General election 2017: manifesto round-up

Conservatives

The Tory party has pledged to back small businesses and conduct a full review into the business rates system​ to ensure it is “up to date”.

The party also wants to ensure revaluations are conducted more frequently to avoid large changes in bills.

It will also aim to cut immigration to the tens of thousands and has pledged to increase the levy on skilled immigrants to £2,000 per worker for non-EU workers identified in areas of skills shortages.

The manifesto also revealed plans to continue small business support through business rates relief and low taxation, and to reduce the “bureaucracy and regulation that prevents small businesses from flourishing”.

Labour

Labour’s manifesto stated the party will launch an investigation into the demise of pubs​ if elected into power.

It also stated plans to establish a joint taskforce to consider the future sustainability of pubs, giving communities more powers to protect their locals and promote measures to reduce shop vacancies on the high street.

With no mention of plans to increase business rates relief for pubs, Labour did take inspiration from the £1,000 relief scheme, and would extend it to small music venues.

However, the party has also pledged to up the minimum wage to £10 an hour, which would disproportionately impact on the pub sector.

Liberal Democrats

Minimum unit pricing for alcohol​ is one key policy the Liberal Democrats party outlined in its pre-election manifesto in a bid to “help people stay healthy”.

Other pledges include a review of the business rates system to reduce the burden on smaller firms and ensure high streets remain competitive. The implementation of land value taxation, which disregards the value of buildings, personal property, and other improvements was also mentioned.

The party wants to push for the UK to “unilaterally guarantee” the rights of EU nationals living and working in the UK to end the ongoing uncertainty about their rights to remain in the country after Article 50 is triggered.

UK Independence Party (UKIP)

“Reducing the density of alcohol outlets and restricting trading times”​ is a plan outlined in UKIP’s pre-election manifesto.

The party wants to repeal the Licensing Act 2003 and bring in new legislation to “protect emergency workers from abuse” from intoxicated members of the public.

In a bid to make immigration “fair and equitable”, UKIP also stated it wants to establish a migration control commission and reduce net migration over five years and introduce a new Australian-style points-based system, and a work permit system.

Scottish National Party (SNP)

The SNP has vowed to conduct a review of alcohol taxation, while supporting moves to introduce minimum unit pricing.​

The pledge to revise taxes – meaning lower-alcohol content drinks are subject to a higher rate of tax – could meet the SNP’s aim to protect Scotch whisky, which has a high alcohol content.