General Election

BBC TV debates have been announced this week.  Following the local and mayoral elections on Thursday 4^th May, it has been predicted that the Conservatives would win 349 seats, Labour 215 seats, and SNP on 54 seats and the Liberal Democrats on 9 during next month’s General Election.  This week’s ICM/Guardian poll puts Conservatives at an astounding 49%, Labour at 27%, Lib Dem at 9%, UKIP at 6%, SNP at 4% and the Green Party at 3%.  You can keep up with policy commitments for all of the main parties via the BBC’s policy pledge tracker.

Conservatives

• Iain Duncan-Smith raps Eminem when talking about Diane Abbott’s car crash interviews last week
• Recommitted themselves to getting net migration down to the tens of thousands
• Have promised to cap energy prices for people on standard variable tariffs (to be overseen by Ofgem and reviewed bi-annually)
• Theresa May has promised a Free Vote to repeal the Fox Hunting ban, a Conservative policy pledge in Conservative Manifestos since 2010 facing widespread criticism from members of the public and Conservative party candidates
• Theresa May and husband Philip May interviewed during the One Show, showing a more human side to the PM and herself and their marriage
• Theresa May interviewed on LBC Radio and took questions from members of the general public on a wide range of policy issues
• The CPS this week announced that there would be no criminal charges as a result of Conservative election spending for the 2015 General Election, however one complaint remains under consideration
• Not running for re-election: George Osborne, Eric Pickles, Andrew Tyrie, Peter Lilley, Gerald Howarth, Simon Burns, Angela Watkinson, Alan Haselhurst, David Mackintosh, Andrew Turner
• High profile candidates selected: Esther McVey (Former DWP Minister, standing in Tatton), Zac Goldsmith (ousted by Lib Dems in Richmond Park by-election in December, hoping to get it back), former MP Mary Macleod reselected in Brentford, former MP Lee Scott reselected in Ilford North, Alliance’s Owen Meredith for Newcastle Under Lyme(!),Kemi Badenoch (London Assembly member) for Saffron Walden, Vicky Ford MEP for Chelmsford

Labour

• Manifesto has been leaked this week ahead of its official launch next week, main issues: nationalise rail, Royal Mail, create at least one public energy company; an extra £6 billion per year to the NHS; support renewal of Trident; accept Brexit; more powers for Trade Unions; abolish university tuition fees; end to benefit sanctions.  The manifesto was unanimously agreed to by stakeholders at a meeting yesterday.  Of particular interest to us:Ban junk food advertising before 9pm watershed to help tackle childhood obesityScrap hospital parking changes in England
• Culture for all – “As Britain leaves the EU we will put our world-class creative sector at the heart of our negotiations and future industrial strategy.”… “We recognise the serious concern about the “value gap” between producers of creative content and the digital services that profit from its use, and will work with all sides to review the way creators and artists are rewarded for their work in the digital age.”
• Corbyn has told voters to side with Labour to get a Brexit focussed on jobs first and foremost
• Committed to more school funding and capping school class sizes to 30
• Not running for re-election: Alan Johnson, Michael Dugher (he’s joining UK Music as Chief Executive instead!), Andy Burnham, Gisela Stuart, Jim Dowd, Tom Blenkinsop, Rob Marris, David Anderson, Pat Glass, Iain Wright, Andrew Smith, Fiona MacTaggart, Graham Allen, Steve Rotheram
• High profile candidates selected: Ellie Reeves (sister of MP Rachel Reeves, wife of PLP Chair John Cryer) selected for Lewisham West.  See the full list of Labour candidates

Lib Dems

• Vince Cable and Sarah Olney have been recorded telling Lib Dem members to collaborate with Labour to fight the Conservatives
• £7billion extra for schools
• Have pledged to legalise cannabis
• Not running for re-election: John Pugh
• High profile candidates selected: Sir Vince Cable, Sir Simon Hughes, Sir Ed Davey, Jo Swinson, Sir Bob Russell, Sir Nick Harvey. 

SNP

• Not running for re-election: Michelle Thomson (was independent).

Dates for your diary:

8^th June – General Election

13^th June – Parliament returns

19^th June – State Opening of Parliament and the Queen’s Speech

5^th July – British IP Day!

20^th July – 5^th September – Parliamentary Summer Recess

16^th September – 19^th September – Liberal Democrat Party Conference, Bournemouth

24^th September – 27^th September – Labour Party Conference, Brighton

1^st October – 4^th October – Conservative Party Conference, Manchester

The above does not represent policy but is a weekly report of parliamentary activity prepared by the Alliance on IP matters and other broad areas of interest to the creative industries which the Alliance has shared with its members.