Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work
and Pensions Secretary, commenting on today’s Labour Market Statistics,
said:

“We welcome the overall increase in
employment, but are concerned that wide regional differences in the numbers of
people in work remain.  

“It is also worrying to see that rising
living costs are quickly catching up with wage growth. If this trend continues,
the Government’s abysmal record on living standards will get even worse. 

“With wages set to be lower in 2021 than
before the Tories came to power, they must now act to stop the growing pressure
on low and middle income families. 

“That’s why Labour is urging the
Government to reverse cuts to in-work support that could see some working
families worse off by £2,600 a year.”

Rebecca
Long-Bailey, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on reports that General Motors is in talks to sell its European arm
Opel, which includes the UK’s Vauxhall, said:

“In light
of plans by General Motors to explore the option of selling Vauxhall and Opel,
the Government should be pushing protection of our automotive sector right to
the top of their agenda.

“Workers
and investors need confidence that this industry will be robustly supported by
Government for many years to come so that jobs are secure and investors are
able to make long term decisions.

“I would
also urge General Motors to work very closely with trade unions in progressing
any deal to ensure that jobs are protected.”

Ends

Richard
Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on press coverage of
problems at HMP Northumberland, said:

“While
conditions in HMP Northumberland will shock many people, it should come as no
surprise to this Tory Government – Labour has repeatedly warned them that this
is what is happening in prisons on their watch.

“The
Justice Secretary must set out the terms of the investigation she is conducting
into the running of the prison by Sodexo. She needs to set a clear deadline for
Sodexo to prove they can run HMP Northumberland effectively and warn that if
they fail to do so, HM Prison and Probation Service will.

“It
is not acceptable to run a prison with insufficient staff, where prisoners can
take drugs and threaten staff, and where core security functions don’t work and
where fences are cut and alarms fail.”

ENDS

Richard
Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on press coverage of
problems at HMP Northumberland, said:

“While
conditions in HMP Northumberland will shock many people, it should come as no
surprise to this Tory Government – Labour has repeatedly warned them that this
is what is happening in prisons on their watch.

“The
Justice Secretary must set out the terms of the investigation she is conducting
into the running of the prison by Sodexo. She needs to set a clear deadline for
Sodexo to prove they can run HMP Northumberland effectively and warn that if
they fail to do so, HM Prison and Probation Service will.

“It
is not acceptable to run a prison with insufficient staff, where prisoners can
take drugs and threaten staff, and where core security functions don’t work and
where fences are cut and alarms fail.”

ENDS

Nia Griffith MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, responding to the
International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance report, said:

“This report exposes the Government’s complete and shocking
failure to maintain its commitment on defence spending to our Armed Forces and
to the country.

“Just weeks after the Prime Minister was lecturing our allies
about increasing spending to meet the 2 percent NATO commitment, it is now
clear that her Government is unwilling to commit the necessary resources to our
nation’s defences.

“As the Defence Select Committee has shown, the MoD was already
barely scrapping over the 2 percent mark and had changed its accounting methods
to give the illusion of keeping the commitment. To be spending less than 2
percent of GDP on defence is utterly unacceptable, particularly in this time of
immense global uncertainty.

“Labour is committed to spending at least 2 percent of our GDP
on defence spending, as we consistently did when in government.”

ENDS