Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to Richard Branson’s comments defending the Government for the bailout of Virgin’s East Coast Rail franchise, said:

“The bailout of the East Coast rail franchise is undoubtedly good news for the pay packet of Richard Branson, but not for taxpayers and passengers who have been short-changed by up to £2 billion.

“This bailout is yet another example of the Tories defending profiteering train companies and the rich elite at the expense of the British public who pay for and use our rail services.“

Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on the fall in new car sales for the first time in six years, said:

“The Government’s mismanagement of the economy and mishandling of the Brexit negotiations has shaken consumer and business confidence and it’s concerning that the sales of new cars are falling.

"The industry has been warning the Government time and time again and, as has become typical with the Tories, they have failed to listen or take action.

"The British car industry is a vital part of our economy, directly employing up to 170,000 people. Labour’s Industrial Strategy will set out a radical programme of investment and genuine partnership between industry and government, to protect vital jobs and build an economy that works for the many, not the few.”

Rebecca
Long-Bailey MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on the closure of
Colman’s mustard factory in Norwich, said:

“The
closure of Colman’s in Norwich is a blow not only to the workers at Colman’s
and their families but to the town and region more generally.

“Despite
their claims to the contrary, the Government haven’t done anywhere near enough
to stop this closure.

“This
highlights exactly why we need a Labour government with a forward thinking
industrial strategy to attract and keep firms in the UK.”

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to today’s NHS England stats, said:

“These figures reveal the shocking scale of the crisis in our NHS this winter. Over 75,000 patients have been left languishing in the back of ambulances this winter, something the Government should be deeply ashamed of.

“Labour and clinicians have warned Ministers for months to prepare for this winter, but concerns were casually dismissed out of hand. Theresa May’s boast that the NHS is the best prepared it’s ever been has now been entirely discredited.

“The truth is we are now approaching the 8th year of desperate underfunding and cuts to our health and social care services by the Tories. We’ve seen thousands of beds cut from the NHS and the numbers of days lost to delayed discharge are up by 50% since 2010.

“The NHS is being pushed to the brink under Theresa May and it is patients suffering as a consequence.”

Jonathan
Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the Prime Minister’s comments about the
NHS being ‘better prepared for this winter’, said:

“Yet again Theresa May reveals how entirely out of touch she is. Next, she will
be trying to lecture patients that ‘nothing has changed’ for patients.

“The
reality is we see hospitals at full capacity, ambulances backed up, cancelled
operations and patients waiting for hours on trolleys.

“Instead of
burying her head in the sand, Theresa May needs to explain why she has allowed
underfunding and cuts to health and social care to continue. As Tory MP Sarah
Wollaston said this morning, the Government needs to get a grip.”

Ends