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