Labour Pledges to Double Diagnostic Scanners and Get Tough on Property Developers in Health and Housing Focus
Labour has unveiled its pledges to double the number of diagnostic scanners in hospitals and take a tougher stance on property developers, as the party lays out its priorities for health and housing ahead of the conference in Liverpool.
Deputy leader Angela Rayner has promised the party’s commitment to delivering the biggest boost to affordable housing for a generation in an interview with the Guardian. As part of their proposals for planning reform, she outlined plans to prevent developers from evading their affordable housing obligations.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has also announced that Labour plans to invest £171 million annually into a fit for the future fund, aimed at purchasing new equipment to reduce NHS waiting times. The funds would be used to double the number of CT and MRI scanners in the NHS over the course of a parliament, enabling earlier diagnosis of medical conditions.
The new equipment would be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostic tools and the funding would be provided by scrapping the non-dom tax status.
The proposals come as politicians, delegates, and lobbyists gather in Liverpool for the Labour Party conference, which could potentially be the last conference before a general election expected next year.
Party leader Sir Keir Starmer enters the conference with a comfortable lead in the polls and a resounding by-election victory over the SNP in Scotland’s Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat.
In her main speech at the conference, Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, who is also the Shadow Levelling Up Secretary, will pledge a decent job, a secure home, and a strong community for all under a Labour government. The party’s plan to secure homes and end the Tories’ housing emergency will also be highlighted.
To achieve this, Labour plans to establish a new expert unit that will provide advice to councils anԁ housing associations during negotiations with property firms, ensuring the best deal for affordable housing. The party intends to publish guidance that will restrict developers from challenging affordable housing obligations if there are no genuine barriers to building homes.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will outline Labour’s plans for reviving the sluggish economy during her speech on Monday, followed by Sir Keir Starmer’s keynote address on Tuesday.
The Labour Party women’s conference will take place on Saturday, prior to the main events of the conference.
The Conservative Party conference in Manchester was recently overshadowed by the decision to scrap the HS2 rail line from Birmingham to Manchester. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has stated that his party cannot commit to reversing the decision in the event of winning the next general election due to the damage done by the government.
As the conference gets underway, delegates will look for clarity from Sir Keir Starmer regarding his position on HS2 and his support for alternative transport schemes proposed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
The conference carries the slogan Let’s get Britain’s future back, reflecting Labour’s commitment to restoring hope and promoting growth for all people and places in the country.
