Jeremy
Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, responding to confirmation that Brexit talks can now
move onto the second phase, said:

“It is
welcome that the European Council has at last agreed to move to the crucial
second stage of the Brexit negotiations.

“However, this should have happened months ago. The truth is that the
Government’s chaotic handling of the Brexit talks has hindered
progress, fuelled uncertainty and risked economic damage.

“Theresa May must learn from her mistakes, put the needs of the country before
her party and prioritise negotiating a future relationship with the European
Union that puts jobs and the economy first.”

Ends

Gill Furniss, Shadow Steel Minister, commenting on the
publication of the Government’s study into the ‘Future Capacities and
Capabilities of the UK Steel Industry’, said:

“For too long the UK steel industry has
been neglected by this Government. Their Industrial Strategy merely paid lip
service to industry whilst failing to provide any tangible solutions or to
respond to the Steel Sector Deal proposal. The opportunities outlined in
today’s report can only be harnessed with full Government backing and support.

’’Labour will create a level playing field for the UK steel industry so it can
compete globally and take full advantage of the opportunities on offer’’.

Debbie Abrahams MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting
on the Written Ministerial Statement on Employment and Support Allowance, said:

“It is a damning indictment of this Government and their incompetence
that 75,000 people in receipt of ESA were underpaid between 2011 and 2014 and
this information has only now been put in the public domain.

“The statement spells out a litany of failures by officials and
Ministers. Ministers have known about this issue for nearly a year, but
chose not to inform Parliament immediately. The Secretary of State must come
before Parliament to explain how such a huge error was not rectified sooner and
to outline in detail how he will ensure all those affected will receive the
payments they are due.” 

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Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to comments from The Archbishop of Canterbury on tax avoidance:

“The Archbishop of Canterbury is right to call out shocking levels of tax avoidance by large multinationals based here in the UK. While this behaviour may not be illegal, it is certainly questionable that companies should choose to act in this way. It is the duty of our Government to ensure that our tax system is robust enough to resist such abuses by closing loopholes and holding companies to account.

“We are still waiting for the Tories to deliver any decisive action on making sure everyone pays their fair share. A Labour Government would act to close the UK’s tax gap through our Tax Transparency and Enforcement Programme. The UK is strong enough to attract multinational businesses without tolerating convoluted avoidance schemes designed to avoid tax.”

Ends

Jon Trickett MP, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, commenting on the gender pay gap for special advisors, said:

“Theresa May promised a country that works for everyone, but is worsening gender inequality in her own backyard. Spads are personal political appointments made by or on behalf of the Prime Minister herself, so she cannot shake that her fingerprints are all over this injustice.

“These figures will be hard reading for women across the country who, at current rates, will have to wait for more than 100 years for the pay gap to close.”

Ends