Lucy Powell, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (centre) and Anna Turley, Chair of the Labour Party (left) out campaigning

Labour is launching the NHS Online Hospital 

The new NHS Online hospital, being launched next year, will prioritise nine common health concerns - including some women’s health issues and prostate conditions. 

Already, there are over 200,000 fewer people on waiting lists and this is another step forward in this Labour Government's determination to deliver for patients and cut waiting times.

What does this mean?

• NHS Online will digitally connect patients to expert clinicians across England, all from the comfort of their own home.
• This will allow patients to receive care more quickly, and free up in-person appointments for those who need them.
• The service is expected to deliver the equivalent of up to 8.5 million virtual appointments and assessments in the first three years.  
• Women’s health issues – including severe menopause symptoms – will be among the conditions first available for online referrals, as well as men’s health conditions, including prostate care.  

While Nigel Farage talks about wanting to introduce an insurance-style healthcare system, opening up the risk of charging for GP appointments and operations like they do abroad, Labour is getting on with the job and building an NHS that’s fit for the future.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

“We’ve already made big changes in the NHS, but building a health service that’s fit for the future requires more than just evolution – it demands revolution.  

“NHS Online will make accessing healthcare as simple as ordering a cab or a takeaway – fundamentally changing how people interact with the NHS for generations to come.”

Tackling child poverty by scrapping the two-child limit

The Tory legacy of child poverty is a stain on our country and tackling it is a moral mission for this Labour Government. Growing up poor means a child is more likely to be unemployed, or in a lower-paid job, as an adult – as well as facing greater risk of health problems and lower life expectancy. 

The Conservatives pushed 900,000 children below the poverty line – but we are making different choices.  

What does this mean?

• By scrapping the two-child limit for families on Universal Credit, 450,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by the next general election.
• That is the biggest child poverty reduction in a single parliament since records began.
• Reform and the Conservatives have both pledged to re-introduce a two-child limit, which would push almost half a million children into poverty again.

Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, said:

“This Government came into office pledging to tackle child poverty and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

“I’m proud that Labour is scrapping the cruel two-child limit. It's a policy that has imposed hardship on the children of parents who go out to work to provide as much as they can for their families.  

“The Reform-Tory Child Poverty Pact would wipe out this progress. It is a plan to punish parents who work hard and do the right thing, and it would plunge hundreds of thousands of children back into poverty.” 

Take action now: 

You can get involved today by taking a stand against the Reform-Tory Child Poverty Pact. 

Add your name to back Labour's plan to tackle child poverty today:

Decisive action to make Britain's roads safer

After years of Tory neglect, Labour is taking decisive action to make Britain’s roads safer for everyone.

We’re delivering the biggest-ever investment to fix Britain’s broken roads and restore pride to communities. We’ve launched a new Road Safety Strategy to reduce deaths and serious injuries, and we’ve introduced a new traffic light system so drivers can see how well their local council is tackling the pothole plague.

What does this mean? 

• 14 years of Tory neglect damaged roads and created a pothole plague that meant costly repairs for motorists.
• Labour promised to fix an extra million potholes a year by the end of this Parliament, and we’re doing exactly that.
• Every region of England will feel the benefit of Labour’s record £7.3 billion local roads boost – helping to restore pride and connect communities.
• Along with our Road Safety Strategy, which includes plans for tougher enforcement and safer vehicles, and our new traffic light system for tackling potholes, Labour is making Britain’s roads safer.
• Tory Councils are failing to effectively tackle potholes, with nearly one in five Tory Councils given an overall ‘Red’ rating. Read the article here.
• Reform often give easy answers to problems but when it comes to delivering for drivers by fixing potholes and repairing roads, Reform Councils are falling well short with 25% of Reform Councils receiving a ‘Red’ rating. 

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said:

“We’re delivering the biggest-ever investment in road maintenance to fix Britain’s broken roads.

“We’re putting our money where our mouth is, giving councils the long-term investment they need to plan properly and get things right first time, saving you money on costly repairs and making a visible difference in our communities.  

“This isn’t patchwork politics, we are starting the hard work of fixing Britain’s roads for good.” 

Most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation

Labour has launched the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation to improve the lives of millions of animals across the UK.

The Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy delivers on Labour’s manifesto commitments to ban trail hunting, end the use of snare traps and end puppy smuggling and farming.  

What does this mean?  

• Broken Tory promises left animals enduring needless suffering while Reform would put key pieces of animal welfare legislation at risk.  
• In contrast, Labour is introducing a comprehensive package of reforms to improve the lives of millions of animals across the UK.
• They include banning trail hunting, which, for too long, has resulted in the hunting of live mammals with dogs, and banning the use of cruel and indiscriminate snare traps.
• Labour’s generational reforms will also end the inhumane practices of puppy farming and puppy smuggling.  

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds said:

“We're a nation of animal lovers. This government is delivering the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation.

"We've already acted to improve zoo standards, end puppy smuggling and protect livestock from dog attacks. Now, we're planning to ban caged hens, cruel snares, trail hunting, and curb low welfare dog breeding."

Reform Council watch

Last May, Reform took control of several councils across England. It was Nigel Farage’s opportunity to demonstrate what a vote for Reform means in practice.

Well the results are in – they don’t deliver for local communities. In council after council where they campaigned on cutting waste and cutting taxes, they’re putting council tax up and slashing services. And at the same time, their councils are full of chaotic infighting and even racism scandals – they’re an embarrassment.

Below are some of the worst examples of Reform Council failure in the country:  

• Several Reform Councils, including Derbyshire, Durham and Staffordshire, promised to cut waste and cut taxes, but instead are planning to raise council taxes for local people.
• In Lancashire, Reform is considering closing care homes and day centres.
• In Staffordshire, Reform’s leader resigned following racist comments he made on social media.
• In Leicestershire, the Reform Council has hired external consultants for an efficiency review – costing £1.4m, however the total contract value could reach £30m.
• In Kent, Reform is reportedly planning to “hugely cut” elements of the adult social care budget.  

This is just a snapshot of what Nigel Farage in power looks like.

We want to hear from you!

Members and supporters are our eyes and ears on the ground, if you come across Reform leaflets, or have examples of how Reform Councils are failing, please send details to the Labour Party’s Opposition Watch portal at [email protected].

This is Labour’s campaign in action — your donation helps take that message into more communities: