Labour

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party , responding to Theresa May’s press conference in Turkey, said:

“President Trump’s executive order against refugees and Muslims should shock and appal us all. 

“Theresa May should have stood up for Britain and our values by condemning his actions. It should sadden our country that she chose not to.

“After Trump’s hideous actions and May’s weak failure to condemn them, it’s more important than ever for us to say to refugees seeking a place of safety, that they will always be welcome in Britain.”

Responding to the joint press conference held between Theresa May and President Trump, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has said:

“The Prime Minister promised to speak frankly to President Trump, and tell him where she disagreed with him, but we heard nothing of the sort.

“She appears only to have discussed those issues on which we already know they agree: trade and security. But we heard nothing about climate change, about respect for human and reproductive rights, about war crimes in Syria, about the nuclear deal with Iran, or about the illegal settlements in the West Bank. 

The Prime Minister referred to a special relationship based on our shared history and interests, but she has to realise that it is also a relationship based on shared values, and if the President is going to discard those values, whether by embracing torture or ignoring climate change, then she must be willing to tell him frankly that he is wrong.

“Her failure to do so today – even behind closed doors – was nothing less than shameful.”

Julie Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, commenting on reports of increases in waiting times for hip operations, said:

“It is absolutely shocking in 21st Century Britain that patients in some parts of the country will only qualify for knee and hip replacement operations on the NHS if they can prove pain so exceptional that it prevents sleep.

“Rationing of this kind is totally unacceptable and is against the best traditions of the NHS. However, there are concerns that if the Government continues to deny sufficient funding to the NHS, rationing of treatments could become more widespread.”

Wayne David MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces and Defence Procurement, responding to the National Audit Office’s report on the MoD Equipment Plan, said:

“Today’s report from the National Audit Office should serve as a wake-up call to ministers. The warning signs have been there for a long time but it is becoming increasingly clear that the Government is in danger of losing control of the defence budget.

“Ministers ought to have clearly defined priorities and should ensure that, in these uncertain times, Britain’s defence expenditure should not be the subject of ill thought-out public expenditure cuts. The defence budget has been slashed since 2010 and the Government is only meeting the 2 per cent of GDP commitment through creative accounting.

“The Government should meet this commitment properly. Ministers also need to respond urgently to the concerns raised by the NAO. And they should confirm when the long-overdue National Shipbuilding Strategy will be published.

“Only Labour can deliver a serious, joined-up Defence Industrial Strategy, as we did in Government. Our approach would safeguard Britain’s industrial base, secure high quality jobs throughout the supply chain, and protect our national sovereignty, while achieving value for money.”

Richard Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on reports that lawyers representing the families of the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings can apply for legal aid, said:

“This is a welcome though long overdue announcement from the Government. Following the Home Secretary’s unexpected refusal to fund the legal costs of the inquests, the families should not have been made to wait a further four months for this announcement. Labour has been pressing the Government to do the right thing and this development is welcome.

However, Conservative cuts to legal aid still mean that families who do receive public funding are far from on a par with the resources of public bodies. This is another reason the Government must get on with its review of legal aid cuts.”