CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 2010
1. There are four million more people with a job since 2010. There are 32.8 million people in work in the UK, up by almost four million since 2010, meaning more people have the security of their own income as we grow the economy.1
2. Giving people more money in their pockets by delivering the biggest cut to National Insurance contributions in modern history. Since 2010 we have nearly doubled the personal allowance, from £6,475 in 2010-11 to £12,570 today, meaning people can earn more tax-free money a month. We have now delivered a two pence cut to National Insurance worth £450 a year to the average worker.2
3. Ending low pay by delivering a record increase in the National Living Wage (NLW). The Conservatives introduced the NLW and we have increased it every year, in 2024 it will increase to £11.44 an hour, boosting the pay of two million people by £1,800 a year. We have also delivered landmark reforms to ensure it always pays more to work than be on benefits.3
4. Giving people security in retirement. The Triple Lock has helped lift 250,000 pensioners out of poverty since it was introduced, by protecting it we are boosting the State Pension £800 a year – one of the largest ever cash increases, ensuring pensioners have dignity and security in retirement. 4
5. Putting over 20,000 extra police officers on our streets and more than halving crime since 2010. We have exceeded our target by recruiting over 20,000 more police officers, keeping our communities safe with a record number of officers on the beat. This has helped us ensure crime is down 55 per cent since 2010 when Labour left office.
6. Driving up education standards, making England one of the top performing countries for education in the western world. Since 2010, schools rated good or outstanding across England have risen to 88 per cent, up from 68 per cent under Labour and children in England are rated the best readers in the western world. We are ensuring our children have the skills of the future by giving T-Levels and A-Levels parity and supporting over 5.5 million apprenticeship starts since 2010.
7. Recruiting a record number of doctors and nurses and delivering record NHS funding as we continue to cut waiting lists and deliver the care people deserve. There are 39,200 more doctors and 55,000 more nurses working in the NHS since 2010, with a 90 per cent increase in the number of scans being carried out per month since 2010 – we are also delivering a funding settlement that is 40 per cent higher in real terms since 2010 to support NHS services and the largest ever cash injection to NHS scanners.
8. Taking tough action to tackle illegal immigration, putting the British people in control of who comes to the UK. Boat crossings are down by over a third, despite a rise across Europe and we are speeding up asylum processing, with enforced returns up by 65 per cent compared to 2022. On top of this, we are pressing ahead with our deterrence plan to stop the boats.
9. Backing our Armed Forces and growing defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP. As we respond to a more dangerous world, our new long-term ambition is to invest 2.5 per cent of GDP in defence, up from the previous commitment of two per cent, maintaining our world leading position in NATO. We are also leading the build of the world’s most advanced nuclear submarines and the next generation of fighter jets.
10. Reducing emissions by the fastest rate across the G20 since 2010, as we drive towards net zero. Britain is the first country in the G20 to halve its carbon emissions and renewables now fuel almost 40 per cent of electricity generation, up from only seven per cent in 2010. We boast the world’s first, second, third, fourth and fifth largest offshore wind farm as we continue to lead the world in tackling climate change.