Armed Forces Size

ALLIANCE PARTY Alliance will support a Strategic Defence Review. We believe that the balance of investment in the armed services needs to change to reflect the different challenges of peacekeeping and peacemaking. Source: Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto

CONSERVATIVE 8 March 2015 - Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that "there will be no further cuts to our regular armed forces" whilst David Cameron remains the party leader, saying that the prime minister "is passionate about our armed forces. He has always been absolutely clear that he is not prepared to preside over any further cuts to our regular armed forces". Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31788177 Party leader David Cameron has also said that he will increase spending on military equipment by 1% a year in real terms from 2015 - 2020.

DUP "We are very aware of the threats faced by the United Kingdom. Because of our commitment to NATO allies, and to keep our country strong at home and abroad the Government should give a guarantee that defence spending will be maintained at 2% of GDP." - Nigel Dodds, DUP Deputy Leader

GREEN PARTY "On inspection, there is little or no threat of direct invasion of the UK by any nation. Commitment to a large standing army, a navy of large warships around our coastline, squadrons of fighter planes and a cripplingly expensive missile defence system is therefore unnecessary." Source: Green Party website

LABOUR The Labour party does not guarantee that defence spending is kept at 2% of national income, said Ed Balls, but will commit to an immediate strategic defence review if it gains power in the election. Labour's website states, "Using military force only after all peaceful and diplomatic avenues to avert conflict have been exhausted and within international law." Source: Labour Party website

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Maintain strong and effective armed forces, and set long-term budgets to procure the right equipment at competitive prices. Remain fully engaged in international nuclear disarmament efforts. Source: Liberal Democrat website

PLAID CYMRU We also opposed the invasion of Afghanistan from the beginning and we now call for a move towards a situation in the country where Afghans can be safe to develop their own country without external political influence. Plaid Cymru therefore call for a sufficient humanitarian framework following the gradual withdrawal of troops. Source: Plaid Cymru policies

RESPECT PARTY In line with our foreign policy, Respect is for the closure of all extra-continental military bases.Respect stands against the idea that it is acceptable to savagely cut public services whilst simultaneously renewing a gigantic but ultimately useless nuclear weapons project. Source: Respect Party website

SNP The Scottish National Party (SNP) is challenging the UK parties to make a commitment against cuts to conventional defence spending, manpower and bases in Scotland. Source: SNP Website

UKIP 23 March 2015 - UKIP have said that the party is committed to spending 2% of the country's GDP on defence. This will be partly funded by cutting the foreign aid budget. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32015331 UKIP have also sated on their website, "We will resource fully our military assets and personnel." Source: UKIP Website Policy List.

European Army

CONSERVATIVE "No to a constant flow of power to Brussels. No to unnecessary interference. And no, of course, to the Euro, to participation in Eurozone bail-outs or notions like a European Army." Source: Conservative Party European Election Manifesto 2014

DUP The DUP will oppose any form of EU military integration and will defend the UK's sovereign right to govern its own defences and national security policy. Source: DUP 2014 Manifesto.

GREEN PARTY The Green Party opposes the creation of a European Army and its precursors such as the Rapid Reaction Force, and the use of the EU to sustain military adventures. We are particularly opposed to suggestions that there should be "Eurobomb" nuclear capability. Source: http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/eu.html

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT The Liberal Democrats would 'work to engage with and strengthen multilateral institutions worldwide including global bodies such as the UN and regional groupings'. Source: Liberal Democrat pre-2015 Manifesto

PLAID CYMRU Plaid Cymru therefore call for a sufficient humanitarian framework following the gradual withdrawal of troops. Source: Plaid Cymru website

RESPECT PARTY The Respect Party believe that NATO should be disbanded and replaced with a EU defence force that exists to secure Europe's borders. The party would want no involvement from the United States. http://www.respectparty.org/international/nato/

UKIP "I don’t want a European army, navy, air force or a European foreign policy. It has not been a thing for good in the Ukraine" - Nigel Farage, UKIP leader. Source: http://rt.com/uk/148693-eublood-ukraine-farage/

Ex Forces

UKIP UKIP will guarantee those who have served in the Armed Forces for a minimum of 12 years a job in the police force, prison service or border force. Source: UKIP.

Forces Salaries

ALLIANCE PARTY Alliance believes that no serviceman or woman should be sent into conflict on less basic pay than the starting salary of a police constable. Source: Alliance Party.

Iraq War

CONSERVATIVE Foreign Secretary William Hague was asked by Angus Roberston MP of the SNP party, "Do you not agree that Tony Blair should not continue in post as a Middle East Peace Envoy?", to which he replied, "No I don’t agree with that Mr Speaker, nor do I think the recent events in Iraq should be turned into a proxy debate about Tony Blair and everything that he has ever said or done, and in any case there will be the shadow Foreign secretary is looking rather alarmed about a proxy debate about Tony Blair, but in any case we have set up an inquiry in this House into the Iraq war and that inquiry will report in due course."

