Labour

Matthew Pennycook MP, Shadow Brexit Minister, commenting on the House of Lords’ Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee report on the EU Withdrawal Bill, said:

“This report raises fundamental concerns about the Government’s repeal bill.

“Britain voted to take back control, but the truth is this bill represents an unprecedented  power-grab by Tory ministers. Parliament risks becoming a mere spectator while the Government is given sweeping new powers over people’s everyday lives.

“It’s time for Theresa May to change approach. She should scrap this bill and introduce new legislation that respects the referendum and enhances, rather than undermines, British democracy.”

Andy McDonald MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, responding to the Government’s road casualty statistics, said:

“The latest road casualty statistics make for chilling reading with the number of road deaths at a five year high and serious life changing injuries up by nine per cent.

“Labour made significant progress on road safety, but the Tories scrapped road safety targets and allowed our roads to become more dangerous.

“The underfunding of police forces has meant there are a third fewer dedicated traffic police than a decade ago, making enforcement less effective. Labour will reintroduce road safety targets and increase police numbers as part of an ambitious strategy striving for zero deaths on our roads.”

Keir Starmer MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, commenting on the latest round of Brexit negotiations, said: 

“Any movement towards breaking the deadlock in Brexit negotiations is welcome, but the reality is that this should have happened months ago. Instead, the summer has been wasted by Cabinet infighting and the Prime Minister’s inflexibility on key issues such as the European Court of Justice.

“It looks highly likely that the October deadline for concluding the first phase of talks will be missed.

“This poses a real risk to the British economy and continuing uncertainty for EU and UK citizens.

“Both sides need urgently to work towards a breakthrough that can move discussions on to how Britain forges a strong, progressive partnership with the EU for the future.”

Jon Trickett MP, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, commenting on Theresa May’s speech, said: 

“Today’s speech told us two things. First, Theresa May knows the economy isn’t working for most people but won’t do anything about it. Instead they give tax breaks to the few at the top while working people are worse off. Second, the Conservatives have no new thinking and no answers to the challenge and opportunities facing our country. They are yesterday’s party.”

Barbara Keeley MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Social Care, commenting on the findings of a new report by the Centre for Mental Health and NHS Benchmarking Network, said:

“It is deeply worrying that community mental health provision has fallen and the number of psychiatric acute inpatient beds reduced, while the number of detentions under the Mental Health Act has risen. This puts even greater pressure on over-stretched acute mental health services.

“The findings of this report show that the Tory pledge to make mental health an equal priority with physical health is nothing more than hollow rhetoric.

“Under the Tories, mental health services have come under increasing pressure due to under-funding and staffing shortages. The Government should match Labour’s pledge to invest more in mental health services and ring-fence mental health spending to ensure funding reaches the front line.“

Ends