Continuing our look at the manifestos of those parties contesting the 2015 General Election, Leigh Thompson, Policy Advisor, takes a look at those of the Green Party, UKIP and Plaid Cymru.
The 2015 General Election has been marked by the emergence of what might be termed ‘marginal’ parties – the Green Party, UKIP and Plaid Cymru – onto the political centre stage. Although it is unlikely many of the proposals contained in their manifestos will make it near the statute book, the very real prospect of a finely-balanced hung parliament means that these parties could have far more leverage over future policy than has been the case previously.
In this blog I will look at the manifestos released this week by all three parties and what they have in store for the sport and recreation sector.
Green Party
In keeping with their political outlook, the Green Party manifesto is both broad-ranging and radical with a focus on ending austerity, moving to a low-carbon economy and overhauling many of the prevailing economic and political models. While hard questions will be asked over whether this approach is financially viable, it is clear that the Greens are keen to make themselves very distinct from other parties.
Although the number of policies aimed specifically at sport are relatively limited, the manifesto does contain a number of striking – and in some cases controversial – proposals including pledges to:
• Ban the whip from horseracing and institute a full review of the sport.
• Ensure greater protection for racing greyhounds and initiate a formal independent review of the industry.
• End the practice of grouse shooting and other ‘sport’ shooting.
• Support initiatives to make the arts and sports accessible to all and set targets for participation in sports by women, ethnic minorities and disabled people.
• Grant the right to turn sporting clubs, in particular football clubs, into community and supporter cooperatives by giving powers for season ticket holders backed by the local community to take over the running of a club.
• Make sure all children get at least a half-day equivalent of sports in school and encourage both the use of schools sports facilities by the community and participation in regional and national sporting events by our young people.
In addition to the above pledges the manifesto also proposes reducing VAT to 5% for ‘live performances’. While it is not clear precisely what would be covered, it seems reasonable to assume this would include VAT on tickets for sporting events.
As might be anticipated, the Greens have made the natural environment central to their manifesto. A number of the proposals in this area are relevant to the sport and recreation sector, notably those involved in providing and promoting outdoor recreation. Two commitments in particular align closely with asks set out in our Ministers' ‘To Do List’:
• Protect, expand, properly fund and improve non-car access to our National Parks.
• Aim to ensure through planning that everyone lives within five minutes’ walk of a green open space, and ensure local authorities have the resources to extend and maintain local parks.
On the public health agenda, the Greens have placed a real emphasis on mental health with pledges to:
• Ensure that spending on mental health care rises within the overall commitment to increase real spending on health (1.2% a year).
• Give higher priority to the physical healthcare of those with mental health problems.
• Implement a campaign to end the discrimination and stigma associated with mental health through supporting the Time for Change programme and offering employment support to those with mental health problems.
In view of our recent work on the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation these are very welcome proposals and reflect our desire to see real, demonstrable action on mental health.
UK Independence Party (UKIP)
In contrast to the Green Party, the UKIP manifesto takes a more selective approach which focusses on the well-trodden concerns of its core constituency, notably Europe, immigration and law and order.
As a result, sport is only given a passing mention. However, where it is mentioned, it’s fair to say the treatment is short and sweet: UKIP plans to abolish DCMS and reallocate its functions to other departments where appropriate. Quite what this would mean for sport and sport funding is unclear – the manifesto does not indicate which functions would go where – but the overall objective is clearly to reduce the size of what is considered an overly- bureaucratic departmental structure.
More broadly UKIP does put forward proposals on mental health that align both with other parties and our work on the Mental Health Charter. For example it aims to:
• Fight the stigma around mental illness and supporting those seeking to get back into work.
• Increase the funding for mental health by £170 million annually.
• Invest £130 million a year by 2017 into research and treatment for dementia.
Interestingly UKIP would also create a dedicated Minister of State for Heritage and Tourism, attached to the Cabinet Office – not quite the dedicated Minister for the Outdoors as requested in our ‘To Do List’ but pretty close!
Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales)
Plaid Cymru’s manifesto focusses unashamedly on the key issues facing voters in Wales. However, it nonetheless contains a wide range of proposals aimed at sport, many of which are designed to capture the benefits from sport to deliver wider public policy goals such as improved health and wellbeing. In this respect it is quite different to many of the other manifestos, including those of the major parties.
Some of Plaid’s key sports-related pledges include:
• Promoting sports, exercise and activity for all age groups, genders and abilities as a means of maintaining individual health and wellbeing, recognizing the overall benefits this provides.
• Continuing to develop Plaid Cymru’s ‘Inspire Wales’ programme to involve all ages in sporting activity and ensure our people stay fit and healthy. This will include involving elite athletes in promoting sport across Wales, visiting schools, youth clubs and events to inspire others to take part.
• Making sport and fitness activities available to everyone in many different types of locations around Wales including community centres, schools and colleges, and not just leisure centres or dedicated specialist sporting arenas.
• Deliver sporting participation regionally across Wales, linking between Welsh governing bodies, sports authorities, local authorities, schools, sports clubs and leisure centres to ensure communities have the relevant sports and leisure facilities for their needs. The aim of this approach is to get more people taking part in sports, with subsequent beneficial effects upon health and wellbeing.
• Look into attracting the Tour de France to Wales (for both women and men) and support the development of a Welsh international cricket team that can compete in ICC events.
• Support the development of grassroots sports in every part of Wales, promoting Welsh national leagues where possible and supporting existing structures such as the Welsh Premier Football League.
Many of these proposals chime with asks in our Minister’s To Do List – notably the support for grassroots sport and attracting major events to the UK – and provide useful basis for future dialogue with the Welsh Assembly and other sports stakeholders in Wales.