GREEN PARTY "The Green Party supports the call for parliament to impeach Tony Blair. Mr Blair misled the public about the alleged reasons for the attack on Iraq, and proceeded to lead the UK into an illegal and unjustifiable war on the basis of this deceit." Source: Green Party http://greenparty.org.uk/archive/news-archive/1579.html

PLAID CYMRU Plaid Cymru did not support the war in Iraq; in fact, we vociferously opposed it. Moreover, our MPs led the campaign to impeach Tony Blair for war crimes. Source: Plaid Cymru.

SNP "[Ex-party leader] Salmond has gone further than many anti-war politicians in claiming that Blair's statements on the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq were consciously intended to deceive the public. He has also claimed that Blair had made a pact with George W. Bush "to go to war come what may". Source: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Salmond

ISIS

CONSERVATIVE Party leader David Cameron stated that Britain should respond to the Iraqi government's request for help, adding that we "should not turn away from what needs to be done". Source: BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29339787

GREEN PARTY The Green Party has always been clear in saying that the long term answer to this horrendous ongoing genocide lies not with Western military intervention on the ground but in the wider International community assisting the states and peoples of the region to defend themselves and bring relief to the ever growing number of refugees displaced by the fighting. ‘The West bears much responsibility for promoting this tragic state of affairs; bombing ISIS, which will see innocent civilians killed and land ruined further, which will only make their attackers yet more emboldened — this cannot be the answer. Source: Green Party website http://greenparty.org.uk/news/green-party-calls-on-international-community-to-protect-human-rights-in-the-middle-east.html

LABOUR Responding to questions about the threat of ISIS in Iraq, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband said "he was open to the possibility of supporting air strikes against ISIS in Iraq." Source: http://rt.com/uk/190208-parliament-recalled-isis-action/

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Commenting about ISIS, Nick Clegg said, "The Liberal Democrats will support the air strikes in Iraq for the following reasons. First, because it's legal, it's been requested by the Iraqi government, to help them rid themselves of the threat of ISIS, secondly because it's part of a much bigger coalition of countries crucially including a number of Arab countries which deprives Isil of the ability to somehow portray it as a West vs West Crusade". Source: BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29339787

RESPECT PARTY During a House of Commons debate on Iraq, party leader George Galloway told MPs, "Isil [Isis] itself is an imaginary army. A former defence secretary said we must bomb their bases. They don’t have any bases. The territory they control is the size of Britain and yet there are only between 10,000 and 20,000 of them. Do the maths." Source: The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/26/george-galloway-angers-mps-isis-iraq-debate

UKIP "The Government’s position in merely attacking a cross border force on one side of the border is laughable. ISIS is not merely a terrorist organisation, and no amount of wishing that will make any difference. It is an embedded society. To defeat it will take far more than airstrikes. If we are to combat ISIS it will take a hard fought ground war. To rely on airpower alone risks making a bad situation far worse. Year on year this, and previous governments, have denuded our military capacity, leaving our forces a shadow of their previous existence. To change matters will take years, but we must start now, or we will have to accept that real threats to our safety and civilisation will go undefended." - Party Leader Nigel Farage. http://www.ukip.org/britain_s_leading_military_strategist_takes_the_ukip_position_on_isis

NATO

CONSERVATIVE Defence Secretary announced on the 5th February 2015 that the UK will be playing a lead role in a 'high readiness' NATO force in Eastern Europe, sending 1,000 troops and 4 RAF Typhoon jets to the region. Source: BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31147236

GREEN PARTY The Green Party believe that the UK should leave NATO unilaterally, and has protested against the role NATO plays in world politics. Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has stated, "Nato was established for mutual defence during the Cold War and should have been disbanded when it ended. As a nuclear-armed alliance with more than 5,000 weapons, it significantly contributes to threats to the world's safety." Source: http://greenparty.org.uk/news/2014/08/29/green-party-backs-no-to-nato-march/

LABOUR Labour has a commitment to multilateral cooperation. The threats we face are global and therefore shared and so the most effective solutions will inevitably be joint. Source: Labour Party website

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Liberal Democrats would work to engage with and strengthen multilateral institutions worldwide including global bodies such as the UN and regional groupings. Source: Liberal Democrat website

PLAID CYMRU "Plaid Cymru rejects NATO as a nuclear alliance and a product of the Cold War. The modern world requires cooperation that is not built on the old-fashioned premise of competing military blocs but rather one that brings all countries and hemispheres together in the common pursuit of peace, reconciliation and justice." - Plaid Cymru http://www.partyof.wales/news/2014/09/04/plaid-cymru-statement-on-nato-summit/

RESPECT PARTY The Respect Party supports the idea that Britain should leave NATO, and that it should be disbanded with a European Union defence organisation that does not involve the US. The organisation would then be responsible for securing Europe's borders as well as security within its borders. http://www.respectparty.org/international/nato/

