Tory Manifesto: Key Points of UK Conservative Party Policy Ahead of Snap Election

Following his previous deadlock in passing Brexit through Parliament, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative party have initiated a snap election to be held in December as a last-ditch attempt to gain the support and votes required to pass a renegotiated version of the deal.

UK Prime Minister and Conservative party leader Boris Johnson presented the Tory manifesto on 24 November as a snap election in the country closes in. In the manifesto, the party describes not only its plans for Brexit, but also addresses a variety of other issues troubling the country as it seeks to exit from the European Union.

The party manifesto's key points are as follows:

• Tories are planning on passing the Brexit deal, previously negotiated by Johnson through Parliament by Christmas.
• Tories hope to start implementing the deal in January 2020 and finish it in December 2020 without further extending transition period.
• Following a successful Brexit, Tories plan to negotiate a free trade deal not only with Brussels, but also with other countries to cover 80 percent of the nation's overall trade.
• New planned immigration rules will limit the influx of lower-skilled migrants, while favouring skilled professionals, especially doctors.
• EU citizens staying in the UK will be eligible for British benefits only after 5-year period.
• Conservatives are planning to invest some £1 billion into the country's social care, employ an additional 50,000 nurses and negotiate long-term social care reform with other parties.
• The Conservatives are planning massive tax cuts worth £23.5 billion (around $30 billion), primarily by raising the threshold for social security contributions.
• Tories will also review taxes on certain business to cut them for retailers, cinemas and pubs.
• Tories plan to increase the tax credit rate threshold to 13 percent to boost private-sector research and development.
• The conservatives seek to impose a Digital Services Tax on international internet companies.
• The manifesto indicates that conservatives will boost defence spending each year, keeping it above the designated by the NATO member 2 percent of the GDP target.