Julie
Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, commenting on the new joint
report on social care costs by Independent Age and the Institute and Faculty of
Actuaries, said:

“Older
people still face grave uncertainty over the cost of care because of the social
care policy vacuum created by a Tory Government bereft of ideas.

“Having
U-turned on their disastrous dementia tax policy the Tories failed to tell us
what the level of the cap on costs would be and they are now using a
long-awaited Green Paper to kick a decision on long-term social care funding
into the long grass.

“Labour
will ease the crisis in social care by building a National Care Service based
on the principle of shared risk so no-one faces catastrophic care costs as they
do now.”

Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government, Andrew Gwynne MP,
responding to revelations that around one third of councils in England have
been forced to cut services delivering contraceptive care as a result of cuts
to public funding, said:

“Seven years of
government funding cuts to services are driving councils to the financial
brink.

"Continuing this
neglect risks creating a crisis not only in local government but also in our
health service.

"At a time when the
country needs fresh ideas and leadership, it is instead suffering from the
weakest and most divided government in memory.”

Ends

Peter Dowd MP,
Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on the Government’s
announcement to delay the abolition of Class 2 NICs, said:

“The government has clearly tried to sneak this
admission of their own failure out just before recess. This should have
been announced in the House by a Treasury Minister. 

“This announcement only further highlights the chaos that
there is at the centre of the Government right now, as clearly these proposals
had not been thoroughly thought through before they were announced.

"But above all the Government needs to make
sure that those currently paying Class 2 NICs, including many low-earning
self-employed people, are not hit hard as a result of their abolition and
replacement.”

Ends

Labour MPs call on Government
to lower voting age to 16

Tomorrow, Friday 3 November, Labour MPs will be supporting Jim
McMahon MP’s Private Member’s Bill to reduce the voting age to 16. This reform would
enfranchise 1.5 million people, enabling them to
participate in politics and have a say in the decisions that affect their lives
and futures.

Votes at 16 has cross-party support, from the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and some senior
Conservative politicians.

The Bill
would also introduce a requirement on Returning Officers to ensure steps are
taken to register new voters and ensure schools teach pupils
about democracy and citizenship.

Jim
McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton, said:

“The fact there is cross-party
support to lower the voting age shows that the political appetite for change is
there. It has been discussed in the past, but now the time has come to make it
a reality.

“This is the right
thing to do to strengthen our democracy, and I will be working tirelessly
with other MPs and young people to make sure we take this historic step
forward.”

Cat Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and
Youth Affairs said:

“It is ridiculous that 16 year olds living in Scotland can vote in
local elections, but are denied the right to vote in UK General Elections. With
the Welsh Labour Government also looking to extend the franchise to young
people, the UK Government must act now.

“It is vital that politicians listen to the voices of young people.
That is why Labour is supporting Jim McMahon’s campaign to extend the franchise
to 16 and 17 year olds.”

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John
McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to the decision today
by the Bank of England to raise interest rates to 0.5%, said:

“Today’s
decision by the Bank of England reflects the deep pessimism of many economists
about the underlying state of the British economy after seven years of Tory
policies, with productivity forecasts also likely to be downgraded by the
Office for Budget Responsibility later this month.

“The
Tories’ failure means real wages are lower today than in 2010 and still
falling. The government must bring forward the investment needed to
secure well-paid jobs, and follow Labour’s call for a £10/hour Real Living Wage
to end poverty pay.”