Party鈥檚 manifesto light on infrastructure commitments and numbers

The Conservative manifesto has confirmed a tough approach to immigration, as Theresa May laid out a blueprint to tackle what she called the UK鈥檚 鈥済iant challenges鈥�.

The party has stuck to its pledge to reduce net immigration below 100,000 and ignored calls to exclude overseas students from statistics.

If elected the party will 鈥渂ear down on immigration from outside the EU鈥� across all visa routes, the manifesto says.

Unlike the 2015 Conservative manifesto, the document is light on infrastructure commitments - it commits to HS2, Northern Powerhouse rail and the expansion of Heathrow airport, but a pledge to push forward with Crossrail 2 has been dropped, while new nuclear power stations also fail to get a mention.

, the manifesto contains a commitment to helping councils and housing associations build more social housing, but with no funding commitments attached.

Business groups generally welcomed the Conservatives鈥� plans, but the CBI branded the party鈥檚 鈥渂lunt approach to immigration鈥� its 鈥淎chilles heel鈥�.

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director general, added: 鈥淭he next government can both control migration and support prosperity - it does not need to be an either-or choice.鈥�

The launch comes .

 

PA Images Network Rail

Other pledges in the Conservative manifesto

  • Deliver road, rail, airports and broadband that businesses need
  • Increase the amount levied on firms employing migrant workers
  • Ensure foreign ownership of companies controlling important infrastructure does not undermine British security or essential services
  • At least 100 new free schools a year
  • Introduce T-Level technical qualifications for 16-18 year-olds
  • Support development of new Edinburgh Concert Hall as part of 70th Anniversary Year of the Edinburgh Festival
  • 拢1bn to modernise the prison estate
  • Establish an industrial energy efficiency scheme to help large companies install measures to cut their energy use and their bills
  • Against more large-scale onshore wind power for England, but maintain position as a global leader in offshore wind and development of wind projects in the remote islands of Scotland

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