The Labour manifesto, point by point

Spending

• Deficit cut every year
• National debt to fall
• Surplus on day-to-day public service spending "as soon as possible" before 2020
• Health, education and overseas aid to be protected

Verdict: Not as tough as it sounds, with a lot of wriggle room.

Tax

• 45p top rate over £150,000 raised to 50p
• New 10p starting rate to be introduced -Married couples' tax allowance ended
• VAT to be kept the same
• Introduction of a mansion tax
• Ending of non-dom status

Verdict: No pledge to stop more people earning between £40,000 and £50,000 being dragged into the 40p higher rate.

Living standards

• National minimum wage to exceed £8/hour by October 2019
• People on zero-hours contracts for 12 weeks would earn right to regular contract
• Energy bills frozen until 2017

Verdict: A key campaign issue for Labour, but it may be less potent now the economy is growing.

Health

• 20,000 more nurses
• 8,000 more GPs
• 3,000 more midwives
• A guaranteed GP appointment within 48 hours
• Cutting waiting times for cancer test results

Verdict: Labour believes this is its strongest suit, although it could come under pressure over the credibility of spending promises.

Education

• Increase in spending
• Scrap free schools programme
• Cap class sizes at 30 for children aged between 5 and 7 All students to study English and maths to 18 Careers guidance overhauled Tuition fees cut to £6,000 a year

Verdict: Its distinctive policies on tuition fees and free schools might appeal to students and teachers. This is traditionally strong territory for Labour.

Welfare

• Social security spending capped
• Tax credits to rise in line with inflation
• Bedroom tax scrapped
• Guaranteed paid job for young people out of work for a year, all those over 25 out of work for two years
• Pensions on 40p higher tax rate to lose winter fuel payment
• Triple lock on state pension protected

Verdict: The impact is limited. All parties are courting the grey vote.

Childcare

• Free childcare expanded from 15 to 25 hours per week for working parents
• Guaranteed 8am to 6pm 'wraparound' childcare for parents of primary school children
• New not-for-profit body to promote voluntary and charitable delivery of activities outside classroom

Verdict: This is a potential vote winner, but other parties will not vacate this playing field.

Immigration

• 1,000 more immigration officers
• Clampdown on short-term student visas
• Cap on non-EU workers maintained
• Tackle exploitation of migrant workers
• Working with UN to support Syrian refugees

Verdict: It is trying to send out a tough but humane message, which might not resonate with traditional Labour voters attracted by Ukip.

Crime and justice

• £800m commitment to safeguarding jobs of 10,000 police officers
• Police and crime commissioners abolished
• Prisons that punish and rehabilitate
• Prioritising ending violence against women and girls

Verdict: The party is taking care not to be painted as “liberal do-gooders” on crime, but the issue has slid down voters’ priorities.

Transport

• Increase public control over rail network
• Rail fares frozen next year

Verdict: It has a distinctive policy on control of the railways and shows Labour is keen not to be outflanked by the Tories on train fares.

More: [Labour has launched the first part of their manifesto]1