Like , the Tories’ document is long on rhetoric and short on detail.
In a section on health, the Conservative manifesto said: "We are helping people to stay healthy by ending the open display of tobacco in shops, introducing plain-packaged cigarettes and funding local authority public health budgets."
Despite a large number of Conservative MPs voting in March against the reform to tobacco packaging, the regulatory vote gained a ‘yes’ from the House of Commons, including from Prime Minister David Cameron.
Expanding on its commitment to health in today’s manifesto, the Tories added: "We will take action to reduce childhood obesity and continue to promote clear food information." The promises are slightly vaguer, but similar in tone to those made by Labour in its manifesto.
Elsewhere, promises include supporting the creative industries - film, theatre, video games and orchestras, while a tax credit for children’s television would be introduced next year were the party to get into government post 7 May’s general election.
The manifesto also outlined plans to promote competition to keep the electorate’s energy bills low, with the party taking credit for helping "increase the number of independent energy suppliers from seven to 21", making it "easier for customers to switch to better deals", slashing "the number
of tariffs to just four per supplier, and cutting "switching times in half".
The manifesto continued: "We will go even further, implementing the recommendations of the Competition and Markets Authority investigation that we triggered.
"We will ensure that every home and business in the country has a Smart Meter by 2020, delivered as cost-effectively as possible, so consumers have instant, accurate bills and can switch to an alternative provider within one day."
Recommended
.jpg)
.jpeg)
