John
04-12-2010, 07:32 AM
The proposals could see underperforming schools, hospitals and even police forces being taken over by management teams from more successful organisations.
Labour will promise not to increase income tax rates, but there will be no such pledge on raising VAT.
Gordon Brown is also pledging more help for young homebuyers.
In the foreword to the manifesto, Mr Brown says Britain is confronting many major challenges and there are no new big spending commitments on the cards.
Under the slogan "A Future Fair for All", the manifesto sets out what Mr Brown describes as an "ambitious but affordable and bold but realistic" agenda to rebuild the economy, renew public services and restore trust in politics.
High on the agenda are Blairite reforms of the public services to allow the takeover of poor-performing schools, hospitals and police forces, along with support for people suffering from anti-social behaviour.
Conservative leader David Cameron said that Labour had "no new ideas". His party will launch its own manifesto on Tuesday.
That is expected to include a "stabiliser" to protect drivers from the effect of oil price rises.
But Labour strategists believe that, with money tight, voters will be sceptical of any expensive election promises.
The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, are mounting an assault on Labour's record on fairness, highlighting figures suggesting that the poorest 20% of households pay £107 more tax annually in today's prices than they did in 1997, while the richest 20% pay £319 less.
After seeing its recent revival in the polls stall when shadow chancellor George Osborne won business backing leaders for his plan to scrap the National Insurance rise, Labour is now pinning its hopes on its manifesto to turn the tide once more in its favour.
A daily poll in The Sun suggests the Conservatives are down three points on 37% but still six points ahead of Labour on 31% (up one) and Liberal Democrats unchanged on 20%.
If repeated on May 6, these figures would almost certainly produce a hung Parliament with the Tories the largest party.
Labour will promise not to increase income tax rates, but there will be no such pledge on raising VAT.
Gordon Brown is also pledging more help for young homebuyers.
In the foreword to the manifesto, Mr Brown says Britain is confronting many major challenges and there are no new big spending commitments on the cards.
Under the slogan "A Future Fair for All", the manifesto sets out what Mr Brown describes as an "ambitious but affordable and bold but realistic" agenda to rebuild the economy, renew public services and restore trust in politics.
High on the agenda are Blairite reforms of the public services to allow the takeover of poor-performing schools, hospitals and police forces, along with support for people suffering from anti-social behaviour.
Conservative leader David Cameron said that Labour had "no new ideas". His party will launch its own manifesto on Tuesday.
That is expected to include a "stabiliser" to protect drivers from the effect of oil price rises.
But Labour strategists believe that, with money tight, voters will be sceptical of any expensive election promises.
The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, are mounting an assault on Labour's record on fairness, highlighting figures suggesting that the poorest 20% of households pay £107 more tax annually in today's prices than they did in 1997, while the richest 20% pay £319 less.
After seeing its recent revival in the polls stall when shadow chancellor George Osborne won business backing leaders for his plan to scrap the National Insurance rise, Labour is now pinning its hopes on its manifesto to turn the tide once more in its favour.
A daily poll in The Sun suggests the Conservatives are down three points on 37% but still six points ahead of Labour on 31% (up one) and Liberal Democrats unchanged on 20%.
If repeated on May 6, these figures would almost certainly produce a hung Parliament with the Tories the largest party.