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General Election manifestos and CTSI call for consumer-protection strategy In this feature l consumer protection l political party promises l ctsI request Promises, pledges and pie in the sky We take a look at what CTSI would like a new government to deliver and what the three main UK political parties are promising G eneral Elections prompt political pledges on everything from healthcare to nuclear power and international aid. This time, the campaign trails have the added element of Brexit; there has been much debate about the hardness of the UKs exit from the European Union, single-market withdrawal, and regulatory changes to name but a few issues. CTSI has written to the main political parties calling for a consumerprotection strategy as a matter of urgency, to ensure all levels of government can deliver suitable protections for people and businesses. This is especially important as we move towards Brexit, with new challenges for ensuring the safety and quality of imports and exports, especially as the British and EU legal systems diverge. CTSIs letter stressed that the current system for consumer protection is at crisis point, as outlined recently by the National Audit Office (NAO). The complexity of the 21st-century marketplace combined with structural challenges caused by decreasing resources have led to an increasingly inconsistent and ineffective system of consumer protection, and this is not being adequately addressed. CTSI has urged the government to address the weaknesses in the system, for the sake of consumers everywhere. Supported by the NAO report, CTSI highlighted the three challenges that any consumerprotection strategy must resolve: The system has not kept pace with innovations such as the internet, especially when it comes to fraud Funding is not consistent and does not reflect the challenges that the system is facing There is no direct accountability between the outcomes aspired toby law-makers and those on the front line of local authority trading standards In a matter of days, the electorate will make its decision and the next government will have to get on with enacting its manifesto promises or some of them, at least. It remains to be seen how far up the agenda consumer protection is placed, but CTSI will keep on speaking out for change, so trading standards officers can continue to protect the public and ensure a level playing field for businesses. CONSERvatIvE The Conservatives are pledging to get rid of poor and excessive regulation, and save 9bn, through the Red Tape Challenge and the One In, Two Out rule. There are promises to improve the regulation of utilities, including more control over the telecoms and energy sectors. The retail energy market is singled out for immediate attention by offering smart meters to every household and business by the end of 2020, and introducing a safeguard tariff cap to protect customers who do not switch from abusive price increases. There are also pledges to make billing for telecoms customers fairer and easier to understand, and to consider a ban on companies cold-calling people to encourage them to make false personal injury claims. Theresa May says she wants to strengthen the powers of consumer-enforcement bodies to impose fines on companies that break consumer law, and to deliver redress for wronged parties. Other promises include making online terms and conditions simpler, making it clearer when free trials of a subscription come to an end, and looking at how switching sites can give more information to the consumer. Renters are also promised better protection, with a ban on letting fees and encouragement for landlords to offer longer tenancies, as standard. There is a pledge to establish a regulatory framework to ensure digital companies, social media platforms and content providers abide by the principles of the Conservatives digital charter. The Conservatives say they will also introduce a sanctions regime to ensure compliance, giving The Conservatives pledge to save 9bn through the Red Tape Challenge and the One In, Two Out rule regulators the ability to fine or prosecute companies that fail in their legal duties, and to order the removal of content where it clearly breaches UK law. Claiming it has already devolved more power to local authorities than any other government in recent times, Mays administration wants to give local councils greater control over the money they raise, and support authorities that wish to combine their services. The Conservatives are promising to issue a Great Repeal Bill to convert EU law into UK law, keeping protections currently offered to consumers by EU law. Once EU law has been converted into domestic law, parliament will be able to pass legislation to amend, repeal or improve any piece of EU law as will the devolved authorities. Another Conservative pledge of particular interest to trading standards is the one to incorporate the Serious Fraud Office into the National Crime Agency, with the aim of improving intelligence sharing and bolstering the investigation of serious fraud, money laundering and financial crime. LaBOUR Labour says it recognises the issues caused by cuts to public services and promises to give extra funding to local government next year. It