Jeremy
Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party,
commenting on the local election results, said:

“The
results were mixed. We lost seats but we are closing the gap on the
Conservatives. I am disappointed at every Labour defeat in the local elections.
Too many fantastic councillors, who work tirelessly for their communities, lost
their seats.

“We have
five weeks to win the General Election so we can fundamentally transform
Britain for the many not the few.

“We know
this is no small task – it is a challenge on an historic scale. But we, the
whole Labour movement and the British people, can’t afford not to seize our
moment.  

“The
British people have been held back for too long. Labour will put more money in
people’s pockets with a £10 real living wage, look after our pensioners by
protecting the triple lock on state pensions and give everybody the care and
dignity they deserve by properly funding our NHS and social care system.

“I urge
everyone to vote Labour because things can, and will, change.

Emily Thornberry,
Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to reports that the Tories are planning a
vote on Syria if re-elected, said:

“Now
the truth is out. A vote for the Tories is a vote to escalate the war in Syria
and prolong the suffering of its people; to risk open conflict between our
armed forces and those of Russia and Iran; and to follow Donald Trump’s lead
with blind loyalty, no matter where it takes us, and no matter what our other
allies think. In short, it is a vote to repeat the mistakes of Iraq from a
Prime Minister who just last weekend refused to accept that she got Iraq wrong.

"Instead
of this headlong rush to war, the British government should be working flat out
through the United Nations to support the current talks on de-escalation of the
conflict, with a view to creating a permanent ceasefire, a political solution
and a lasting peace. That is what the Syrian people need, not Theresa May’s
secret plans to escalate the war.

"These
reports also reveal that – even on matters of peace and war – Tory MPs cannot
be trusted to think independently and do what is best for the country. This
increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister just sees them as voting fodder, and
if they are prepared to back her rush to war, they will also surely vote for a
chaotic Brexit and the dismantling of our NHS. The only way to stop them is to
vote Labour.”

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader
of the Labour Party, commenting on the news that Prince Philip is to retire from
carrying out royal engagements, said:

“I would like to pay
tribute to Prince Philip following his decision to retire from public service.

“He has dedicated his
life to supporting the Queen and our country with a clear sense of public duty.

“His Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award scheme has inspired young people for more than 60 years in
over 140 nations.

“We thank Prince
Philip for his service to the country and wish him all the best in his
well-earned retirement.”

Jeremy
Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, responding to Theresa May’s speech in
Downing Street, said:

“Theresa
May is playing party games with Brexit in the hope of winning advantage for the
Tories in the General Election.

“By
winding up the public confrontation with Brussels, the Prime Minister wants to
wrap the Conservative party in the Union Jack and distract attention from her
government’s economic failure and rundown of our public services.

“But
Brexit is too important to be used as a political game in this election.

“These
are vital negotiations for every person in Britain and for the future of our
country. But Theresa May is putting party interest ahead of the national
interest.

“The
Prime Minister is right that there are those in Brussels who don’t want a deal.
But that is also true of leading figures in the Tory party, who want to use
Brexit to turn Britain into a low wage tax haven.

“The
Prime Minister says that no deal would lead to a different economic model for
Britain.

“In
plain terms, that means wiping out employment rights and consumer protections
and giving still more tax breaks to the rich and big corporations.

“That’s
the threat and the risk that comes from this Tory Government.

“Only
Labour can be trusted to negotiate a Brexit deal that puts jobs and living
standards first. Labour will negotiate a Brexit for the many not the few.”

Angela Rayner, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary,
commenting on reports that Theresa May is facing her first uprising of
the election as the Tories urge her to abandon school funding plans, said:

“It speaks volumes that even Theresa’s own backbenchers realise
her approach to school funding is simply an exercise in moving inadequate sums
of money around. On top of this, their cuts to per-pupil spending will mean
fewer teachers, cuts to school support staff and larger class sizes; while some
schools are not even able to afford basic school repairs.

“Labour supports the principle of moving towards a fairer funding
formula for schools and will ensure that all schools have the funding they
need. Only Labour will build an education system accessible to everyone, not
just the privileged few.”