UK PM sets out her stall to British voters with controversial blueprint

British Prime Minister Theresa May told the country's 46 million voters Thursday of the policies her Conservative Party would adopt over the coming five years.

May followed the example of her main rivals, the Labour Party, by heading to the industrial north of England to unveil her party's long awaited party manifesto.

Protestors gathered outside the industrial mill chosen as the launch venue for May's keynote speech, many chanting anti-government messages and waving banners objecting to Conservative party proposals.

Covering the National Health Service (NHS), social care, the economy, immigration and changes to pensions for the elderly, May spelt out five main commitments container in her manifesto dealing with a strong economy, Britain's departure from the European Union (Brexit), social provision, an ageing society and fast-changing technology.

"The next five years will be among the most challenging in our lifetime, a turning point for Britain," said May.

Saying she was presenting herself to the people of Britain as their prime minister, May said her manifesto would see the country through Brexit and beyond. She described it as a vision for Britain.

May also said it would be a defining moment for Britain, and a chance to step back and ask what kind of country people wanted to build together.

"Let us be in no doubt it will not be easy, there will be obstacles in the way, and many willing us to fail," said May.

She said the central challenge is negotiating Brexit and having the strongest hand, adding: "If we fail the consequences for Britain will be dire. If we succeed the opportunities ahead of us will be great. If we get Brexit right we can use this moment of change. That is the real prize, because for too many people life is simply much harder than many seem to realise."

In her speech May made hardly any references to the details of the next Conservative government outlined in the manifesto. She referred to the government introducing the first mental health bill for 30 years to end the stigma of mental health.

In media questions later, May responded by expanding on her vision for Britain, again giving little detail.

She made brief reference to what is seen as a controversial proposal, ending a guaranteed annual increase in pensioners for older people, known as the triple lock.

In the election campaign May has sought to appeal to traditional Labour voters, often by making excursions to northern England, home of the working classes.

May smiled as one journalist asked her if she was proud of her new monicker (nickname), the Red Tory, a reference to the brand color of the Labour Party.

The manifesto pledges to reduce annual net migration to the tens of thousands, with students be expected to leave the country at the end of their course unless they meet new "higher" requirements allowing them to stay. Overseas students will remain in the immigration statistics, despite pleas by university authorities to exclude them from immigration figures.

The blueprint also says spending on defense will be increased by at least 0.5 percent more than inflation every year, with a commitment to meet the NATO target of spending at least 2 percent of GDP on defense.

The manifesto also says the amount of money people can earn before paying any income tax will raise to 12,500 pounds (16,300 U.S. dollars) and corporation tax paid by businesses will fall to 17 percent by 2020. There will also be a review of rates paid by businesses.

On transport, the manifesto backs the expansion of London's Heathrow airport where there are controversial proposals for a third runway.

The manifesto pledges an extra 8 billion British pounds (10.41 billion U.S. dollars) for the NHS and raise the cost of care threshold to 100,000 British pounds (130,140 U.S. dollars) to ensure older people can stay in their own homes in their later years.

Free school lunches for infants in England will be scrapped, but there will be free breakfasts across the primary aged pupils. Endit