Tag Archives: Labour

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.”