Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s
Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the latest NHS Combined Performance
Statistics, said:

“These shocking figures demonstrate
that Theresa May’s winter crisis has firmly stretched into the summer months.

“NHS patients are now paying the
price of Tory underinvestment all year round, with thousands left stranded on
trolleys or waiting to be seen in overcrowded, understaffed A&E units.”

Keir
Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, has written to David Davis calling on him urgently to
request an additional emergency round of talks to try and reach an agreement
with EU negotiators before next week’s crucial EU Council meeting.

“Today’s
press conference confirms that the Government has failed to meet the target for
this round of negotiations.

“Ministers
have wasted months of the Brexit talks fighting amongst themselves. This
increases the chances that Britain will crash out of the EU without a deal.
That would be catastrophic for jobs and living standards and must be
rejected as a viable option.

“That is
why I have written to David Davis calling on the Government urgently to request
an additional emergency round of talks with EU negotiators in the coming days
to try and reach an agreement before next week’s EU Council meeting.

“The
Government must recognise the gravity of the situation. They must drop their
ideological red lines and work round the clock to find a resolution to the
current situation.”

Ends

Notes to
editors:

Full text
of the
letter:                     

Dear David

Article
50 negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union

I write
regarding the Article 50 negotiations between the UK Government and the
European Union (EU) following today’s press conference.

The
announcement of further progress on the rights of EU citizens and the issue of
Northern Ireland is welcome. It is also encouraging to see a more constructive
tone in the talks.

However, I
am deeply concerned that more than six months on from the triggering of Article
50 this round of discussions has ended without an agreement, with the European
Union warning of a “disturbing deadlock” over the divorce settlement. It now
looks likely that the EU Council next week will not be able to agree
negotiations have proceeded sufficiently to open up trade talks.

The
deadlock in negotiations increases the risk of Britain crashing out of the EU
without a deal. That would be catastrophic for jobs and living
standards and must be rejected as a viable option.

That is why
Labour is calling on the Government urgently to request an additional emergency
round of talks with EU negotiators in the coming days to try and reach an
agreement before next week’s EU Council meeting. The Government must recognise
the gravity of the situation, must drop the ideological red lines and work
round the clock to find a resolution to the current situation.

Given the
significant interest in this matter, I am making this letter public.

Yours
sincerely

Keir
Starmer MP

Shadow
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

Labour has secured
a vote on the Government’s plan to continue the roll out of Universal Credit
Full Service.  

This follows
criticism of the Government’s decision to persevere with the roll out of
Universal Credit, which has been shown to be driving debt and arrears among low
income families.  

The Department of
Work and Pensions’ own data shows that one in four new claims are not being
paid in full in six weeks, with half of those in rent arrears reporting that
they went into debt after claiming Universal Credit.  

Concerns have also
been expressed regarding the high cost of calls to the programme’s helpline,
with some callers paying as much as 55p a minute.

This vote will be a
key test of the Government’s flagship welfare reform policy. At least twenty
five MPs from the Conservative Party are believed to back Labour’s call for a
pause to roll out, more than the Prime Minister’s working majority of thirteen.

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions
Secretary,
commenting on the announcement, said;  

“The Government is
ignoring its own evidence, and the concerns of its MPs to push ahead with their
flawed Universal Credit programme. 

“The social security
system should work to prevent people from getting into debt, not to exacerbate
it.

“The numerous
problems with Universal Credit are not just administrative; the delays and cuts
made by this Government to the programme are all contributing to claimant debt.
We will work with them to tackle these issues.

“The Government
must pause and fix the programme before the roll out can cause further harm to
those struggling to get by.” 

Andy
McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on the Government’s statement
of funds announcement for rail industry, said:

“Today’s statement of funds
available for the rail industry highlights the government’s chaotic approach to
rail investment: its promises, pauses and cancellations are all
catastrophically undermining the industry.

“Pledges about record levels of
funding will ring hollow both for passengers denied much needed upgrades and a
rail supply chain haemorrhaging jobs and skills.”

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, speaking after the Committee stage of the Finance Bill, said:

“It is a sad day when the Conservative Government asks sacked workers to cough up to pay for expanded tax breaks for non-doms.

“The Conservatives voted down Labour’s amendments, which would have ended fears that sacked workers might be taxed more, and instead opted to vote through a giveaway to wealthy non-doms.

“The next Labour government will end the Tories’ unjust tax system, and create a tax system that works for the many, not just the privileged few.“