pledges to initiate a review into reforming council tax and business rates, consider new options such as a land-value tax to ensure local government has sustainable funding for the long term, and devolve powers over economic development, complete with the necessary funding. One of the main pledges of Labours manifesto is to bring services such as utilities back into public ownership. Labour believes this will put consumer interests first and ensure democratic accountability. It is also pledging to introduce an emergency price cap, to ensure average dual- Labour promises to give extra funding to local government next year fuel household bills remain below 1,000 a year while the transition back into public ownership takes place. Jeremy Corbyns party says it will drop the Conservatives Great Repeal Bill and replace it with an EU Rights and Protections Bill. This will ensure there is no detrimental change to workers rights, equality law, consumer rights or environmental protections as a result of Brexit. Labour is also pledging to protect farmers and the UKs rural economy both by ensuring Britain continues to set the highest standards in food quality and welfare, and by not allowing UK farmers to be undercut by cheap imports flooding the market after Brexit. The party is promising to introduce controls on rent rises, more secure tenancies, landlord licensing and new consumer rights. It will make three-year tenancies the norm, with an inflation cap on rent rises. It will ban letting agency fees for tenants, introduce new legal minimum standards to ensure properties are fit for human habitation, and empower tenants to take action if their rented homes are sub-standard. Labour wants to expand the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator to ensure suppliers and consumers get a fair deal, and will reconfigure funds for farming and fishing to support smaller traders, local economies, community benefits and sustainable practices. The party is pledging to: increase the maximum sentence for those convicted of committing animal cruelty; promote cruelty-free animal husbandry; and consult on ways to ensure better enforcement of agreed standards. It will prohibit the third-party sale of puppies, introduce and enforce a total ban on ivory trading, and support the ban on wild animals in circuses. LIBERaL DEMOCRatS The Liberal Democrats believe that any deal negotiated for the UK outside the EU must ensure that trade can continue without customs controls at the border. As part of its fight against hard Brexit, the party promises to maintain cross-border cooperation for combating serious organised crime including international fraud by retaining the European Arrest Warrant, membership of Europol and access to EU information databases. Current standards of intellectual property (IP) protection will be maintained by continuing cooperation on enforcement of IP generated in the UK, and working within the EU to ensure the continuation of territorial licensing of rights. The Liberal Democrats promise to help ensure British farming remains competitive refocusing support towards producing healthy food. They want future trade deals to require high safety, environmental and animal-welfare standards for food imports, including clear country-of-origin labelling for meat and dairy products. The party plans to reform the Regulatory Policy Committee to remove unnecessary regulation, reduce regulatory uncertainty, and support new markets and investment. It pledges to make saving energy a top priority, to help consumers reduce energy bills permanently by improving home insulation and by encouraging small-scale, community and localauthority renewable schemes. Stronger penalties would be introduced for animal-cruelty offences increasing the maximum sentence from six months to five years and there would be a ban on keeping hens caged. Legal identification would be required for online sales to clampdown on illegal pet imports and farm animal welfare codes would be updated. The Liberal Democrats also want to increase the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator and extend its remit to include businesses further up the supply chain, helping to ensure that farmers receive a fair price. The party will improve protection against rogue landlords through mandatory licensing, and by allowing tenants to access the database of rogue landlords and property agents. The party also promises to ban lettings fees for tenants, cap upfront deposits, and increase minimum standards in rented homes. Another key pledge is drastically to reduce the powers of central government ministers to interfere in democratically elected local government. New powers are promised to help councils protect consumers by reducing the proliferation of betting shops, and capping at 2 the maximum amount that can be wagered in one go on fixedodds betting terminals. The Lib Dems also promise to introduce a digital bill of rights to protect peoples powers over their own information, support individuals over large corporations, and preserve the neutrality of the internet. Credits Louise Parfitt is a writer for TS Today Images: iStock.com/smartboy10 To share this page, in the toolbar click on The party plans to reform the Regulatory Policy Committee to remove unnecessary regulation