Key takeaways
- Compare manifestos from the same election and define one policy question.
- Quote and link the exact pledge rather than assigning a vague label.
- Separate stated ambition, proposed mechanism, cost and delivery timetable.
- Do not treat a manifesto comparison as evidence of later parliamentary action.
Set the comparison question
Choose a specific topic and the same election cycle for every document. “Housing” or “health” may be too broad; a question about a particular support, tax, service or legal change is easier to compare accurately.
Write down the inclusion rule before reading. That reduces the temptation to select only the lines that support a preferred conclusion.
Extract the exact pledges
For each party, link the original manifesto and quote the relevant wording with its page or section where practical. Record whether the document gives a target, a mechanism, a timescale, a cost, a condition or only a general objective.
Do not fill gaps with assumptions. If a manifesto does not address the chosen question, say so rather than awarding or deducting invented points.
Why are scorecards risky?
A single score can imply that proposals are directly comparable when they are not. Two pledges may use different definitions, cover different groups, depend on different institutions or have different legal and budgetary routes.
A clear side-by-side explanation is usually more honest: show the wording, identify the comparable features and state the limits. Readers can then decide which differences matter to them.
What should I check after the election?
Manifestos record campaign commitments, not later actions. To follow delivery or change, inspect Government programmes, budgets, bills, debates and recorded votes. Where relevant, /compare can help you navigate linked parliamentary records, but the underlying sources remain essential.
Keep the comparison dated. Parties, representatives and policy positions can change after an election.