What is a manifesto?

A manifesto is a document a political party publishes before an election, setting out the policies it promises to carry out if it wins. In the UK, manifestos cover tax, spending, public services, immigration and more. A winning party's manifesto gives it a mandate, and by convention the House of Lords does not block those policies.

Manifestos are launched during the election campaign, usually a few weeks before polling day. They are a key way for voters to compare parties. Many parties also publish costings documents to show how their plans would be paid for. Independent groups such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies analyse them. A manifesto usually opens with the leader's message and a handful of headline pledges. Parties often put their most popular promises on cards or leaflets too.

Manifestos matter after an election too. Under the Salisbury Convention, the House of Lords does not vote down at second reading bills that put a governing party's manifesto into effect. Governments often defend controversial decisions by pointing to their manifesto mandate. Some voters judge governments mainly on whether they kept their manifesto promises.

Parties do not always keep their promises. Circumstances change, coalitions require compromise, and some pledges prove unworkable. Broken manifesto promises can be politically costly, as the Liberal Democrats found over tuition fees after 2010. Parties also publish separate manifestos for elections to the devolved parliaments, councils and mayoralties. Manifestos also help the civil service prepare for a possible change of government.

Labour

In government since July 2024; Andy Burnham became PM in July 2026. Platform: keep the fiscal rules, help with energy bills and bus fares, a free National Care Service, a rethink of EU ties and a move to proportional representation.

Conservative

Main opposition, led by Kemi Badenoch. Platform: cut property and inheritance taxes, fund this with £47bn of savings from welfare, aid and the civil service, leave the ECHR, cap migration and back oil and gas over net zero.

Reform UK

Led by Nigel Farage. Platform: a large income tax cut paid for by welfare and spending cuts, stopping small boat crossings, suspending asylum, leaving the ECHR, scrapping net zero and cutting energy bills.

Liberal Democrats

Led by Ed Davey. Platform: rejoin the EU single market and customs union and use the growth to cut income tax, free personal care, more GPs, support for carers, faster rises in defence spending and proportional representation.

Green Party

Green Party of England and Wales, led by Zack Polanski. Platform: tax extreme wealth and capital gains to fund services, public ownership of water, caps on rent rises, no new oil and gas, free university tuition and proportional representation.

SNP

Led by John Swinney, the SNP runs a minority Scottish Government after winning 58 of 129 seats in May 2026, short of the majority it sought. Platform: independence and EU membership, food price and bus fare caps, and more NHS operations.

Plaid Cymru

Led by Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid runs a minority Welsh Government after winning 43 of 96 seats in May 2026. Platform: cut NHS waits, universal childcare, fairer funding and more powers for Wales, with independence a long-term aim.