The Labour Party is pledging in its manifesto that it “will consult fully” with charities in developing policy and introducing legislation in areas including employment, child poverty, the environment and animal welfare.

The document says that the party will “seek involvement” of charities, trade unions and the private sector “in our plans for growth, so they can contribute to building a stronger economy in all parts of the country”.

“Government is at its best when working in partnership with business, trade unions, civil society, faith groups, and communities,” it states, adding “but without a shared project those partnerships barely get off the ground”.

Among specific measures of charity sector involvement detailed are around the party’s plans to introduce legislation within 100 days to overhaul employment law.

“This will include banning exploitative zero hours contracts; ending fire and rehire; and introducing basic rights from day one to parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal,” states the manifesto.

In addition, it pledges to “work in partnership with civil society, communities and business to restore and protect our natural world” and will also “partner” with charities “as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”.

Charity involvement in developing an “ambitious strategy” to tackle rising rate of child poverty over the last decade is also promised.

Its manifesto points out that under the Conservative led governments of the last 14 years, 700,000 more children live in poverty.

The change Britain needs.

— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) June 13, 2024

In January Labour leader Keir Starmer signalled that he wanted to see greater involvement of charities in decision making through a “renewed social contract”.

Citing culture war attacks on the work of charities including the RNLI by right wing politicians, Starmer added that “the relationship between government and civil society needs a reset”.

Labour has also made a commitment to restoring international development spending to 0.7 of gross national income, but only when “fiscal circumstances allow”.

End to private school tax breaks

The manifesto also confirms that “Labour will end the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools”.

As previously announced independent schools will continue to retain charity status but their tax breaks will end should Labour come to power on July 5.

This extra revenue will be invested in state schools, the Labour Party has confirmed.

This includes recruiting 6,500 new teachers as well as improving careers guidance, early language development in primary schools, and mental health support for young people.

In addition it will provide 3,000 new nurseries.

Institute of Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson is concerned that the manifesto contains "almost nothing in the way of definite promises on spending despite Labour diagnosing deep-seated problems across child poverty, homelessness, higher education funding, adult social care, local government finances, pensions and much more besides".

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