Has the UK Conservative Party Broken Its Manifesto Promises from 2015?

When the UK Conservative Party entered into power in 2015 with a strong mandate, it pledged several key promises in its manifesto. However, as we approach the 2020 general election, it is vital to question how many of these promises have been kept. In this article, we delve into the specific promises made by the Conservative Party in 2015 and examine whether they have adhered to them.

Key Promises and Their Status

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No Raise in National Insurance Rates

Status: Broken

One of the key promises made by the Conservative Party in 2015 was to ensure that there would be no increase in national insurance rates. However, as the years progressed, the reality of the UK economy and the fiscal situation became apparent. To address these issues, the government had to reconsider its financial strategies, which unfortunately led to an increase in national insurance rates. This broke a significant promise that voters were counting on.

Continued Membership of the EU Single Market

Status: Partially Broken

The promise of continued membership within the EU Single Market was one of the most hotly debated aspects of the 2015 manifesto. The Conservative Party pledged to maintain the UK's commitment to the Single Market, which would involve some level of regulatory alignment and accepting free movement of people. However, when the UK voted to leave the EU through the Brexit referendum in 2016, this promise became a distant memory.

Despite the government taking steps to negotiate new trade deals and the prospect of a new regulatory landscape, the promise of continued Single Market membership remains broken. The transition period has concluded, and the UK is now in the process of negotiating its future relationship with the EU, which may or may not include elements of the Single Market.

Elimination of Annual Public Finance Deficit

Status: Broken

The manifesto from 2015 made a strong commitment to eliminating the annual public finance deficit by the following general election in 2020. This was a key goal for the Conservative Party, as it aimed to reduce the national debt and improve the fiscal position of the UK. However, as the years progressed, the reality of the economy and the fiscal situation presented significant challenges.

Various factors, including economic downturns and political uncertainties, have hindered the government's ability to achieve this goal. By the end of the 2020 parliamentary term, the public finance deficit had not been eliminated, and the government had to adjust its fiscal strategies. This functioned as a critical point of failure for the Conservative Party's manifesto commitments.

Potential Broken Promises

No Re-introduction of Grammar Schools (David Cameron's Idea)

Status: Partially Broken (Degree of Concern Still Divided)

David Cameron, the former Prime Minister, advocated for the re-introduction of grammar schools as a means to improve educational inequality in the UK. While the Conservative Party did not make a concrete promise on this front, the government did not actively pursue policies to close down existing grammar schools. In fact, there has been significant discussion about the potential reintroduction of these schools, leading to increasing concern among the public.

No House of Lords Reform

Status: Broken

The Conservative Party's manifesto in 2015 promised to avoid any proposals for House of Lords reform, including abolition or a new composition for this chamber. However, this promise was not adhered to, and discussions about reforming the House of Lords are ongoing. The Conservative Party has faced considerable pressure to address the democratic legitimacy and composition of the House of Lords, which has led to several reform proposals being tabled and discussed.

Keep Fixed Term Parliaments

Status: Maintained (With Some Changes)

The Conservative Party pledged to keep fixed term parliaments, meaning that elections would take place on a set date. As of the 2020 general election, the UK had indeed held elections on fixed dates (2017, 2019, and 2020). However, the reality has been complex, with the government opting for a snap election in 2019 and the current parliament ending a bit earlier than what might have been expected based on the initial manifesto commitment. This demonstrates that while the underlying principle has been maintained, some nuances have led to variations from the original promise.

Conclusion

In summary, the UK Conservative Party has broken at least three of its key manifesto promises from 2015. The non-raise in national insurance rates, the continued membership in the EU Single Market, and the elimination of the annual public finance deficit are clear examples of unfulfilled commitments. Additionally, there has been partial progress and ongoing discussions in the realms of grammar school reform and House of Lords reform, which have not fully adhered to the original promises. In the lead-up to the 2020 general election, it is crucial for voters to assess the extent to which these promises have been kept and factors that may have influenced these outcomes.