Jonathan
Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to
reports in today’s Financial Times that the NHS is facing a £100m agency
bill to boost GP numbers, said:

“This
is yet another example of the Government’s financial mismanagement of our NHS
and their lack of action when it comes to the GP workforce.

“Under
the Tories, general practice is being stretched to breaking point, and patients
are being let down as a result.

“This
Government needs to come up with a workable plan for boosting the number of GPs
and investing in frontline services, otherwise under the Tories, more and more
taxpayers’ cash will be spent on expensive agency bills.”

Alan Whitehead MP, Labour’s Shadow
Energy Minister and Climate Change,
responding to reports that Ofgem will implement an energy price cap for two
million vulnerable households, falling short of Theresa May’s General Election
promise, said:

“Theresa
May misled voters during the election by pledging to cap energy bills for 17
million households before quickly backtracking. Now she is trying to mislead
people again by claiming the responsibility to introduce a cap for all
households on standard variable tariffs lies with Ofgem, despite the regulator
making clear it needs the government to legislate.

"Unlike
the Tories, the next Labour government will offer more than empty words by
introducing an immediate emergency price cap to keep household bills down,
while we transition to a fairer system for bill payers.”

Peter
Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on the Public and Commercial Services union announcement that
protests about pay are due to take place across the UK, said

“These
protests reinforce the unfairness of the public sector pay cap and the poor
treatment that civil servants and other public sector workers have faced at the
hands of this Tory Government. Civil servants and other public sector workers
have seen their real wages fall constantly over the seven years of Conservative
pay freezes and caps.

“It is
shocking that our public servants have been forced into protesting their
poor treatment and falling wages caused by the Tory Government’s pay freezes
and caps. 

“Meanwhile,
the Conservative’s cabinet of chaos continues to stand up for a
privileged elite – handing out tax cuts for the rich and failing
to properly tackle tax avoidance.

“The next
Labour Government will lift the public sector pay cap and give all workers the
pay rise they deserve so that the economy works for the many and not the few.” 

Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Shadow Business Secretary,
responding to Aston Martin’s investment announcement, said:

“Aston Martin’s £500m trade deal  announced
today is welcome, as is the continued investment of other car manufacturers
such as Nissan and Toyota. However, the continued success of British automotive
sector, the jewel in our manufacturing crown, is being put at risk.

“The Government’s failing Brexit strategy twinned
with a weak industrial strategy and secretive bespoke deals within the sector
is the antitheses of the robust strategy the last Labour government put in
place for the sector.

“Labour’s properly resourced industrial strategy
and jobs-first approach to leaving the EU is what is needed to ensure the
continued prosperity of the automotive sector’.”

John
Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, responding to the release of terms
of reference for the independent inquiry into building regulations following
the Grenfell Tower fire, said:

“Ministers
have been off the pace at every stage in responding to the terrible Grenfell
Tower fire.

“While
better late than never, it’s now eleven weeks since Grenfell and over four
years on from two Coroners’ reports into previous high rise fires recommended
an overhaul of building regulations. Ministers promised a review in May 2013
but have failed to act since.  

“Rather
than waiting for the findings of this inquiry, Ministers should start acting on
these existing recommendations immediately and incorporate any proposals from
Dame Judith Hackitt.

“More
broadly, Ministers must now use this inquiry to ensure that our system of fire
checks and regulations has the clarity, accountability and proper standards
needed so that no-one feels unsafe in their home.”