Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the Written Ministerial Statement announcing the Government will not appeal the High Court PIP judgement, said:

“The Government was wrong to bring in the PIP regulations last year and it was wrong to ignore time and time again the views of the courts.

“Labour supported the initial Tribunal judgment and pledged in our manifesto to reverse the PIP regulations.  

“Serious questions remain including; how many people have been adversely affected by the Government’s reckless decision to oppose the tribunal’s original judgment?  How much public money has been spent on lawyers, trying to defend the indefensible? And how quickly will people with severe mental health conditions receive the support to which they are rightly entitled?

“This is yet more evidence of the duplicity and disarray of the Tories’ social security policies.”

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the claim that numerous patients in the East of England were harmed or died following significant ambulance days, said:

“These allegations from an East of England Ambulance service whistleblower are shocking and tragic.

“We need urgent clarity about what has happened at this ambulance service. Families who have lost a loved one deserve nothing less than to be given answers.

“I hope the Secretary of State will confirm that a full inquiry will be established and come to the Commons on Monday to update MPs on what will happen next.”

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on reports that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has only prosecuted eight cases of insider trading in the past five years, said:

“Once again we have further evidence of this Conservative Government’s priorities and lacklustre approach when it comes to stopping stock market abuse. The Tories would rather spend much needed resources victimising benefit claimants than tackling financial fraud and insider trading.

“The Government’s continued understaffing and under-resourcing of the FCA and HMRC are giving stock market fraudsters and insider traders carte blanche and sadly it’s the taxpayer who is paying for it.

"The next Labour government will take action to prevent stock market abuse, ensure that HMRC and the FCA are properly resourced, and create an economy that works for the many, not the few.”

Dawn Butler MP, Shadow Minister for
Women and Equalities,
commenting on the publication of Stonewall’s LGBT in Britain: Trans Report,
said:

“Stonewall’s findings are deeply
concerning. Transphobia is not OK and will never be OK.

“Labour is committed to tackling this
issue and to supporting the Trans community. We urge the government to ensure
that the new guidance being developed on Sex and Relationship Education is
LGBT+ inclusive.

“Reforming the Gender recognition Act
will be key to ensuring Trans equality. But we are still waiting on the
government to publish the consultation on updating the Act. The government must
follow through on its commitment to reform.”

Ends

Richard
Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, following the
announcement by the Justice Secretary on the John Worboys case, said:

“Many
will be very disappointed by today’s news. The Government needs to take measures
that restore public confidence in our justice system. It’s clear that there is
a pressing need for real changes that will make Parole Board decisions much
more transparent.

“But the
Worboys case raises so many serious questions that anything less than an
independent end-to-end review into the handling of the case—from the first
report to the police of an attack right through to the Parole Board
hearing—would let down the victims and the wider public. It is deeply
regrettable that the Government once again refused to
announce such a review.”