£345 million cut for over 200,000
people with mental health conditions under this Government  

A new Freedom of Information
response published today by the Department of Work and Pensions shows that over
200,000 people with mental health conditions will have their income slashed by
Conservative cuts to Employment and Support Allowance introduced in April this
year.  

This data flies directly in the
face of the Prime Minister’s commitment to end the “burning injustice” of the
treatment of people with mental health conditions.

With the cut to Employment and
Support Allowance Work Related Activity Group amounting to a £1,500 reduction
per person, these new figures show that over £345 million will be taken from
the pockets of people with mental health conditions.  

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
said: 

“These cuts to people with mental
health conditions just go to show that you cannot trust a word the Tories
say. 

“They have boasted about offering
‘parity of esteem’ to mental and physical health. In reality this just means
equal austerity for all. 

“Labour is committed to reversing
the Conservatives’ pernicious cuts to Employment and Support Allowance, as well
as the cuts to Personal Independence Payments introduced by emergency
legislation in March also affecting people with chronic mental health
conditions.

“We want to transform the social
security system so that it is there for anyone of us in our time of need.”
 

John
Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for Housing, commenting on new statistics showing that
the number of government-funded social rented homes has fallen by 97 per cent
since 2010, said:

“These
disastrous figures show that Conservative Ministers have washed their hands of
any responsibility to build the homes families on low and middle incomes need.
The number of government-funded social rented homes built has plummeted by 97
per cent since 2010.

“After seven years
of failure, the Conservatives have no plan to fix the housing crisis. A Labour government would invest
in the affordable homes that the country needs.”

John McDonnell MP,
Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on Philip Hammond’s Mansion House speech this morning, said:

“The Chancellor has
made clear this morning that the message remains the same – austerity will
continue. The Tories have learnt nothing from the General Election, and the
last seven wasted years of economic failure. The Conservatives have no
understanding of the depth of suffering, stress and insecurity their long
austerity regime has caused.

"And we
have seen the Chancellor again trying to distance himself from
the position of his Prime Minister on Brexit. It just shows
further disarray at the top of government. The fact that there is
clearly such a serious split between Number 10 and 11 is very worrying and only
helps to undermine our country ahead of the Brexit negotiations.

“It further shows just
how weak a position Theresa May is in. And raises the serious question of: how
can she negotiate Brexit when her own Chancellor is so publicly disputing her
position on Brexit and briefing against his own Cabinet colleagues?

“The truth is that the Government’s
spin of over a “hard” or soft “Brexit”, is just a smokescreen to paper over the
cracks of the divide at the very heart of this Tory Government. The reality is
that they are really planning a Brexit for the few by turning our county into a
tax haven off the coast of Europe, which diminishes workplace rights and
undermines working people’s living standards.

“Labour has called from
day one for the Chancellor to act on gaining assurances over our stake in the
EIB, and it has taken him a year to raise a finger; and now he has, all he is
offering businesses in our country in way of support to mitigate any risks from
the loss of this resource is a drop in the ocean from the actual support they
will really need.

“Only a Labour Government
will secure a Brexit for the many that will put jobs and the economy first, and
ensure that working families and small businesses are protected from any
challenges our country faces after leaving the EU.”

“I am shocked by this horrific and
cruel attack in Finsbury Park, which is being treated as an act of terror.

“I offer my condolences to the
family and friends of the man who has died, and our thoughts are with the
people who have been injured, their family and friends.

“As the local MP, I have met with
Muslim community leaders at the Muslim Welfare House alongside Islington
Council Leader Richard Watts, the council’s Chief Executive Lesley Seary and
the Metropolitan Police.

“Richard and I will attend prayers
at Finsbury Park mosque later today.

“I appeal for people and the media
to remain calm and respectful of those affected.

“In the meantime, I call on everyone
to stand together against those who seek to divide us.”

Today the Shadow Chancellor has written to Philip Hammond calling
on him to make public the cost of any secret deals he has made with the DUP in
order to prop up the Government in parliament.

Please find below the text of the letter sent today by John
McDonnell to Philip Hammond:

Dear Chancellor,

I am writing to seek information on a specific element of the
deal being discussed between the Prime Minister and representatives of the
Democratic Unionist Party, which has emerged in the press.

It is reported that the DUP is seeking the ending of Air
Passenger Duty levied on passengers at airports in Northern Ireland.

HMRC estimated the total revenue from APD in Northern Ireland in
2015/16 to be in the region of £90 million.

This figure is an estimate and may need adjustment to take into
account further devolved matters.

However a revenue stream of this scale is significant and would
pay for the equivalent of, for example, an additional 2000 firefighters. 

I am writing to ask whether the Government has been asked for
this measure by the DUP, has agreed to it or is considering it.

In the interest of basic openness and transparency in government
I am writing to ask that you publish any financial measures that have been
discussed with the DUP and set out the financial implications of any measures
agreed with this party.

I look forward to a prompt response given the considerable
public interest in this matter and its consequences on our public finances.

Yours sincerely,

John McDonnell MP

Shadow Chancellor