Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and
Pensions Secretary, commenting
on the Government’s ‘Fuller Working Lives’ strategy, said:

“It’s right that the Government is taking
steps to boost employment for older people.

“However, more than half a million
workers aged over 50 rely on in-work support – and that support is at risk of
being rolled back through Universal Credit.

“That’s why Labour is calling on the
Tories to reverse cuts to Universal Credit, which could see some older workers
worse off by £2,600 a year.”

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary,
commenting on the Government’s statement on Heathrow, said:

“Labour
has consistently been pushing for a decision on runway expansion in the South
East of England so after years of dither and delay, it is welcome that progress
is finally being made.

“However,
there are still outstanding issues including how Heathrow expansion can be
squared with meeting the UK’s climate change objectives and demonstrating that
local noise and environmental impacts can be minimised.

“This
can be achieved, but only in the context of a coherent aviation strategy that
works for the country not just London. It starts with confirming our membership
of the European Aviation Safety Agency, as well as action on cleaner fuels and
improving road and rail access to our international gateway airports.”

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to official UCAS figures
published today which show that applications for undergraduate nursing degrees
starting in September 2017 are down 23 percent compared with the previous year, said:

“The
Government have been warned repeatedly that cutting bursaries and funding for
student nurses would cut off the future supply of NHS staff. Now we have the
proof that those warnings were right – 23 percent fewer people have applied to study
nursing this year.

“Misguided
reductions in training places under the Tory Government, combined with a never-ending pay squeeze, have left the NHS dangerously short of staff. Patients are
seeing wards closed, operations cancelled and treatments delayed. Now the new
recruits which the health service so desperately needs are being driven away
before they’ve even started.

“The staff
are the lifeblood of our NHS. They give their all to keep the system going in
the face of underfunding and mismanagement by the Tories. The Government ought
to get a grip, show our nursing students that their time and commitment is
really valued, and give them the support they need when they’re setting out on
their careers.”

Andy
McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on
reports that reforms to the rail fare system will be trialled this May, said:

“It’s
welcome news that simplifying fares will be trialled but it is clear that this
is just tinkering around the edges. 

“Privatised rail has created a fragmented system with a jumble of operators
offering a complicated array of fares for passengers to navigate. 

“Passengers don’t want to shop around for tickets, they want to get from A to B
for the cheapest price. This is why Labour will bring our railways back into
public ownership, creating an integrated national network with simple and
affordable fares for all.”

John
McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting in the Resolution
Foundation report out today, which shows that Britain is on course for the
biggest increase in inequality since Thatcher, said:

 “This
report is damning of the unfair economic policies of this Chancellor, as the
gap between working families and a wealthy few gets wider, with the poor
getting poorer and the rich getting richer. It demonstrates to us all once
again that the economy under a Tory government will be rigged for those at the
top, with poor and middle income households
facing their worst Parliament for income growth since the 1960s.

“Labour
called on the Government at the Autumn Statement to end the unfair cuts to in
work benefits, whilst they were going ahead with tax giveaways to a wealthy
minority, but Philip Hammond chose to carry on with the work of his
predecessor.

“It is becoming clearer by the day that
working families will be forced to pay for a Tory Brexit that favours the rich
and not the rest of us, as our country faces its biggest rise in inequality
since Margaret Thatcher.

“The
next Labour government would rewrite the rules of our economy in favour of
working families, with a real living wage expected to be £10 an hour by 2020,
and proper investment to ensure no one and no community is left behind.”