Tories to ban government snooping
By politics.co.uk staff
Whitehall bureaucrats, quango officials and “town hall snoopers” will have their powers to enter people’s homes severely curtailed, the Conservative manifesto will pledge.
David Cameron will be unveiling the document on Tuesday, a day after Labour, which is expected to double paternal leave entitlements.
“Gordon Brown’s pledge to scale back powers of entry was a sham,” said Caroline Spelman, shadow communities secretary.
“His Labour government has massively extended the powers of the state to invade your home and spy on law-abiding citizens.
“A Conservative government will ban state snoopers and clipboard inspectors from entering people’s homes on a whim.”
The Tories are also expected to guarantee access to a GP 12 hours a day, seven days a week, according to media reports.
The Tory NHS plans are designed to end the ‘postcode lottery’ for out-of-hours care.
Around a quarter of GPs’ practises are shut after 18:30 during the week, and many professionals find they have to take time off work to visit their doctor.
The Tory plans would extend opening hours to 20:00, seven days a week, with GPs being asked to guarantee responsibility for out-of-hours non-emergency care.
The Mail on Sunday reported the Tory manifesto would also promise extra support to troops and an offer of public shares in nationalised banks – a policy voiced by shadow chancellor George Osborne earlier in the year.
In the foreword to the Conservative manifesto, Mr Cameron will write: “There is no law that says we must accept decline. We have the energy, the ideas, the ambition to get Britain back on track. And that includes everyone in Britain, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.”
