Labour

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury responding to the publishing of the EU Parliament’s report on Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion and ahead of Labour’s attempt to block the Government’s plans to protect offshore trusts from UK tax, said:

“The report from the EU Parliament reinforces once again the Conservative Government’s stonewalling of any meaningful action to tackle tax avoidance and offshore trusts.

“The report’s publication comes on the same day that the Conservative Government is trying to peddle a Finance Bill which is a charter for tax dodgers exempting their offshore trusts from UK tax.

“Labour has consistently demanded that the Government introduce a register for offshore trusts but we have found our attempts to amend the Finance Bill frustrated by a Government using arcane procedural tricks.

“Labour’s Tax Transparency and Enforcement Programme will make Britain a leader in tackling global tax avoidance and ensuring that wealthy individuals and companies pay their fair share.”

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to reports linking British Banks to money laundering activity in South Africa, said:

“This is the third high-profile money laundering scandal to involve major British banks this year, and London has become notorious as a global centre for money laundering. There are many hardworking people in our banking sector who will feel frustrated and dismayed by such stories, but they are let down by poor leadership and weak oversight that undermines the financial sector’s reputation. 

“It’s time the Chancellor considered a wide ranging independent inquiry that leaves no stone unturned in rooting out unlawful and damaging activity. The Government cannot continue to drag its feet on this matter as it will be the British banking industry as a whole that risks long-term damage to the reputation on which it depends.”

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on today’s ONS crime statistics, said:

 “The Tories can no longer hide behind claims that crime is falling to justify their severe cuts to the police.

 “They have left our communities exposed, with police numbers the lowest on record at a time when forces are under unprecedented pressure from surging crime, an ongoing terror threat, and from covering for cuts to other services.

 “Labour will recruit 10,000 new police officers to restore neighbourhood policing and tackle rising crime.”

Debbie Abrahams MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding after the House of Commons unanimously approved Labour’s Opposition Day motion calling for a pause to Universal Credit Full Service said:

“It is welcome that the House of Commons has supported Labour’s call for a pause to Universal Credit. As I called for immediately following the vote, the Government must now act on the clear instruction of Parliament, by bringing forward plans to pause and fix Universal Credit Full Service, before millions are pushed closer to poverty.

“MPs from all parties recognised that, while it is positive that the Government has listened to Labour on the high cost of its helplines, this doesn’t go far enough.

“There remain very serious issues with the Government’s flagship programme, not least the six week wait for payment following a claim. These are driving debt, arrears and even evictions.”

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, responding to a government call for evidence on whether a new system of regulation for letting and management agents is needed, said:

“In the face of a housing crisis getting worse by the day, this is a feeble announcement. This isn’t even a commitment to act, it’s a commitment to ask some questions. After seven years of failure on housing, Ministers need to do much better than this.

“Rather than just asking whether renters and leaseholders need better protections, Ministers should act on Labour’s proposals to end the building of new leasehold homes, cap rises in ground rents, and back our plan for new consumer protections for private tenants including a control on rent rises, a ban on letting fees and new minimum standards.”