The Conservatives are also promising to build 鈥榓t least a million more homes, of all tenures, over the next parliament鈥�.
Infrastructure spending pledges include 拢500m a year for local road maintenance, in what is being sold as 鈥榯he biggest ever pothole-filling programme鈥�, and an average of 拢780m a year on flood defences.
There is no manifesto commitment, however, to either of the UK鈥檚 two biggest planned infrastructure projects 鈥� HS2 and Heathrow expansion.
The manifesto says: 鈥淗S2 is a great ambition, but will now cost at least 拢81bn and will not reach Leeds or Manchester until as late as 2040. We will consider the findings of the Oakervee review into costs and timings and work with leaders of the Midlands and the North to decide the optimal outcome.鈥�
On Heathrow, it says: 鈥淧arliament has voted in principle to support a third runway at Heathrow, but it is a private sector project. It is for Heathrow to demonstrate that it can meet its air quality and noise obligations, that the project can be financed and built and that the business case is realistic. The scheme will receive no new public money.鈥�
Rail projects that the Conservatives claim to be supporting without reservation include Leeds-Manchester improvements and upgrades in Liverpool, Tees Valley, Hull, Sheffield and Newcastle.
The Conservative party鈥檚 primary pledge, however, above all else, is to complete the UK鈥檚 withdrawal from the European Union in January 2020 if it secures a pliable parliamentary majority.
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