SNP "Members of the SNP have long been divided on the party's long-standing opposition to Nato membership, which began in the early 1980s. Gordon Wilson tried to persuade the party to adopt a pro-Nato stance in 1983, but failed". However, at the party's Perth Autumn conference in October 2012 SNP members voted 426-332 to overturn their policy of opposition to Nato. Source: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_debate_in_the_Scottish_National_Party

Nuclear Defence

ALLIANCE PARTY Alliance has seen no evidence to suggest that the like-for-like renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system is necessary or cost-effective. Alliance believes that other approaches can be found to ensure the nuclear security of the United Kingdom with a different focus to reflect the security challenges of the future rather than refighting the Cold War. Source: Alliance Westminster Manifesto

CONSERVATIVE The Conservatives have vowed to renew Britain's nuclear deterrent, although they have announced a delay in the programme, meaning that the Vanguard Class submarines may remain in service until 2029.

GREEN PARTY The Green Party rejects any reliance on nuclear weapons. This rejection means that we will decommission UK's own nuclear weapons and insist on the removal of US nuclear bases. No further research will take place into nuclear weapons and the export of nuclear technology will be stopped. Ships carrying nuclear weapons will be banned from British ports. Source: http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/pd.html

LABOUR Labour have disagreed with plans to base the UK's nuclear deterrent on warplanes or ground-based missiles, although some have recommended "fewer warheads and missile tubes". Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31600531

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT The Liberal Democrats would 'retain our Trident independent nuclear deterrent through a Contingency Posture of regular patrols, enabling a ‘surge’ to armed patrols when the international security context makes this appropriate. This would enable us to reduce the UK warhead stockpile and procure fewer Vanguard successor submarines, and would help the UK to fulfil our nuclear non-proliferation treaty commitments.' Source: Liberal Democrat pre-2015 Manifesto. The party has talked about the possibility of cutting back to two nuclear-warhead powered submarines, and more important - not having them on permanent nuclear armed patrol.

PLAID CYMRU "An end to the wasteful and costly (£100bn) Trident-replacement programme. NO nuclear weapons in Wales (as proposed by the First Minister)." Source: Plaid Cymru, http://www.partyof.wales/easy-read-manifesto/

RESPECT PARTY Respect claims that Britain cannot afford to subsidise the £25bn 'behemoth' off Scotland's coast while 'our pensioners shiver their way through our inclement winters'. http://www.respectparty.org/national/scrap-trident/

SNP The SNP oppose the use of nuclear weapons and want to push for removal of Trident submarines from Scotland. At an SNP conference held in Inverness in 2013 delegates gave their backing for a ban on nuclear weapons, and that if the Scottish Referendum had a 'Yes' vote, the submarines would have been pulled from Scotland. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-21910007

UKIP "The UK Independence Party would not scrap Trident, Nigel Farage has said, describing the manifesto that contained the policy as 'drivel'", on LBC 97.3 radio. Source: BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25879302

Scottish Defence

SNP The Scottish National Party (SNP) is challenging the UK parties to make a commitment against cuts to conventional defence spending, manpower and bases in Scotland. Scottish taxpayers are disproportionately contributing huge sums towards the UK Ministry of Defence, at the same time as the UK's conventional defence footprint in Scotland is disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Source: Scottish National Party.

UKIP UKIP propose an end to the Barnett Formula, the subsidy that government gives to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The party say that this policy would help save £8 billion a year.

UN Peacekeeping

ALLIANCE PARTY We believe that the balance of investment in the armed services needs to change to reflect the different challenges of peacekeeping and peacemaking. Source: Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto

GREEN PARTY The Green Party reiterates its support for the United Nations and the principles of peacekeeping. UN peacekeepers have successfully brought stability and protection to innocent people around the world. Source: Green Party Website, http://greenparty.org.uk/archive/emergencymotions/81.html

LABOUR As well as preventing conflict, I believe Britain has a leading role to play in keeping peace, which is why I wish to see the UK continuing and deepening our support for UN peace keeping operations, helping to provide vital security and stability across the world. Source: http://labourlist.org/2014/03/labour-has-an-ambitious-and-realistic-vision-for-uk-defence/

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT The Liberal Democrats would 'work with partners in the EU, NATO, the UN and the Commonwealth to tackle security challenges and seek peaceful solutions to conflicts worldwide'. Source: Liberal Democrat pre-2015 Manifesto

RESPECT PARTY "The United Nations is an absurd excuse for an international organisation. The US dominates the UN, arrogating to itself the right to withhold visas for international politicians that is doesn’t like. The Security Council is similarly ludicrous." Source: Respect Party, http://www.respectparty.org/international/united-nations/

SNP "The SNP's 15,000-strong "defence force" would aid overseas peacekeeping and disaster relief operations, but would not be sent into contentious conflicts like the Iraq War." Source: BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25667526

Devolution from Westminster

CONSERVATIVE Chancellor George Osborne says more power is being given to Wales, as he backs a tidal lagoon project for Swansea and a city deal for Cardiff in his Budget speech. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-31940008

GREEN PARTY The Central Parliament needs to be prepared to surrender many of its traditional powers, and actively assist in the process of decentralisation. To this end, Parliament has a number of key roles to play - first, to devolve functions to more local bodies; second, to lift its hold over councils and enable them to realise their potential; and third, to work with the Constitutional Commission to meet demands from local Government to take on responsibility for resources and functions which are currently dealt with at too high a level by central Government and the private sector.

