Labour Achievements

• Increase diversity and choice in schooling, ensure fair access, and build on improvements in educational standards.  Education and Inspections Act)

• Give more support to working families by extending maternity and adoption pay, paternity leave, and flexible working rights.  (Childcare Act)

• Make healthcare provision more responsive to the needs of patients, improve hospital hygiene and restrict smoking in enclosed public spaces.  (Health Bill)

• Support patients seeking redress for problems with their healthcare (NHS Redress Act)

• Identity cards scheme introduction (ID Cards Act)

• New powers for police and local communities to tackle knives, guns, and alcohol-related violence. (Violent Crime Act)

• Further tighten the immigration and asylum system. (Immigration and Asylum Act)

• Continue the fight against terrorism in the UK and elsewhere. (Terrorism Bill)

• Prevent those deemed unsuitable from gaining access to children or vulnerable adults through their work.  (Bichard Bill)

• Modernise charity law. (Charities Bill)

• Establish the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.  (Equalities Bill)

• Ensure better management and protection of the natural environment, and support rural communities. (Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act)

• Help reduce casualties on the roads.  (Road Safety Act)

• Make it simpler to streamline outdated or unnecessary legislation.  (Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act)

• Provide greater protection for consumers and create a fairer competitive credit market.  (Consumer Credit Act)

• Reform company law to encourage investment and enterprise.  (Companies Act)

• Encourage voter participation, combat voter fraud, and increase security.  (Electoral Administration Act)

• Reform the National Assembly for Wales.  (Government of Wales Bill)

• Establish necessary powers to deliver the Olympics.  (Olympics Act)

Since 1997

Economy • Lowest unemployment since the 70s:  nearly 2.5 million more people in work
• Inflation amongst lowest in EU
• Nearly 1.5 million people helped into work by the New Deal
• Introduced the NMW - £5.35 per hour since Oct 2006

Health • Over 85,000 more nurses
• Over 32,000 more doctors
• 157 new hospitals built or on the way
• 662,000 more operations
• Waiting list down by nearly 338,000
• Virtually nobody waiting over 6 months

Crime • Down 35% overall (burglary down 53%, car crime down 46%, and violent crime down 34%)
• Record police numbers, up by more than 14,000
• Over 7,350 ASBOs and nearly 300,000 PNDs issued

Education • Doubled per pupil spending from £2,500 to well over £5,000
• 36,400 more teachers; 287,000 more support staff
• Best ever primary, GCSE and A level results
• 46 Academies open with 200 by 2010

Transport • Spending up 43% since 2003
• More rail journeys than at any time since the 1940s
• Bus use is increasing year on year for the first time in decades