The manifestos have been released and with them an outline of what to expect for several key industries and sectors should any of the parties be elected.
With that in mind, the health and safety and the environmental sectors can each expect some kind of impact of varying degree, depending on which Party comes out on top.
In this instalment of the "Picking apart the Party policies" series, Cedrec Legal Author, Amy Batch, looks at the UK Independence Party (UKIP). Key issues will be examined with a degree of insight from Cedrec.
Environment
The key policy of UKIP is to leave the EU and therefore rid itself of European legislation.
UKIP have said they will revoke the Climate Change Act 2008. They say this is due to its costliness and claim it undermines competitiveness. They also state the renewable capacity targets are "unattainable".
UKIP wish to build opencast mines to exploit coal. They wish to develop an industry around coal, a rejuvenation, which they will also employ a coal commission to discuss how to assist growth. UKIP will seek private funding for the coal plants, which they say will create the majority of the UK's energy.
UKIP are to stop all subsidies for solar and windfarms, on the basis they "have blighted landscapes" and require conventional energy sources as backup reserves. In order to continue investing in renewables, hydro power is UKIP's preferred source, however no budget has been given for such investments.
UKIP support fracking, and have pledged that Community Infrastructure Levy incomes from shale gas operations will allow for lower council taxes. They have stated fracking must not compromise local communities and the environment, however how this will be regulated has not been explained in detail.
Health and Safety
Citing "massive over-regulation by the European Union" and the burden for smaller firms, UKIP will "cut red tape" in a similar way to the Conservatives. Unlike the Conservatives, however, they intend to do this by removing themselves from EU legislative obligations, therefore repealing all EU legislation in force in the UK. It is not discussed in the manifesto if UKIP plan to replace some of the red tape that will be removed should such a move be made.
They pledge to scrap the EU Working Time Directive, which will therefore allow for longer working hours on a weekly basis. UKIP point out this will be for medics in training specifically, but scrapping the Directive would leave any and all professions subject to new working hour regulations.
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