LABOUR Labour would "Devolve to all parts of England, including the shires, not just the Tories limited plans for a handful of big cities." Source: Labour Party Manifesto, http://b.3cdn.net/labouruk/89012f856521e93a4d_phm6bflfq.pdf We will implement the Smith Commission's package of further devolution to Scotland, and put devolution to Wales on a stronger statutory basis, as in Scotland.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Liberal Democrats would introduce ‘Devolution on Demand’, enabling even greater devolution of powers from Westminster to councils or groups of councils working together (for example to a Cornish Assembly). Source: Liberal Democrat pre-2015 Manifesto

PLAID CYMRU "The introduction of Welsh legal jurisdiction to make our own laws." Source: Plaid Cymru, http://www.partyof.wales/easy-read-manifesto/

UKIP UKIP will overcome the unfairness of MPs from devolved nations voting on English-only issues.

Devolution Powers

CONSERVATIVE David Cameron has said he would like to see more money devolved to UK regions http://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2014/jul/10/labour-conservatives-powers-councils-devolution

DUP Press ahead rapidly with the reconfiguration of local government and transferring of extra powers from central Departments.

GREEN PARTY The Central Parliament needs to be prepared to surrender many of its traditional powers, and actively assist in the process of decentralisation. To this end, Parliament has a number of key roles to play - first, to devolve functions to more local bodies;

LABOUR We will pass an English Devolution Act, handing £30 billion of resources, and powers over skills, transport and economic development to city and county regions.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT A new wave of devolution to the nations of the UK and 'Devolution on Demand' to transfer more power and control to local areas.

PLAID CYMRU We oppose the micro management of local councils by central government and are committed to ensuring that local councils have the freedom and funding to respond appropriately to local issues.

English Parliament

CONSERVATIVE Mr Cameron said he did not back an English Parliament but instead adapting the voting procedures in Westminster for English-only and English and Welsh issues. http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/cameron-only-conservatives-can-offer-balanced-devolution-for-uk.1411899301

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT on the divisive issue of English votes for English matters, we must start with the work of Sir William McKay, who has already done a lot of the heavy lifting after the Coalition asked him to look at this. Sir McKay suggested a number of ways of giving English MPs a special right to vet legislation where it only affects England, bringing in Welsh MPs where appropriate, in a way which avoids fragmenting the Commons http://www.libdems.org.uk/nick_clegg_this_opportunity_cannot_be_hijacked

PLAID CYMRU Plaid Cymru's core belief is that the people of Wales should have the right to determine their own future – and the people of England have that right as well. Source: Hywel Williams MP http://www.partyof.wales/news/2012/04/23/plaid-call-for-english-parliament-on-st-georges-day/

UKIP UKIP will overcome the unfairness of MPs from devolved nations voting on English-only issues.

House of Lords

ALLIANCE PARTY Alliance believes that the House of Lords should be replaced by a mixed elected and appointed second chamber. The principle of inherited representation is wrong. However, there is a case for a second chamber to act as a balance to the House of Commons

CONSERVATIVE The government was facing considerable opposition, particularly among Conservative MPs. In July, 91 Tory MPs rebelled against the government in a vote on how to timetable the House of Lords Reform Bill - the largest such act of defiance since the coalition was formed in 2010 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18612233

GREEN PARTY The Green Party propose a reform of the House of Lords so that they become a fully elected body chosen by proportional representation. Members will only be elected for 'for one fixed term of ten years, with half the house being elected every five years'. Source: Green Party Manifesto

LABOUR Replace the House of Lords with a Senate of the Nations and Regions. Source: Labour Party Manifesto, http://b.3cdn.net/labouruk/89012f856521e93a4d_phm6bflfq.pdf

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Liberal Democrats would reform the House of Lords with a proper democratic mandate starting from the 2012 Bill. Source: Liberal Democrat pre-2015 Manifesto

PLAID CYMRU The recent report from Richard Wyn Jones and the IPPR showed the support for an English Parliament and we believe that such a move would make sense if allied to wider constitutional change including reform of the House of Lords and a permanent commission to ensure fair funding for Wales, independent of the UK Treasury Source: Hywel Williams MP http://www.partyof.wales/news/2012/04/23/plaid-call-for-english-parliament-on-st-georges-day/

