The main themes in UK election campaigning have not played more in favour of either the ruling Conservatives or opposition Labour. In the battle to hold centre ground, the two big parties have made proposals that grew increasingly similar. Each tried to convince the electorate that they are the better managers for the country.
Bringing the budget deficit down is on both their programmes. Government data gave it as 5.7 percent of GDP in 2014. Where they differ is Labour saying they would cut it ‘every year’, the Conservatives that they would balance the books by the end of this parliament.
The Tories’ plans would entail reducing spending by the equivalent of 16 billion euros, three million of which would go to finance apprenticeships. Labour says it would cap structural welfare spending and proposes raising the minimum wage to above the equivalent of 11 euros an hour.
The National Health Service is British voters’ number one concern, ahead of purchasing power, salaries and immigra
