Manifesto pledge

Labour is road-testing its election promises—what is it considering for universities?

Labour leader Keir Starmer has reportedly set 8 February as a “hard deadline” for a draft of his party’s election manifesto. The shadow cabinet is said to be submitting policy proposals to policy director Stuart Ingham; manifesto director Rav Athwal, a former head of the Treasury’s growth strategy branch; and Darren Jones, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.

To head off Tory attacks in an election campaign, Labour sources say that financial discipline will be at the heart of the manifesto, with every pledge tested against the current spending envelope. The election document is expected to prepare the party for a campaign fought on the economy.