SNP SNP MP, Pete Wishart, will this week call for the House of Lords to be abolished. Pete Wishart has secured a House of Commons debate week with the title - ‘House of Lords Reform’. The SNP have a long standing position of not taking peerages and do not take seats in the House of Lords because it believes that those making laws should be elected by the people. http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2015/jan/snp-debate-end-absurd-house-lords

UKIP "We are going to absolutely insist we are given a sensible, fair quota of working peers to operate in the House of Lords." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27738940

Human Rights Act

ALLIANCE PARTY We also support efforts to ensure that human rights are at the heart of the EU settlement. Alliance believes that human rights protect us all and are an essential part of a modern and fair society alliance-2014-european-manifesto

CONSERVATIVE The Conservatives want to scrap the Human Rights Act, replacing it with a British Bill of Rights that gives both Parliament and the UK court system the 'final say'. The new bill will stop the European Court of Human Rights forcing Britain to change our laws, make Britain the ultimate arbiter of human rights in this country, balance rights with responsibilities and stop terrorists and foreign criminals abusing human rights to avoid deportation. Source: https://www.conservatives.com/ShareTheFacts.aspx

DUP • Support, as a minimum, the reform of the Human Rights Act, to remove the ‘right to family life’ defence against deportation upon conviction for a serious criminal offence. http://dev.mydup.com/images/uploads/publications/DUP_Crime_A5_v5.pdf

GREEN PARTY Citizens of any country should, however, be able to pursue both companies and countries who have behaved in ways which violate their human rights in European courts. http://greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/European%20Manifesto%202014.pdf

LABOUR Labour would "Lead by example on human rights, up holding them domestically through the Human Rights Act, and advocating them overseas." Source: Labour Party Manifesto, http://b.3cdn.net/labouruk/89012f856521e93a4d_phm6bflfq.pdf

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT In government, Liberal Democrats refused to support the Conservatives' plans to scrap the Human Rights Act and their latest plans show how they cannot be trusted to protect the human rights of individuals. http://www.libdems.org.uk/tories-pick-choose-human-rights

PLAID CYMRU We support the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) that underpins our justice system. Plaid Cymru would challenge any attempt by the UK government to repeal the Human Rights Act, ‡ˆˆ‡…™‹Š†ƒ™‹‰…‹‹œ‡•ˆ‘Š‡ Š‡Šƒ•‘ http://partyof.wales/uploads/Ewrop_2014_/EU_Manifesto_English.pdf

SNP Planning to pull the UK out of the European Court of Human Rights should alarm everyone who cares about these often hard fought for rights and would leave the UK as a pariah in Europe Source: Pete Wishart MP, SNP Home Affairs spokesperson http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/oct/threats-human-rights-coming-westminster

UKIP UKIP would remove the UK from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Source: http://www.ukip.org/issues

Members of Parliament

ALLIANCE PARTY Alliance will support the consideration of a system whereby electors can recall an MP in the event of major breaches of code of conduct and law.

CONSERVATIVE Introducing the "power of recall" - allowing voters to force a by-election when MPs have been found guilty of wrongdoing and 10% of his or her constituents have signed a petition calling for their removal - was one of the promises in the 2010 coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29692871

LABOUR shadow constitutional reform minister Stephen Twigg said his party would look to strengthen the legislation as it proceeded through Parliament. He said: "We need a system that improves accountability and one that gives more power to the public to hold their representatives to account between elections. That, I think, is a matter of fairness.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Introducing the "power of recall" - allowing voters to force a by-election when MPs have been found guilty of wrongdoing and 10% of his or her constituents have signed a petition calling for their removal - was one of the promises in the 2010 coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29692871

UKIP UKIP supports the recall of MPs as was originally promised in the Coalition Agreement, whereby 20% of the electorate in a constituency must sign a recall petition within eight weeks. The approval of MPs will not be required to initiate a recall petition.

CONSERVATIVE The Conservative Party proposed, in their 2010 election manifesto, to cut the number of MPs by 10% http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19166125

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT he Lib Dems said in their manifesto they wanted a more radical cut in the number of MPs - from 650 to 500 - but only if a more proportional voting system was introduced to elect MPs. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19166125

RESPECT PARTY Respect supports a large reduction in the number of members of parliament, calling for 'a parliament that is half its present size, where MPs are paid a wage in line with careers of equivalent responsibility. Their staff should be employed by the state and not by the MP themselves'. Source: http://www.respectparty.org/british-parliament/

SNP Along with our support for proportional representation, we support a large reduction in the number of members of parliament.

Minimum Voting Age

ALLIANCE PARTY Alliance will support �Votes at 16'. Young people have a stake in society. They can pay taxes and participate in the services. It is inconsistent to deny young people the right to have their say in the future.

