From the Conservative Party From the Labour Party Manifesto Manifesto

The National Health Service: "Because we have created a sound economy, we are in a position to spend more than ever before on the National Health Service." Defence: "We will keep the nuclear deterrent and invest in a new nuclear system with Trident." Unemployment: "As long as we continue with our successful policies for a sound economy and more training schemes, unemployment will fall to acceptable levels."

The National Health Service: "We will spend more money on the NHS and recruit more staff.

Defence: "We will ban all nuclear weapons on British soil."

Unemployment: "We will increase expenditure on civil works, more training schemes and more jobs in the state sector, creating a million jobs in the next two years."

Taxation: "We will raise taxes to fund our plans for reducing unemployment." Education: "We will spend more on equipment and reduce class sizes. Teachers will regain the right to strike."

Taxation: "We wttl continue to cut

taxes."

Education: "We will set a basic

syllabus with new examinations and

tests to ensure that our children are

learning."

Priorities: "The most important

problem facing the next government

of Britain is to ensure the continued

growth of the economy."

TASK 9. Answer the questions.

1. In 1987 which of the biggest British political parties supported the following policies?

a) a ban on nuclear weapons;

b) cuts in taxation;

c) a basic national education syllabus;

d) more jobs in the state sector;

e) an increase in taxation.

2. How is the date of a British general election decided?

TASK 10. Work in pairs and discuss the following question.

If you were a British voter, which party do you think you would vote for and why?

TASK 1. Read the texts.

UnitV THE ROYAL FAMILY

TheSovereign

"Her Most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."

/The Queen is the official Head of State and, for many people, a symbol of the unity of the nation. For a thousand years England (and later the whole of the United Kingdom) has been united under one sovereign, a continuity broken only after the Civil War, by the republic of 1649 to 1660. The hereditary principle still operates and the Crown is passed on to the sovereign's eldest son (or daughter if there are no sons).

The Queen has a central role in state affairs, not only through her ceremonial functions, such as opening Parliament, but also because she meets the Prime Minister every week and receives^copies of all Cabinet papers.

_ki However, she is 'expected to be impartial or

"above politics", and any advice she may offer the Prime Minister is kept secret.

Functions of the Sovereign:

- opening and closing Parliament;

- approving the appointment of the Prime Minister;

- giving her Royal Assent to bills;

- giving honours such as peerages, knighthoods and medals;

- Head of the Commonwealth;

- Head of the Church of England;

- Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.