AS PART of his ten-year, six-point plan to "restore people's faith in politics", Labour leader Ed Miliband pledged to create one million "green" technology jobs over the next decade.
With the Humber positioning itself as the Energy Estuary and a world-class renewables hub, local companies will welcome Mr Miliband's commitment to create an environment where the UK is clearly regarded as a global leader in green industries and as a premier destination to invest in high-value, high-skilled specialist jobs.
In contrast to the Tories, who have failed to live up to the green credentials once boasted by David Cameron, Labour have said they will invest in the low-carbon sector, with a pledge to decarbonise electricity by 2030.
If Mr Miliband finds electoral success next year and delivers on his pledges, the Humber will be well placed to compete for a slice of the global green industry market, which is worth £3.4 trillion a year.
Apprenticeships
Having promised to improve the quality of apprenticeships as another of his "national goals", Mr Miliband could kill two birds with one stone by offering companies incentives to take on more apprentices to meet the demands of the flourishing local energy market and to train the next generation of workers for Hull's renewables industry.
To achieve that, Labour has pledged to see as many school leavers going in to good-quality apprenticeships as go to university – at present, the ratio is one to four.
With local unemployment high and many youngsters leaving school without the basic qualifications needed to find paid work, apprenticeships are seen as a way of addressing the skills shortage across Hull and East Riding. About 20 per cent of businesses across the wider area currently employ apprentices, but the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) says more needs to be done.
Labour would require every firm bidding for a major government contract to make apprenticeships an integral part of their offer.
But how does this proposal differ from the coalition's plans to deliver two million apprenticeships by the end of this parliament?
Firstly, Labour claims it will do away with the "short-termism" approach to ensure their "gold standard" schemes last for a minimum of one year. They will also ensure 16-24 year olds are the main beneficiaries, criticising the Government for allowing 75 per cent of new apprenticeships to go to older workers. While this fits in well with Hull's specific needs, it was originally Labour that opened apprenticeships up to adults, devaluing them as a tool for preparing young people for entry into the labour market.
Policing
Humberside's police and crime commissioner (PCC) would be scrapped under a Labour government.
The post, currently held by Conservative Matthew Grove, would not be renewed in 2016, the end of the current tenure.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said abolishing PCCs would save £50m nationwide, with the cash used to save police jobs, which are due to be axed in 2015-16.
Humberside Police has confirmed it plans to cut 700 jobs, including 200 officer posts, as the force looks to make a further £31m of efficiency savings by 2019. Labour's pledge to save frontline jobs gives hope to some of those facing losing their jobs.
Saving the NHS
The central plank of Mr Miliband's six-point plan, he received a standing ovation when he vowed to save the health service from the Tories, who have been inconsistent on this subject.
The party's commitment to the NHS is one of its most popular policy areas and one that resonates on the doorstep.
Hull North MP Diana Johnson said: "I have got more complaints coming in about the NHS than I have ever had before.
"People are struggling to get a timely appointment with their GP, which means many people are turning to A&E, so hospitals are feeling the pressure."
Last year, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, missed out on extra Department of Health funding to support busy emergency departments. And in the past week, HRI has confirmed it is on "red alert" after seeing another surge in emergency attendees and admissions.
Mr Miliband said a future Labour government would recruit 20,000 nurses, 8,000 GPs, 3,000 midwives and 5,000 care workers, as part of a wider shift to a more integrated health and care system.
The party will also pour £2.5bn a year into a Time to Care fund to tackle shortages that have left wards, surgeries and care homes dangerously understaffed.
In an effort to underscore the party's commitment to fiscal discipline, Mr Miliband said the funding would come through a "mansion tax" on homes worth more than £2m, clamping down on tax dodgers, and a levy on the tobacco industry.
