Labour

Jon Trickett MP, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to the news that Theresa May’s policy chief, George Freeman, has resigned from his role in No 10, said:

“For a man who once said that the ‘raison d’ être’ of his role in No.10 was to face the challenge of renewal in office, his resignation speaks volumes on the current state of the Tories in Government.

“He has caught the essence of the Conservative Party in a two word phrase: lazy privilege. It tells you all that’s wrong with Theresa May’s Government because they are working for the few, while Labour is working for the many.”

Jon Trickett MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to Phillip Hammond on the Marr show saying there are no unemployed people, said:

“The Chancellor is living on another planet. If the person in charge of the country’s finances doesn’t know, or chooses to ignore, the fact that nearly 1.5 million people are unemployed, and almost a million people are on zero-hours contracts, then he is clearly losing a grip on reality.

“The Tories have become even more out of touch and are now so inwards looking that they have no clue of the experiences of ordinary people suffering from seven years of Tory austerity.”

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, responding to comments made on housing in the Chancellor’s interview with the Sunday Times, said:

“After seven years in Government, it’s clear the Conservatives have no plan to fix the housing crisis and still can’t see that their policy failures are making the crisis worse.

“More big targets, small changes in funding and yet another review into the housing market fall far short of what is needed.

“The hard truth is that housebuilding is still below the level it was before the global financial crisis and affordable housebuilding has fallen off a cliff, with the lowest number of new social rented homes built last year since records began.

“Rather than more small-scale tinkering, the Chancellor should back Labour’s long-term plan to invest to build the homes we need, help first-time buyers and give private renters the protections they need.”

Sue Hayman MP, Shadow Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, responding to reports that the Government are considering new taxes on plastic waste, said:

“This looks like another U-turn by a Conservative Government in chaos. While we support initiatives to decrease the use of non-recyclable materials, the slump in recycling figures and significant increase in litter and dumped rubbish under this Government requires a far more strategic approach.

“One of the hallmarks of Tory austerity Britain is the very visible rubbish and fly tipping blighting our communities due to unprecedented cuts to cash-strapped councils and the lack of clear overarching objectives and policies from central Government.

“Ministers must now explain how they intend to invest in developing new packaging materials as well as enhancing recycling processes and infrastructures to deal with this further up the supply chain.

“Despite their warm words on the environment, the Government chose to vote against crucial environmental amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill last week. There is still an opportunity for the Government to get behind the remainder of Labour’s amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill to ensure all environmental law is fully transferred to the UK after Brexit.”

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, responding to the Scottish Labour leadership announcement, said:

“I would like to congratulate Richard Leonard on being elected the new leader of the Scottish Labour Party, and Anas Sarwar for his energetic campaign.

“After being written off time and again, the General Election showed that our Party is capturing the mood both in Scotland and across the rest of the UK.

“There is much to do to continue our party’s revival in Scotland and many who still need to be persuaded to put their trust in the Labour Party. But Richard’s campaign offered a challenge to the rigged system that has benefited a wealthy elite and showed how he will lead Scottish Labour to transform society. This can be a turning point in Scottish politics and our party will now come together, united to challenge Tory and SNP austerity that has held Scotland back.

“I am confident that under Richard’s leadership, Labour will once again be a real force for change in Scotland. I look forward to campaigning with him in Scotland next week as we build a movement that will help our party win in Holyrood and Westminster, to transform our country for the many not the few.”