Labour

Margaret Greenwood MP, Labour’s Shadow Employment Minister, commenting on the Office of National Statistics Working and Workless Households figures, said:

“While any increases in employment are positive, under this Government work is no longer a reliable route out of poverty with over half of those living in poverty coming from a working household.

“There are four million children growing up in poverty in the UK; two thirds of these children live in working households.

“A Labour government for the many, not the few, will introduce a Real Living Wage to end in-work poverty once and for all, while investing in childcare to allow parents to get back to work once they are ready.”

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“I’d like to thank Kezia Dugdale for her work as Scottish Labour leader and the important role she has played in rebuilding the party in Scotland.

“Kezia became Scottish leader at one of the most difficult times in the history of the Scottish Labour Party, and the party’s revival is now fully under way, with six new MPs and many more to come.

“I want to thank Kez for her tireless service to our party and movement, and look forward to campaigning with her in future for a country that works for the many not the few.”

Ends

Richard Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to forecasts that the prison population is set to rise to 88,000 by 2022, said:

“Under the Tories, overcrowding and understaffing have brought the prison system to a crisis.

“These figures demonstrate that this Conservative Government has no real plan to fix the mess they’ve made and that overcrowding is only set to get worse over the coming years.”

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on new ONS figures that show household spending growth has slowed to its weakest pace for two and a half years, said:

“The figures from the ONS today are a stark reflection of seven years of Tory economic failure.

“The Conservatives’ Cabinet of chaos is now presiding over the slowest growing country in the G7 – household spending is slowing, the number of young people not in work or education remains largely unchanged and business investment has stalled.

“It is time for a Labour government that will create an economy that works for the many not the few.”

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on today’s migration statistics, said:

“Tory migration policy is a shambles. Against all advice, Theresa May continues to insist in maintaining an arbitrary net migration target of under 100,000, which has never once been met.

“Now it seems that her long-running campaign to malign international students is based on fantasy, with no evidence of a major issue with students overstaying.

“Some in government appear to be waking up to the idea that overseas students make a valuable contribution to our country and have belatedly asked the Migration Advisory Committee to gather evidence.

“Labour will offer fair rules and reasonable management of migration; prioritising jobs, growth and prosperity, not bogus net migration targets.”