CONSERVATIVE The Conservative party has historically opposed allowing voting at 16 years of age. Former children's minister Tim Loughton stated that 'the party would be better off focusing on increasing the number of 18- to 24-year-olds that vote'. Source: http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1147153/conservative-party-conference-votes-supported

GREEN PARTY The voting age for all elections, and the age at which people may take seats at any level of Government, would be reduced to 16. Source: Green Party Manifesto

LABOUR Labour will "Give 16 and 17 year olds the vote." Source: Labour Party Manifesto, http://b.3cdn.net/labouruk/89012f856521e93a4d_phm6bflfq.pdf

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT The Liberal Democrats would introduce votes at age 16 for elections and referenda, and attempt to make it easier to register to vote in schools and colleges. Source: Liberal Democrat pre-2015 Manifesto

PLAID CYMRU Plaid Cymru's Lord Dafydd Wigley recently (Nov 2014) tabled an amendment that could empower the Assembly to determine if 16 year olds could vote. Speaking at a debate, he said, 'Plaid Cymru has long campaigned for the lowering of the voting age in Wales to 16 years old'. Source: http://www.partyofwales.org/news/2014/11/11/plaid-cymru-acts-to-grant-votes-at-16/

RESPECT PARTY Respect supports allowing the electorate to vote at age 16, saying 'they can get married, join the army and the taxes of many 16 year olds help to provide benefits for all of us. It is only right that they receive the right to vote to choose how those taxes should be spent.' http://www.respectparty.org/national/votes-for-16-year-olds/

SNP The Scottish National Party support lowering the voting age to 16, and are in support of the 'Votes at 16' campaign, a national group of UK youth organisations and political parties that are in favour of reducing the voting age to 16 for all public elections. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Votes_at_16 www.votesat16.org

UKIP UKIP are against lowering the age of voting to sixteen years of age. "The voting age should not be lowered from 18 to 16, says deputy UKIP leader Paul Nuttall. “Sixteen-year-olds do not have enough life experience to make sound judgements when voting and consequently I am against reducing the age limit.” Source: http://ukipnw.org.uk/voting-age-should-not-be-lowered/

Party Donations

ALLIANCE PARTY Alliance will support a cap on the level of donations to political parties from individual sources. The initial level of a cap should be around £10,000 per annum.

LABOUR Labour would "take the big money out of politics by capping individual donations to parties. Source: Labour Party Manifesto.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT The Liberal Democrats would cap donations to political parties, at £10,000 per person each year, and introduce reforms to party funding along the lines of the recent report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Source: Liberal Democrat pre-2015 Manifesto

Royal Family

GREEN PARTY The Green Party believes that the hereditary principle should have no place in government, and advocates that the monarchy shall cease to be an office of government. The legislative, executive and judicial roles of the monarch shall cease. Peers and members of the royal family shall have the same civil rights and fiscal obligations as other citizens. A settlement of property held by the current royal family shall be made, to divide it between that required for the private life of current members of the family and that to be public property. Source: http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/pa.html

24 Hour Access to GPs

LABOUR We will guarantee that you will be able to see a GP within 48 hours, which will help to tackle A&E waiting times.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Encourage GPs to work together to improve access and availability of appointments, including out of hours.

SNP More flexible access to healthcare - We want services to more closely reflect the realities of family and working life.

UKIP We will ensure that GPs' surgeries are open at least one evening per week, where there is demand for it.

Doctors Nurses

CONSERVATIVE Reducing bureaucracy to pay for more than 8,000 more doctors and 6,000 more nurses on wards so frontline services deliver for you and your family.

DUP The DUP will increase spending on health in real terms, ensure that resources are targeted on the front line through greater efficiency and productivity and expand cancer services.

LABOUR a future Labour government would pay for 36,000 more doctors, nurses and midwives, partly funded by a tax on tobacco firms http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29310512

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Improving services across the NHS, with 6,000 more doctors, lower waiting times and giving cancer drugs to 30,000 people. http://www.libdems.org.uk/health

PLAID CYMRU Plaid Cymru want "1000 more doctors in Wales and faster GP appointments." Source: Plaid Cymru, http://www.partyof.wales/easy-read-manifesto/

RESPECT PARTY An expansion of training opportunities for doctors, nursing and related services.

UKIP UKIP would recruit more lower-qualified nurses into the NHS in a bid to encourage more 'home-grown medical talent'. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11453107/General-Election-2015-How-each-party-will-tackle-the-NHS.html

Healthy Living

DUP Encourage fast food outlets, restaurants, sandwich chains, cafes, public houses and company canteens to display calorie counts on menus.

GREEN PARTY The Green Party would also introduce a complete ban on the promotion of tobacco and alcohol products, including sponsorship, advertising (direct or indirect) and product placement on remuneration or reward.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT The Liberal Democrats would 'do more to tackle the causes of ill health, including promoting healthy eating and exercise, making people aware of the dangers of smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol and other drugs, and helping to improve mental health and well-being.' Source: Liberal Democrat pre-2015 Manifesto

UKIP UKIP will amend the smoking ban to give pubs and clubs the choice to open smoking rooms properly ventilated and separated from non-smoking areas.

