Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow
Education Secretary, responding to the publication of the consultation response to
the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc), said:  

“The Tories have
dragged their feet for months on releasing the responses to this consultation
and it is clear why.

“It is essential that
children have a firm grip of the core subjects at school, but it is just as
important that all children have access to a broad and balanced curriculum
which over two thirds of respondents highlighted is at threat under the Ebacc.

“The Tories need to
return to the drawing board on the Ebacc and make sure it is delivering the
excellent, well-rounded education all children deserve.

“If they were serious
about delivering a broad and balanced curriculum for schools they would not be
cutting their budgets or imposing a cap on public sector pay that makes it
impossible for schools to recruit and retain the staff that they need.”

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, responding to the
IFS Living standards report, said:

“Today’s findings are a damning indictment of seven wasted years
of Tory economic failure. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
confirmed that working people face a crisis in living standards.

“With wages still lower
than they were in 2010 and income inequality and child poverty set to increase
to over 5 million, it is clear that under the Tories working people will
continue to suffer from falling living standards. This is at the same time as
official statistics show that wealth inequality has increased, with the wealth
of the poorest falling while the wealth of those at the top has increased.

“Only Labour has a proper plan to raise working people’s living
standards by delivering for the many, not the few, with the introduction of a
Real Living Wage of £10 an hour, scrapping the public sector pay cap and
reversing cuts to Universal Credit.”

“We welcome new advice from ICES
on the condition of cod stocks in the Irish Sea and the news that they have
returned to above the maximum sustainable yield trigger. 

“With the news that North Sea cod
has received Marine Stewardship Council accreditation, fishermen are to be
credited for working hard with reduced catching levels over the past fifteen
years to help UK fish stocks to recover.

“Going forward, the UK must work
collaboratively with the fishing industry and our European neighbours to
deliver the best outcomes for our fish stocks, the wider marine environment and
the industry, creating the minimum of disruption to our fishermen.“

“Our
thoughts are with families and businesses impacted by the devastating flash
flooding in Cornwall.

“I
would like to pay tribute to our emergency services for their work and for
everyone providing support to those affected at the multi-agency centre in
Truro.

“Labour
is calling on the Government to match its words with actions: to ensure that
the Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service are provided with all necessary
resources and that businesses and residents receive the support they need in
the aftermath.

“In
the longer term, the Government must ensure that its strategy on climate change
mitigation and flood defence is fit for purpose and that climate change is not
brushed aside as an afterthought during the Brexit negotiations, leaving
communities to pick up the pieces.”

Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport, commenting on the BBC annual report, said:

“The BBC is one of the world’s greatest broadcasters and we
shouldn’t be surprised that its top stars – who millions of people tune in to
watch and listen to every week – are well paid.

"Labour recognises the BBC’s dilemma: the need to give
licence payers value for money while operating in a competitive commercial
environment against other broadcasters who do not have to disclose what they
pay.

“It’s wrong that only a third of the BBC’s highest paid stars are
women, and we welcome Lord Hall’s commitment to close the gender pay gap by
2020. It would be good to see a similar commitment, and similar levels of
transparency, from other media organisations – especially those who are
criticising the BBC today.”