homes a year
The delivery of a public and sustainable transport revolution, which will allow people to travel cheaply and safely on new trains, buses, cycleways and footpaths
Support for businesses to decarbonise and the provision of training to give people skills to access millions of new green jobs
The planting of 700 million trees and support for healthy and sustainable food and farming systems
The creation of a Universal Basic Income, paid to all UK residents to tackle poverty and give financial security to everyone.
West Northamptonshire
Conservatives (Full detailed manifesto available)
A ‘Climate Action Now Summit’ by next year and make green decisions from ‘day one’ in office
Council tax will not rise by more that £99 per year for a BAND D household during the first term
Save reserves for a rainy day
Maintain a culture of open and transparent financial management
Improve life chances - caring for those in need and creating opportunity for all
Provide major upgrades to road networks
Ensure you benefit from big rail projects and are mitigated by any disruption
Have the best broadband for school, work and play
Maintain rural village charm and ensure town centres are fit for the future
Education excellence for our young
Tackle homelessness and rough sleeping
Provide homes for heroes
Continue town centre regeneration with local businesses at the fore
Sustainable planning decisions that listen to the needs of local people.
Labour (Full detailed manifesto available)
Make West Northamptonshire clean, safe and green and ensure the Council is Carbon Neutral by 2030
Prevent families and vulnerable adults going into crisis by delivering early interventions
Implement an anti-poverty strategy
Support local business and the growth of more secure, better paid jobs
Create a Citizens’ Assembly to involve residents in democracy and policy making
Liberal Democrats (Full detailed manifesto available)
Provide great local services for those in need
Fix broken roads and improve transport
Protect and enhance our environment
A better future for our young people
Support a local economy that works for all
The right homes in the right places
Build a better run council.
Greens (The pledges are from the party’s national manifesto - figures and details given below are for the UK as a whole not specifically Northamptonshire)
The replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy
The provision of better insulation for all homes that need it, the delivery of major heating upgrades for 1 million homes a year and the creation of 100,000 new energy efficient council homes a year
The delivery of a public and sustainable transport revolution, which will allow people to travel cheaply and safely on new trains, buses, cycleways and footpaths
Support for businesses to decarbonise and the provision of training to give people skills to access millions of new green jobs
The planting of 700 million trees and support for healthy and sustainable food and farming systems
The creation of a Universal Basic Income, paid to all UK residents to tackle poverty and give financial security to everyone.
TUSC will vote against all cuts, work with trade unions and activists to create a zero cuts budget, lead an inquiry into the council's recent bankruptcies, push the council to use the newly built-up reserves to invest in an environmentally sustainable council house building and renovation project, support the call for a 15% pay increase for NHS workers, and stand shoulder to shoulder with workers in struggle.