Hospital Car Parking Charges

ALLIANCE PARTY "The Alliance Party is committed to a Health Service free at the point of delivery. That is not currently what we have. People have to pay to park to visit family members and friends; people have to pay for eye checks and teeth checks; people have to pay for personal care for older people. So, we would seek to put in place a strategy to reduce and, ideally, eventually remove all those charges." Source: Alliance Party website, http://allianceparty.org/article/2008/0003956/mccarthy-speaks-on-hospital-car-parking-charges

CONSERVATIVE "Patients and families shouldn't have to deal with the added stress of unfair parking charges. These clear ground rules set out our expectations, and will help the public hold the NHS to account for unfair charges or practices" - Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Source: BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28905695

LABOUR "The Tory-led Government scrapped Labour’s plans to phase out car parking charges for patients and Jeremy Hunt needs to take responsibility for the fact that since then one in four hospitals have increased parking fees. Any action to ease the burden of car parking charges on patients and their visitors is welcome. When people go to hospital, the last thing they want to worry about is parking fees." - Andrew Gwynne, Shadow Health Minister. Source: Labour Press, http://press.labour.org.uk/post/95534234449/government-scrapped-labours-plans-to-phase-out

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT "Lib Dem former care minister Paul Burstow stressed that parking being used as a "cash cow" in the NHS is "not acceptable". Source: BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/house-of-commons-29016471

SNP "Keeping health free – we have abolished prescription charges, the tax on the sick, and we have also abolished car parking charges in NHS hospitals brought in under the previous Labour/Lib-Dem Executive" Source: SNP Website, http://www.snp.org/vision/healthier-scotland/health-and-wellbeing

UKIP UKIP have stated that they will commit to spending £200m of the £2bn saving [from disallowing migrants access to free treatment on the NHS] to end hospital car parking charges in England. Source: UKIP Policy.

Mental Health

ALLIANCE PARTY We would address the structural underfunding of mental health services, particularly with respect to children and young people

DUP This year will see the introduction of the ground-breaking Mental Capacity (Northern Ireland) Bill. The Bill will bring together mental capacity law (which will support people who are unable to make specific decisions about their health, welfare or finances), and mental health law (which concerns the detention and treatment of people with a mental disorder) into a single framework. This approach is novel, and unlike the rest of the United Kingdom where mental health law and mental capacity law are governed by two separate legislative acts. http://www.mydup.com/news/article/ross-addresses-mental-health-knowledge-exchange-seminar

GREEN PARTY The Green Party would "Make mental health a much higher priority with resources to match this status. - See more at: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/we-stand-for/public-nhs.html" Source: Green Party Website, https://www.greenparty.org.uk/we-stand-for/public-nhs.html

LABOUR We will change the NHS Constitution to give people the right to psychological therapies for mental health problems like anxiety and depression helping to give mental health the same priority as physical health.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT 14 March 2015 - Liberal Democrat leader has said that mental health services in England would receive a £1.25bn boost over the next five years. Source: BBC News, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31882429

PLAID CYMRU "Better mental health care and wider help and understanding of mental health issues." Source: Plaid Cymru, http://www.partyof.wales/easy-read-manifesto/

RESPECT PARTY The expansion of psychiatric health services.

UKIP UKIP have announced in early 2015 that they would provide an extra £650m for dementia services.

Mixed Sex Hospital Wards

CONSERVATIVE Being forced to share hospital accommodation with the opposite sex can be distressing and undignified - particularly for older people. "Putting a stop to it has meant patients are getting treated with more compassion and respect." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11169380/Ministers-hail-dignity-victory-in-war-on-mixed-sex-wards.html

GREEN PARTY The Green Party have stated in their manifesto that they would seek to end the practice of mixed-sex accommodation in hospital wards. Source: Green Party Manifesto

Research Health Cancer

ALLIANCE PARTY Alliance supports the reintroduction of a small prescription charge and I would personally be happy to pay this small fee for my prescriptions if I knew that it could help to fund cancer drugs which are not currently available in Northern Ireland http://allianceparty.org/article/2015/0009477/cochrane-supports-reintroduction-of-prescription-charges-to-pay-for-cancer-drugs

CONSERVATIVE We're announcing an extra £160 million for the Cancer Drugs Fund to give more patients access to the latest and best cancer drugs.

DUP The DUP will increase spending on health in real terms, ensure that resources are targeted on the front line through greater efficiency and productivity and expand cancer services.

LABOUR Labour will create a new annual Cancer Treatments Fund to improve access not just to the latest drugs but also to the latest forms of radiotherapy and surgery that are too often not available for thousands of people with cancer. http://press.labour.org.uk/post/104745617299/labour-will-tackle-scandal-of-cancer-patients

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Invest in research and set ambitious goals to improve outcomes for the most serious life-threatening diseases like cancer and long-term conditions like dementia.

