Labour

Kate Osamor MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, commenting on the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition on 23 August, said:

“Today we remember the struggles of millions of slaves who, through everyday resistance over decades, brought about the abolition of slavery and showed the power of collective action.

“But there are still 45.8 million people locked in modern slavery, including in child slavery, trafficking and sexual exploitation. It is estimated that illegal profits are to the tune of US$ 150 billion globally.

“Theresa May’s government is right to make this a priority. But it must do more to address the root causes of modern slavery, and not treat its symptoms in isolation. Only a Labour government will bring the international leadership and cooperation needed to tackle labour exploitation and deregulation, combat trafficking, and raise standards on supply chain transparency.”

“Even George Osborne recognises that the Tories’ chronic underinvestment in transport is holding the North back. 

“It takes longer to travel by train from Liverpool to Hull than from London to Paris, yet the government spend £1500 more per head in London than the North. 

“Rather than addressing these disparities, the Conservatives have abandoned the North, having just pulled the plug on the full electrification of the TransPennine route.

“Investing in transport is essential to rebalancing the economy and boosting growth across the country. That’s why Labour has pledged to upgrade the rail network throughout Britain, including a £10bn commitment for Crossrail for the North.”

Labour’s energy price cap would have saved average consumer £1149 since 2010

Labour would introduce an immediate emergency price cap to ensure that the average household energy bill remains below £1000 per year, while we transition to a fairer system for bill payers. If this policy had been in place since 2010, it would have saved the average consumer £1149 and £142 per year going forward on their energy bills.

Britain’s energy market is broken. One-in-ten households are in fuel poverty, yet the directors of the Big Six energy companies paid themselves a combined £12m last year. According to the Competition and Markets Authority, customers are overcharged an enormous £2bn every year, yet the Big Six have just increased energy prices by 8-15 per cent.

Before the election, the Prime Minister promised to knock £100 off energy bills for 17 million customers. However, the Government have abandoned this promise, and have only said that they will take action to protect “vulnerable” customers.

For the majority of households facing crippling energy bills, the Government’s response is to tell consumers to shop around for the best deal. But 70 per cent of Big Six customers remain on their supplier’s most expensive tariffs; only 5 per cent of people intended to switch supplier in the next 12 months; and it is those who struggle most with crippling bills who are least likely to switch.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and industrial Strategy, said:

“Working people are suffering rip-off price hikes by the Big Six energy companies whilst at the same time many bosses continue to carry on paying themselves obscene amounts. That’s the Tories’ rigged economy in action and they will do nothing about it.

“The next Labour Government will take the tough action needed on the energy companies. We’ll impose a hard price cap on energy bills that will immediately end rip-off price increases, and we’re prepared to take on the Big Six to do it. Labour is standing up for the people against the elite.”

Justin Madders, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, commenting on the GP workforce figures which have been published by NHS Digital today, said:

“With fewer GPs in place now than in 2015, the Tories are failing on their promise to recruit more General Practitioners. The end result is that it is getting increasingly difficult to see a GP, with people facing longer waits for routine appointments as pressure on A&Es mount.

“This Government’s management of the NHS workforce has been a disaster. They need to do much more to address the pressures of working in General Practice and attract the number of new GPs the NHS needs. Across the country patients are paying the price for the Tories’ failure to get enough GPs in place”.

Sue Hayman MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, responding to Ford’s scrappage scheme announcement, said:

“This is welcome news from Ford who are to be congratulated for their initiative and innovation with this scheme. 

“Not only do schemes like these help to tackle the air pollution crisis in the UK, they also help to boost the car industry and our economy.

“However, action from individual manufacturers won’t make up for a lack of leadership from the Government on air quality. 

“With nearly 40 million people living in areas with illegal levels of air pollution, a joined up, strategic approach across the country is urgently needed.”