Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, speaking ahead of the triggering of Article 50, said:

“Today, we embark on the country’s most important negotiations in modern times.

“The British people made the decision to leave the European Union and Labour respects that decision.

“Britain is going to change as a result. The question is how. The Conservatives want to use Brexit to turn our country into a low wage tax haven. Labour is determined to ensure we can rebuild and transform Britain, so no one and no community is left behind.

“It will be a national failure of historic proportions if the Prime Minister comes back from Brussels without having secured protection for jobs and living standards.

“That’s why Labour has set the clear priorities of full access to the European market, rights at work and environmental protection. And we will hold the Government to account every step of the way.”

Justin
Madders MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, commenting on the annual NHS pay
announcement, said:

“The decision to extend the pay cap for
another year is totally self-defeating and unsustainable. By squeezing pay for
years on end the Government is driving an NHS workforce crisis, forcing people
out of health professions and putting others off starting in the first place.
Hospitals are already forced to pay huge sums for temporary staff to plug the
gaps and there is still no sign
of how the Government plan to deal with the NHS workforce implications of
Brexit.

“The
NHS Pay Review Body say the Government’s pay policy is “under stress” and make
clear the pay cap cannot last in the longer term. The Review Body say that
workforce issues are “being neglected” nationally and that there is a
“piecemeal and short-term” approach to pay. It is clear that the Government’s
mismanagement of NHS workforce strategy has reached its limit.

“It’s
time that the NHS pay cap was lifted so that the nursing staff, paramedics,
midwives and other key workers who care for us when we need it most are paid at
a level which recognises the skill and dedication which they bring to their
jobs.”

Keir
Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, responding to Tory calls for a ‘root and branch’ review of EU
regulations, said:

“The
report that Iain Duncan Smith cites describes basic employment rights as costly
regulations.

“On the eve of triggering Article 50 it
is increasingly clear that rights and protections are seen by many senior
Tories, including in the Cabinet, as an “expensive” luxury that British workers
and consumer consumers can do without.

“That is why one of Labour’s six tests for the Brexit deal is that it defends
hard fought for rights and protections and doesn’t lead to a race to the
bottom.

“The Prime Minister must stand up to the growing voices in her Party that see
Brexit as a once in a generation opportunity to dismantle the rights and
protections that underpin our economic model.”

Nia
Griffith MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, responding to the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body 2017 Report, said:

“This
report highlights the serious effect that changes to pay and conditions are
having on our Armed Forces. According to the report’s authors, rent rises and
changes to tax and benefits have created a “perfect storm” that is putting real
pressure on service personnel and their families. 

“We
have known for some time that Conservative cuts to our Armed Forces have had a
crippling effect on morale, but this report issues the stark warning that these
pressures must be dealt with, otherwise there will be a widespread effect on
recruitment and retention, which could in turn threaten operational
effectiveness.

“It
is clear from this report that personnel feel overlooked in favour of
cost-cutting by the MoD. Our Armed Forces and their families deserve the very
best support, it’s time for the Government to treat them with the respect that
they deserve.”

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on new
Government plans that would allow civilians to compete for chief constable
jobs, said:

“Caution
is required with these plans. There is a continuous need to modernise the
police, making it more diverse and representative of society as a whole, but
many able officers will now wonder whether their own career paths could be
blocked.

“This
Tory Government have already reduced officer numbers by over 20,000 and broken
their pledge to protect police funding in real terms.

“Neither
the police nor the public will want to see people recruited from outside the
service simply because of their willingness to implement further swingeing
cuts.”