PLAID CYMRU We want to see the Welsh NHS participate in more clinical trials and research. We want to see improved availability of diagnostics for cancers and chronic conditions. We want to see a medical service that is judged on its outcomes for people, not on inputs.

SNP One stop cancer diagnosis - As part of our plans to ensure shorter cancer waiting times.

Right to Assisted Death

CONSERVATIVE "David Cameron and Nick Clegg have both voiced opposition to changing the law. Mr Clegg, whose mother is Dutch, said even limited assisted suicide in Holland had created a culture in which doctors push the boundaries of the law." Source: Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10685362/Assisted-suicide-moves-closer-as-Government-allows-free-vote.html

GREEN PARTY The Green Party would seek to provide the right to an assisted death, 'within a rigorous framework of regulation, and in the context of the availability of the highest level of palliative care'. Source: Green Party Manifesto

LABOUR "Lord Falconer, a campaigner on the right to assisted dying, is also leading a Private Members’ Bill in the Lords to let doctors prescribe a lethal dose of drugs to terminally ill patients. Inside sources claim Mr Miliband is sympathetic to Lord Falconer’s request, but other Labour MPs remain against making it a firm manifesto pledge, fearing a move would prove a vote-loser. " Source: https://www.politicshome.com/home-affairs/articles/story/labour-talks-considering-assisted-suicide-pledge

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT "David Cameron and Nick Clegg have both voiced opposition to changing the law. Mr Clegg, whose mother is Dutch, said even limited assisted suicide in Holland had created a culture in which doctors push the boundaries of the law." Source: Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10685362/Assisted-suicide-moves-closer-as-Government-allows-free-vote.html

PLAID CYMRU Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas said: "The House of Lords Bill, if passed, will signal a major change in our approach as a society to dying and individuals' decisions. I recognise many Assembly Members will have strong views on this Bill as do our citizens. Though this issue has not been devolved to Wales, unlike for example organ donation, it is vital that our own parliament has an opportunity to form a view on one of the most pressing ethical issues of our age. I will be voting in favour of supporting the principles of the Assisted Dying Bill." Source: BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/cymru-30381674

The NHS

DUP Explore the potential for Northern Ireland to be included in the NHS Choices website which has provided a better service and saved close to £50 million in England.

GREEN PARTY Funding will be diverted away from centralised facilities towards community healthcare, illness prevention and health promotion. Community Health Centres will be the focal points for self-help and community-based initiatives and will also provide a wide range of services including primary healthcare, and health education and health promotion programmes.

LABOUR We will repeal David Cameron’s Health and Social Care Act, putting right the worst of the changes the Tories have made. We’ll ensure that the Secretary of State has a duty to guarantee a national service free at the point of use; we’ll remove enforced competition; we’ll ensure private patients aren’t put before NHS patients; and we’ll tackle conflicts of interest. Source: Labour Manifesto

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Reform the NHS payment system to encourage better integration of hospital and community care services and better preventative care for people with long term conditions. This would include more use of personal budgets for people who want them and better access to technology and services to help people get care closer to home. Secure local agreement on and pooling of budgets between the NHS and social care.

RESPECT PARTY Bring all agencies administering care services into public ownership under NHS or local government control.

UKIP Middle management cuts.

THe NHS

DUP Have 80% of domiciliary care provided by charities and other nonstatutory organisations by 2015, releasing savings extending to tens of millions of pounds per year

GREEN PARTY The Green Party has drawn up a bill that would restrict the role of commercial companies in the NHS. The party's website states, "The party would strictly oppose any NHS privatisation and the treatment of healthcare as a commercial activity. They would maintain a publicly funded, publicly provided health service free of charge. In addition, the Green Party would abolish prescription charges, reintroduce free eye tests and NHS dental treatment." Source: Green Party Manifesto

LABOUR 27 March 2015 - Labour leader Ed Miliband has said at the start of his election campaign that his party would cap the amount of profit private firms are able to make from the NHS in England, saying that he wants to ensure a 'proper' level of funding. Profit margins would be limited to 5% on contracts above £500,000. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32083668

PLAID CYMRU "No NHS privatisation." - Source: Plaid Cymru, http://www.partyof.wales/easy-read-manifesto/

RESPECT PARTY Opposition to PFI schemes; all privatised services to be brought back into the NHS.

SNP The Scottish National Party will be supporting this Private Members Bill in the House of Commons to prevent the back-door privatisation of the health service. While responsibility for the NHS in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, any cuts to NHS funding in England have knock on implications for the Scottish block grant and result in cuts to the Scottish budget. Source: SNP http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/nov/snp-will-vote-prevent-nhs-privatisation

UKIP "UKIP is committed to an NHS that is free at the point of access and paid for out of taxation, full stop." - Nigel Farage. Although it has been speculated that UKIP had "longstanding support" for elements of the NHS to be privatised, Farage has said that the idea was rejected by the rest of the party.