Labour

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.”

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, speaking today at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ and National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Partnership Summit 2017, said:

“The Tories have been in denial about rising crime, but Amber Rudd yesterday admitted there is a genuine increase in violent crimes.

“Crime is up, yet the Tories continue to cut police numbers, which are now at a 35-year low. Instead of listening to police chiefs and crime commissioners, the Tories continue to insist that the police are not over-stretched. The reality is very different. Serious crime is rising, police numbers are falling, and the arrest rate is down.

“Labour in government will increase police numbers by 10,000. We will begin to address the real shortfall in resources. The Tories will continue with their internal crises. Labour will tackle the real problems facing ordinary people.”

Debbie Abrahams MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the benefit cap statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions today, said:

“It is deeply concerning that nearly 70,000 families are now being affected by the Tories’ benefit cap. 

“Seven in every ten of those are single parent families, struggling to give their children the best life chances in the face of falling real wages, the spiralling cost of essentials and inflexible, low quality childcare.

“The courts recently ruled that a benefit cap was discriminatory and unlawful for nearly 30,000 families with children under two. Often these are women fleeing domestic violence.

“Labour has stood against the reduction of the benefit cap. We will transform the social security system so that, like the NHS, it is there for us all in our time of need.”

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the latest Nursing and Midwifery Council data showing a further fall in numbers on their register, said:

“The new figures from the NMC expose the Government’s hollow promises on nurse recruitment. Far from delivering the staff needed to keep patients on wards safe, nurse numbers are now in fact falling in our NHS. It’s staggering that numbers are falling when all the evidence shows we need more nurses in the NHS, not less.

“The truth is that the Government has totally failed in its planning of the NHS workforce. The disastrous pay cap has pushed staff to the brink and the end of bursaries has led to a fall in places on nursing degrees. Now Theresa May’s chaotic approach to Brexit is directly impacting staffing levels in the NHS.

“With winter coming it is essential the NHS can get enough staff in place to deliver safe services for patients. The Government needs to get a grip and come up with a sustainable long term plan for the NHS which deals with the staffing crisis and gives the NHS the funding it needs.”

MPs have unanimously passed a Labour motion calling on the Government to share the 58 Brexit impact studies to a parliamentary select committee.

The Speaker of the House of Commons has been clear that today’s decision is binding. Speaking during the debate, John Bercow, said: “Motions of this kind have in the past been seen as effective or binding.” 

Labour is now calling on ministers to urgently set a date for when the papers will be released to the Brexit Select Committee.

Keir Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, said:

“This is a victory for Parliament and for democracy.

“Labour has been absolutely clear since the referendum that ministers could not withhold vital information from Parliament about the impact of Brexit on jobs and the economy.

“It’s completely unacceptable for the Tories to have wasted months avoiding responsible scrutiny and trying to keep the public in the dark. The reality is that it should not have taken an ancient Parliamentary procedure to get ministers to listen to common sense.

“As the Speaker has made clear, the Government cannot ignore tonight’s binding decision. David Davis must now respond to Parliament’s ruling and urgently set a date for when he will share these papers.”