Politics

Daniel Zeichner MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Minister, commenting on the publication of the Transport Focus Bus Passenger Survey figures for Autumn 2016, said:

“These results show once again that compared to national operators, municipal bus companies provide some of the best bus services in the country. The Government’s plans to ban local authorities from forming their own bus companies in the future clearly flies in the face of all the evidence.

“This year’s survey also suggests that congestion is becoming an increasing problem for bus users. With traffic projected to grow, this problem is only going to become worse. We really need to see local authorities and bus companies using the tools available in the Bus Services Bill to address congestion, and clean up our air.”

Teresa Pearce, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, commenting on the news that Surrey County Council Leader David Hodge is standing down as the Local Government Association’s Conservative group leader, said: 

“It appears that the row around the Tory sweetheart deal for Surrey Council has claimed a victim with the resignation of David Hodge as the man responsible for standing up for all Tory councils. Perhaps that’s unsurprising given the accusations he colluded with the Government over a favourable deal not available to other councils.

“This doesn’t put the matter to bed however. Theresa May has failed to come clean about the terms of the deal offered to Surrey, failed to apologise for her Government’s misleading suggestion that there had been no such deal and would not give the assurance that other local councils will get the same treatment.

“David Hodge’s resignation makes the need for full disclosure from the Government more pressing.  What we need from the Tories is a long term sustainable plan for funding social care, rather than cosy deals for Tories councils.”

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on news that three more trusts have been put into financial special measures by NHS Improvement, said:

“The Government’s inept mismanagement of the NHS is pushing hospital finances to the brink. NHS Providers have already warned this week that delivering services within the current financial settlement is “mission impossible”. The news today that another three hospital trusts have been forced into financial special measures just illustrates the deepening financial challenge facing the health service.

“Theresa May can’t keep on forcing hospitals to choose between balancing the books and providing safe patient care. By underfunding the NHS for so long, the Prime Minister is putting patients at risk. The Government needs to set out a long-term, sustainable financial settlement for the NHS which allows hospitals to provide the top quality health services which Britain’s patients expect.”