In the run up to the election, we’ll be updating this page with what the main political parties are saying about loneliness.
Loneliness
So far, the Liberal Democrats are the only party to explicitly mention loneliness in their manifesto. On page 27, they state they will invest in ‘community services that tackle loneliness and prevent isolation’. They also suggest that they will introduce a Minister for Wellbeing, who will have a wellbeing budget and carry out wellbeing assessments on government policies.
In relation to social prescribing, the manifesto states that the Lib Dems ‘want health professionals […] to offer holistic care that is linked in with social prescribing within communities’. The Conservative’s plan to ‘extend social prescribing and expand the new National Academy of Social Prescribing’.
Broadband
As many of you will know, there has much discussion in the election period over broadband provision.
Early on, Labour committed to delivering free full-fibre broadband to all by 2030.
The Lib Dems state they will install ‘hyper-fast, fibre-optic broadband across the UK, with a particular focus on connecting rural areas’, but give no date for when this will be complete.
The Conservative manifesto states that they aim to bring ‘full fibre and gigabit-capable broadband to every home and business across the UK by 2025’. The party also earlier said that they will invest in broadband through their £3.6bn Towns Fund, supporting the provision of broadband in 100 towns.
Why are we looking at these issues?
Take a read of what we’re asking from the next government.
We’ll be keeping this page up to date throughout the election period. If you see anything that you think should be added to the page, then just drop us a line at [email protected] or pick up the phone and call us on 01708 621101.