Labour

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the publication of David Anderson QC’s report, said:

“This is an extremely valuable report from David Anderson QC. As always, our thoughts are with the families of the bereaved and survivors of these attacks.

“While we know nine of fifteen plots were prevented, one of the worrying aspects of the report is how many of the terrorists were known to the security services and had been monitored by them. It is possible that more of these may have been preventable. 

“MI5 and Counter-Terrorism police have already identified improved neighbourhood policing as a key part of their prevention strategy. The Government needs to accept that. But they have cut police numbers and police weren’t even mentioned in the Budget. The report also says that, after an increase in Counter-Terrorism spending, grant allocations will be cut over the next three years.

“Labour will restore 10,000 police, who will be focused on community policing. We will review the resources of the security services to focus on preventing terrorism here in the UK. You can’t provide security on the cheap. Labour will respond appropriately.”

Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, commenting on reports that council workers have been offered a two-year pay deal, said:

“Labour leaders in Local Government have worked tirelessly to urge the Government to scrap the 1 per cent pay cap and provide funding to give public sector workers the pay rise they deserve.

“Local government workers provide an important and essential service to the public, but for years they have seen their pay held back by this Government in the name of austerity.

“Given the Tories’ harsh cuts to local authority budgets, it is vital that additional funding is provided to back up this pledge, to avoid simply placing extra burden on already over-strained budgets.”

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, responding to the 3.4% rise in rail fares, said:

“This latest increase in rail fares is staggering. 

“Private rail companies continue to cash in while passengers and commuters have to cough up.

“The Tories should follow Labour’s example and commit to ending the scandal of train companies being run for profit rather than people.”

Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commenting on today’s reports from Yemen, said:

“The killing of Ali Saleh by his former Houthi allies ‎represents a dangerous new turn in this conflict. An already multi-sided regional conflict now faces even greater violence between Saleh loyalists and Houthi militias, which will only plunge the millions of malnourished, embattled civilians in rebel-held areas into ever more desperate danger.

“Now, more than ever before, we need an urgent UN-led effort to halt the violence on all sides, allow Yemen’s civilians to receive the humanitarian relief they need, and work towards a political solution to the conflict. We renew our calls on the UK government to play their part in that effort by bringing forward the draft ceasefire resolution for which the UN Security Council has now been waiting for more than a year.

“Even before today, hundreds of thousands of Yemeni children in rebel-held areas were already facing death from famine, disease and the Saudi air strikes and blockade. On top of all that, the creation of a new front of the civil war within their own cities and towns is another unconscionable cruelty, and the whole world needs to act now to stop their suffering before it is too late.”

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, responding to the joint press conference with Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker, said:

“The real reason for today’s failure is the grubby deal the Government did with the DUP after the election.

“It is disappointing that there has not been progress in the Brexit negotiations after months of delays and grandstanding.

“Labour has been clear from the outset that we need a jobs first Brexit deal that works for the whole of the United Kingdom.

“Each passing day provides further evidence that Theresa May’s Government is completely ill-equipped to negotiate a successful Brexit deal for our country.”