27/05/2017 – Enlargement, external relations and trade / Institutional affairs / Security and defence On 26 and 27 May 2017, Italy hosted the meeting of the G7 leaders. The summit focused on foreign policy, the global economy and the reduction … read more
27/05/2017 – Enlargement, external relations and trade / Institutional affairs / Security and defence On 26 and 27 May 2017, Italy hosted the meeting of the G7 leaders. The summit focused on foreign policy, the global economy and the reduction … read more
Theresa May must spell out Tory policies after Dominic Raab gaffe
Labour is calling on Theresa May to end the confusion over funding for our NHS and schools after a gaffe by Conservative MP Dominic Raab.
On the Victoria Derbyshire programme this morning, Dominic Raab suggested money for the NHS would be found by cutting free school meals for infants.
When pressed on the issue, he said: “Well, look we’ve said things like means testing the winter fuel payment. I’m giving an illustration of the difficult decisions, like saying that we wouldn’t be subsidising free school lunches for well-off parents, we don’t think that’s the right thing to do. We’d rather the money went into teaching and the NHS.”
The suggestion the NHS would benefit is at odds with the Conservative manifesto, which says: “The savings made from [cutting free school meals] will be added to the core schools budget, meaning that every penny saved will go towards children’s education.”
Meanwhile, the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies has confirmed that there is not a single penny of extra funding for the NHS in the Conservatives’ manifesto.
The latest chaos and confusion about Tory policy comes after the unravelling of their proposal for free school breakfasts, when it was found it would only amount to 6.8p per meal, and the announcement of an unspecified cap on social care costs being charged against people’s homes.
Ahead of tonight’s leaders’ debate and interview with Jeremy Paxman, Labour is challenging Theresa May to end the uncertainty by coming clean on what a Conservative government would mean:
· How many pensioners will lose their winter fuel payments?
· What will the cap be on social care costs for people with conditions such as dementia?
· Will there be increases in National Insurance contributions and income tax?
· Is the Institute for Fiscal Studies right to say there will be five years of austerity for the NHS?
· How will they fund their school breakfast proposal (replacing free school meals) now their original 6.8p figure is discredited?
Ian Lavery, Labour’s National Election Coordinator, said:
“Theresa May has already thrown millions of pensioners into uncertainty over her dementia tax policy and now her funding for our NHS and schools is in disarray. If even her own spokespeople don’t know where the money is coming from or where it’s going, how on earth do they expect the British people to know?
“You can’t trust a word Theresa May and the Tories say, the flip-flopping and backsliding is getting ridiculous. There is a very clear choice at this election, between a Conservative party that is betraying pensioners, threatening tax rises for millions of families and promising five more years of austerity for our NHS and schools, and a Labour party with a fully costed plan for the many not the few.”
read more29 May 2017
Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed her first priority in any alliance with Jeremy Corbyn would be consent for a second independence referendum.
Speaking on television earlier, the First Minister again talked-up the possibility of propping up a Labour government in Westminster.
And should she secure such a deal, the prospect of another divisive vote would be the first thing on the table, she confirmed.
It comes as Corbyn admitted he would “open discussions” with the SNP about another referendum.
He said today when asked about a re-run of the 2014 vote: “I’ll obviously open discussions with the government in Scotland and listen very carefully to what the Scottish Parliament says.”
That marries with Nicola Sturgeon’s position on the issue.
After being asked on Sky News if another referendum would be a condition of any arrangement, she said: “If there’s any chance of a progressive alliance that locks the Tories out I’d want to get as much of SNP manifesto implemented as possible.”
It’s the strongest indication yet that the SNP and Labour are working behind the scenes for a post-election deal.
Corbyn’s insiders said last month they wanted to “cut a deal” with the SNP to put him into Number 10.
And for its part, the SNP thinks a Corbyn government could act as a “midwife for independence”.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
“Nicola Sturgeon is desperate for a second referendum and will do anything to get it – even putting Jeremy Corbyn into Number 10.
“The Labour leader has already said he’s ‘absolutely fine’ with another referendum – so it looks like a sweetheart deal is in the offing.
“This might suit the two of them but it would be a disaster for Scotland – dragging us back to more division just at the moment when we need to move on, together.
“I will always stand up for the decision we made to stay part of the UK and a vote for the Scottish Conservatives will help me send Nicola Sturgeon a message – no to another referendum.”
The funding will support Afghan refugees and their families in Iran and Pakistan, help victims of conflict in Afghanistan and improve disaster risk management in Central Asia. “The EU’s assistance announced today will help hundreds of thousands of people affected … read more