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14/06/2024
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Main political party manifesto pledges for our sector

With less than four weeks to go until polling day, we’ve taken a look at the main party manifestos and picked out some key points that relate to the sport and physical activity sector and our workforce.

CIMSPA has released Agenda for Action which sets out how the sport and physical activity workforce can help the next government drive health, wellbeing and economic value for our nation.

It includes five asks of whoever forms a government on 5th July:

  1. Formally embed our sector within its health policy planning to relieve pressure on the NHS and improve the health of the nation.
  2. Support flexible skills development in our sector to bolster economic growth and generate career and learning opportunities for our workforce.
  3. Continue with a place-based approach to local skills delivery so that the significant impact being achieved by the sport and physical activity sector can sustain and grow.
  4. Make a commitment to support the future implementation of a workforce registration scheme.
  5. Implement practical measures to support the success and resilience of the small businesses that keep our communities active.

Key points

Listed in order of manifesto release. Summaries will be added as manifestos are released.

  • In relation to the sport and physical activity sector, the Lib Dems have pledged to invest in leisure centres, swimming pools and grassroots facilities and support community sports clubs with the aim of increasing participation.
  • They have also stated that they will protect sports funding via the National Lottery and that they would support and encourage campaigns to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in sport.
  • On health and wellbeing, they have committed to establishing a Health Creation Unit within the Cabinet Office to lead work across government to tackle health inequalities and improve the nation’s health. Alongside this the Lib Dems state that they intend to invest in public health to help people to spend 5 more years of life in good health.
  • There is also a plan to introduce a Kitemark for health related apps and digital tools to enable people to identify those that are proven to contribute towards healthier lives.
  • On work and jobs, the manifesto states that people will be empowered to enter the jobs market. It also indicates the creation of a local banking sector, to support small businesses in communities.
  • There is also a pledge to remove the apprenticeship wage rate and pay the National Minimum Wage.
  • On education, training and skills, there is an intention to increase flexibility on skills funding with a training levy to replace the apprenticeship levy and the introduction of a Lifelong Skills Grant.
  • There are also pledges to increase the number of apprenticeships, expand higher level vocational education, strengthen careers advice in schools and colleges including links with employers, reinstate the maintenance grant for disadvantaged students in higher education and extend pupil premium funding for disadvantaged young people to 16-18 year olds.
Read the Lib Dem manifesto
  • In relation to sport and physical activity, there is a commitment to the continuation of the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme with expanded criteria to ensure more sports benefit. The Conservatives have also indicated an intention to prioritise equal access for women and girls in the programme of investment in grassroots sports facilities.
  • The manifesto also pledges to extend the Community Ownership Fund to enable more communities to take control of community assets including leisure centres.
  • They have also stated that they will mandate two hours of PE every week in primary and secondary schools by extending the PE and Sport Premium to secondary schools. In addition there is a commitment to increase funding for School Games Organisers and work with sporting bodies to create more UK-wide school competitions to identify the best sporting talents.
  • On health and wellbeing, there is a pledge to implement a Major Conditions Strategy to prevent six major health conditions (cancer, heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders, mental ill-health, dementia and respiratory disease).
  • On work and jobs, the manifesto pledges to abolish main rate NI for self-employed people by end of next parliament and improve access to finance for SMEs through Open Finance and creation of Regional Mutual Banks.
  • On education, training and skills, the manifesto states an intention to create 100,000 more apprenticeships and to introduce the Advanced British Standard as a qualification for 16-18 year olds. There is also a pledge to change the law to close university courses with outcomes which aren’t deemed satisfactory.
  • The Conservatives have also pledged to support the National Citizens Service to help young people develop skills and to introduce compulsory National Service with the aim of developing life skills.
  • They have also stated that from the 2025 academic year, adults will be able to apply for loans to cover new qualifications as part of a Lifelong Learning Entitlement. There is also a commitment to the continuation of Skills Bootcamps.
Read the Conservative's manifesto
  • In relation to sport and physical activity, there is a pledge to push for £5bn investment to support community sports, arts and culture and to keep local sports facilities open and thriving.
  • On work and jobs, the manifesto pledges to push for an increase in the minimum wage to £15 an hour (all ages), with the costs to small businesses offset by reducing National Insurance payments, plus a move to a four-day working week.
  • On education there is a commitment to the restoration of higher education grants and abolition of tuition fees.
Read the Green Party's manifesto
  • In relation to sport and physical activity, there is a pledge to deliver international sports events and seek new opportunities to inspire the next generation of talent while promoting exercise and healthy living.
  • On health, there is a commitment to take preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. There is also a pledge to reduce health inequalities by tackling the social determinants of health.
  • On work and jobs, there is a commitment to helping local areas take control of adult skills and education and employment support. There is a pledge to introduce a statutory requirement for Local Growth Plans and for local leaders to work with employers and education providers and industry bodies. The manifesto also states that funding would be devolved so local areas can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer for local people.
  • In addition, there is a commitment to work with local areas to create plans to support more disabled people and those with health conditions into work.
  • Labour also state that they will work with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, and Mayors and Combined Authorities in England, to join up Jobcentre Plus and employment support for all communities.
  • In relation to small business, there is a commitment to replacing the business rates system to support entrepreneurs and support to allow more small businesses to benefit from government contract procurement.
  • There is also a pledge to introduce a youth guarantee for 18-21 year olds to support them into work, training or apprenticeship and to remove age bandings on the National Minimum Wage.
  • The manifesto also sets out an intention to replace the Apprenticeship Levy with a flexible Growth and Skills Levy.
  • On education, there is a pledge to establish Skills England to bring together business, training providers and unions with national and local government and to put employers at the heart of the skills system.
  • There is a commitment to bring forward a comprehensive strategy for post-16 education and to change Further Education colleges into specialist Technical Excellence Colleges.
  • Labour also commit to improve careers advice in schools and colleges and to guarantee two weeks of work experience for every young person.
Read Labour's manifesto
  • In relation to sport and physical activity, there is a commitment to continuing to fund Sport Wales.
  • There is also a pledge to promote participation for wellbeing and to fund this from cross-government sources.
  • On health, Plaid Cymru intend to move public health to become a wellness service and introduce a preventative public health strategy.
  • On work and jobs, there is an intention to introduce a living wage for apprentices.
  • There is also a pledge to map out skills needs by sector.
  • On education, there is a commitment to take forward the review of Vocational Qualifications in Wales.
  • There is also an intention to create a Lifelong Learning Allowance for adults including a £5K grant.
Read Plaid Cymru's manifesto
  • Reform UK has pledged to protect country sports.
  • On work and jobs, the manifesto includes the introduction of an Employer Immigration Tax which would increase employer National Insurance contributions for workers from overseas to pay for some apprenticeships and training for young people.
  • There is a commitment to support small and medium sized enterprises (SME) with measures including a cut in tax for entrepreneurs and the abolition of IR35 rules to help sole traders.
  • Reform UK state that they would offer tax relief for businesses that undertake apprenticeships.
  • The manifesto states that the party would reform training to help people back into work.
  • On education, the manifesto commits to scrap interest on student loans and a requirement on universities to offer the option of a 2-year course for undergraduates.
Reform UK manifesto
  • On education, the SNP have pledged to defend free university tuition in Scotland.
  • The manifesto states that they will demand devolved employment rights and the ability to set the minimum wage along with making changes to sick pay thresholds and paid maternity leave.
SNP manifesto

Agenda for ACTION

How the sport and physical activity workforce can help the new government drive health, wellbeing and economic value for our nation.

Read our Agenda for Action