Labour's John McDonnell will announce plans to 'rebuild economy'
5 October 2019, 00:32
The Shadow Chancellor will begin a pre-election tour in Essex by setting out plans for a Labour government under Jeremy Corbyn.
John McDonnell will begin a UK-wide tour on Saturday by addressing a Road to Rebuilding the Economy conference in Colchester.
Labour have designated the town as an official target for the party in a forthcoming general election.
The Hayes and Harlington MP said the people of Essex had been "let down badly" by Conservative-led governments which had "inflicted over nine years of austerity on these communities".
He said: "Our struggling high streets are one of the clearest symptoms of the government's failure to invest in our communities.
"Labour's five-point plan for British high streets will help breathe life back into our struggling town centres. And Labour will deliver a fair deal for Essex's coastal communities."
The Labour politician previously promised "a Real Living Wage of £10 an hour by 2020", saying it would "boost pay for over half a million low paid jobs in the East of England".
He also mentioned Labour's plan to allow free personal care for those who require it.
Mr McDonnell said: "The next Labour government will introduce personal care free at the point of use in England, as part of our new National Care Service."
Labour will introduce significant changes to the tax system in the UK and plan to tackle people and organisations who avoid the taxman.
He added: "We will increase income tax on the top 5%, the people who can afford it, who can pay a little bit more. But also tackle tax dodging and reverse some of the giveaways to the corporations.
"Labour will tax the rich and giant corporations to end austerity, properly fund public services free at the point of use, and rebuild our economy so it works for the many, not the few."
The Road to Rebuilding the Economy tour will focus on highlighting the impact of austerity measures on communities and will also include visits to the constituencies of Chingford and Woodford Green, Stroud, Morecambe and more.
The one-day conference in Colchester will form part of a listening exercise to help develop the party's next manifesto, Labour said.
