John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, responding to the Government’s housing announcement, said: 

“This welcome Government climb-down is further proof that Labour is winning the argument and making the running on housing. 

“When Conservative Ministers voted down this Labour proposal previously they described it as ‘unnecessary regulation’ which ‘will deter investment and put up rents’. 

“The Government must now rethink its ideological refusal to help renters in other areas too, starting by backing Labour’s plans for longer tenancies and controls on rents.” 

Karen Buck MP, who proposed these measures in a Private Members Bill, said: 

“I am delighted that the government have agreed to back this important Bill this time around. 

“One million rented homes are unfit for occupation- plagued by problems such as damp, mould or extreme cold. This Bill requires landlords to ensure that all homes are fit to live in and gives tenants new rights to challenge them if they do not. 

“Everyone should have the right to a decent home and this is one step towards making that happen.”

Jon Trickett MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to talks on the future of Carillion, said:

“It has been clear for months that Carillion has been in difficulty but the Government has continued to hand over contracts to the company even after profits warnings were issued.

"Jobs and public services are now at risk because the Tories were blinded by their commitment to a failing ideological project of introducing the profit motive into taxpayer funded services. 

"Labour urges the Government to stand ready to intervene and bring these crucial public sector contracts back in-house in order to protect Carillion’s employees, pension holders and British taxpayers.”

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, has made the following appointments to Labour’s frontbench team:

Shadow Minister for Pensions – Jack Dromey MP

Shadow Minister for Labour – Laura Pidcock MP

Shadow Minister for Planning – Roberta Blackman-Woods MP

Shadow Minister for Social Care and Mental Health – Paula Sherriff MP

Shadow Minister for Buses – Matt Rodda MP

Shadow Minister for the Treasury – Clive Lewis MP

Shadow Minister for the Treasury – Lyn Brown MP

Shadow Minister for Fire – Karen Lee MP

Shadow Minister for International Trade – Judith Cummins MP

Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office – Chris Matheson MP

Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office – Laura Smith MP

Shadow Minister for International Development – Dan Carden MP

Shadow Minister for International Development – Preet Gill MP

On making the appointments, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“I am pleased to make these appointments to strengthen Labour’s frontbench team, which is now a Government in waiting.

“I look forward to working with them in their new roles holding the Government to account, developing policy to transform our country and, with their Shadow Secretary of States, preparing to form a Government that will deliver for the many not the few.”

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the news that Calais Hospital is advertising for NHS patients, said:

“This is very worrying and shows that the NHS clearly isn’t ‘better prepared’ for winter than ever before and that Theresa May really has lost control.

“Under the Tories, 14,000 hospital beds have been cut and we have 100,000 vacancies, which has left services facing unprecedented strains despite the heroic efforts of our brilliant staff.

"Patients deserve more than being forced to cross the Channel for their care.”

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to reports that HMRC is struggling to deal with the growing number of cases of tax avoidance, said:

“The consequences of deep Tory cuts to HMRC are being felt, and risk undermining its efforts to tackle tax avoidance and evasion.

“Labour has consistently said that only a fully resourced and funded HMRC will be able to effectively tackle the scourge of tax evasion and its huge cost to the taxpayer. These latest revelations only further confirm some of our worst fears.”