Justin
Madders MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, responding to Philip Dunne MP’s
remark that there are seats to sit on if beds aren’t available, said:

“This
is an appalling and ignorant remark from a Minister entirely out of touch with
the reality of the NHS winter crisis.

“Placing
sick patients in chairs because of acute bed shortages is clearly not
acceptable in the 21^st Century. And yet with numerous Trusts this
winter at times reporting 100 per cent bed occupancy, hospitals simply cannot
cope and are being forced into these intolerable situations.

“Patients
and staff are currently facing an unprecedented winter crisis. Instead of
worrying about reshuffles, the Prime Minister must urgently sort this mess
out.”

Responding
to Theresa May’s comment on the Andrew Marr show that “nothing is perfect” in
the NHS, Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said:

“Yet
again Theresa May has shown utter disregard for those patients languishing on
trolleys, delayed in ambulances in the freezing cold weather or forced to wait
longer in pain and anxiety because their operation has been cancelled.

“A real
apology would be backed up by real action. Instead all we get is a plan to
promote the Health Secretary who has overseen this crisis. Promoting the Health
Secretary would be a betrayal of patients who deserve better this winter.”

Responding to Theresa May’s announcement to drop plans for a vote on fox hunting, Sue Hayman MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs said;

“The Tories have finally bowed to
pressure from Labour and campaigners with this long overdue U-Turn, just months
after the Prime Minister publicly stated her support for a free vote on the
matter.

“85 per cent of the public do
not want a return of this cruel and barbaric activity. The Government must now outline
plans to take tough action against those who continue to conduct illegal fox
hunts.

“The Tories still have a long way to
go to reverse their abysmal record on animal welfare. Labour calls on Theresa
May to now drop her government’s poorly regulated, reckless badger cull across
England, to take action against raptor bird persecution and make comprehensive
commitments on banning the sale of ivory and wild animals in circuses.”

Alan Whitehead MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate Change Minister, commenting on the Governments response to the unabated coal closure consultation, said:

“While Labour supports the phased removal of coal from the system by 2025, unfortunately, this consultation leaves open a number of loopholes that could hinder the process.

“The Government’s lacklustre support for renewables and scrappage of a number of green schemes has left it on course to miss its own climate targets. Similarly, their decision to massively reduce the levels of funding for carbon capture and storage, which would help a genuinely inclusive transition, is disappointing.  

“Unlike this Government, Labour is committed to supporting future renewable energy projects to build the clean economy of the future.”

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to Richard Branson’s comments defending the Government for the bailout of Virgin’s East Coast Rail franchise, said:

“The bailout of the East Coast rail franchise is undoubtedly good news for the pay packet of Richard Branson, but not for taxpayers and passengers who have been short-changed by up to £2 billion.

“This bailout is yet another example of the Tories defending profiteering train companies and the rich elite at the expense of the British public who pay for and use our rail services.“