Labour

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, commenting on new government statistics showing that there are four million leasehold dwellings in England, said:

“These new figures confirm for the first time the scale of leasehold ownership in England.

“Home-owners who own their home as leaseholders are currently unprotected from rip-off rises in ‘ground rents’ from developers or management companies.

“At its worst this is little better than legalised extortion and too many leaseholders are having to pay hefty bills as a result. Under a Labour Government this sharp practice would end.

“This is unfinished business for Labour – we gave leaseholders more protection in government, but the continuing problem now means we must do more.

“A Labour Government would give leaseholders security from rip-off ground rents and end the routine use of leasehold ownership in new housing developments.”

Andrew Gwynne MP, responding to Theresa May’s speech at the launch of the Tory local elections campaign, said:

“The Tories cannot give Britain the change we need. Theresa May talks of a country that works for everyone, but for the last seven years the Tories have failed ordinary working people and plunged our public services into crisis.

“When Theresa May says she has a plan for Britain, what she means is a plan to run the NHS into the ground, squeeze people’s living standards, reintroduce unfair selection in our schools and drive us towards a risky Brexit which threatens jobs, growth and workers’ rights.

“Theresa May’s claims on Council Tax are misleading. The truth is that where Labour controls the local council, households will pay on average £336 less next year than those living in Tory areas. People are better off with a Labour council.

“Working people deserve better than Tory failure – only Labour will stand up for them and their families.”

Kate Osamor, Labour’s Shadow International Development Secretary, responding to the publication of ODA statistics for 2016, said:

“Britain is rightly acclaimed around the world for our commitment to poverty reduction and helping the world’s poorest. It is vital that we uphold this reputation and that the attempts that are underway within the Tory party to undermine the aid budget are opposed.

“The scale of the increase in aid being spent by non-DfID government departments is concerning. Some of these departments, including the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence, have consistently received “Poor” or “Very Poor” ratings in Publish What You Fund’s Aid Transparency Index.

“The Government must explain what steps it is taking to address this across all the departments now disbursing the aid budget. The public rightly want to see full transparency and accountability in how the aid budget is being spent, and the Government needs to up its game.”

Diane Abbott, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to Theresa May’s remarks on freedom of movement, said:

“Theresa May has let the cat out of the bag. Freedom of movement will continue after we have left the EU.

“But this is not what voters were told either before or since the referendum.

“This latest broken promise is symptomatic of the Tories’ dysfunctional approach to Brexit.

“EU workers and their UK employers deserve certainty about their future but are being badly let down by this Government.”

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party said:

“Ken Livingstone’s comments have been grossly insensitive, and he has caused deep offence and hurt to the Jewish community.

“Labour’s independently elected National Constitutional Committee has found Ken guilty of bringing the party into disrepute and suspended him for two years.

“It is deeply disappointing that, despite his long record of standing up to racism, Ken has failed to acknowledge or apologise for the hurt he has caused. Many people are understandably upset that he has continued to make offensive remarks which could open him to further disciplinary action.

“Since initiating the disciplinary process, I have not interfered with it and respect the independence of the party’s disciplinary bodies. But Ken’s subsequent comments and actions will now be considered by the National Executive Committee after representations from party members.”

Ends