“This
testimony was from a survivor was moving and very brave.

“She was very clear. The Government’s offer of a 12-month immigration reprieve
is completely inadequate. Despite all they have gone through, it could still
result in deportation.

“Labour is very clear. We continue to argue for a full immigration amnesty for
survivors and indefinite leave to remain, which is in the gift of the Home
Secretary. Otherwise survivors and their families may never come forward to get
the support they need.

“The Government has already failed Grenfell residents in so many ways. It
should do the decent thing and remove the threat of deportation hanging over a
small number of deeply traumatised people.”

Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State
for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, commenting on the Government’s U-turn on their
Making Tax Digital policy, said:

“Today’s
Government U-turn is a victory for small businesses across the country. As
recognised by the Federation of Small Businesses, the Labour Party
has consistently called on the Government to rethink their Making Tax Digital
policy; the Labour Manifesto committed to scrapping quarterly reporting for
companies under the VAT threshold.

"Despite
this U-turn the Government is still not doing enough to unleash the potential
of SMEs. The promised transitional business rates relief has still not
materialised and they are failing to take meaningful action on the scourge of
late payments.

"Only Labour has
a clear plan to support the UK’s small businesses including improved access to
finance for SMEs, radically reforming business rates and declaring war on late
payments.’’

Emily
Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, following news
of the death of Liu Xiaobo, said:

“In
Liu Xiaobo the world has lost a fearless champion of human rights and
democracy, whose non-violent campaigning was an inspiration to many millions in
China around the world.

“It
is tragic and deeply regrettable that he spent so many of his final years in
prison, and that as his health deteriorated he was unable to seek medical
treatment overseas or to share his final hours with those closest to him.

“He
will be sorely missed, and his courage, compassion and unyielding belief in universal
rights will live on.”

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the
Labour Party, following today’s meeting with EU chief negotiator Michel
Barnier in Brussels, said:

“I’m pleased to have
had a friendly and constructive meeting with Michel Barnier today.

“Keir Starmer, Diane
Abbott and I had a frank and informative conversation with the EU’s chief
negotiator and exchanged views about how we see the Brexit process working.

“Labour has extended
the hand of partnership for a new relationship with Europe and we outlined how
our goal of a jobs-first Brexit deal would protect our mutual trading
interests.

“We set out Labour’s
Brexit priorities in contrast to the race-to-the-bottom tax haven threatened by
the Conservatives.

“The General Election
result has clearly changed the context for the Brexit talks and means the
Government will have to listen to Parliament and will not be able to have it
all its own way.

“Labour respects the
EU referendum result, and we will be taking every opportunity to try and
achieve a Brexit which puts jobs, living standards and environmental protection
at its heart.”

Andy
McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to
the fine given to Southern Rail today, said:

“It has taken over a year for the Transport
Secretary to reach this decision. Long-suffering passengers should not
have to resort to crowdfunding for legal action to seek accountability, and the
Secretary of State should not have to be dragged kicking and screaming by the
High Court to do the job he was appointed to do.

“Today’s fine is small change compared with the
£1.2billion Govia is paid to run passenger services and, with crucial parts of
the Gibb report redacted and a lack of detail on today’s decision, the
management of the Southern rail fiasco continues to lack transparency.

“Ultimately, the buck stops with the Government.
Tory ministers, who designed and awarded the franchise, have been ducking their
responsibility for Southern’s abysmal service and for directing this
unnecessary industrial dispute.

“A Labour government would stand up for the
interests of passengers rather than train companies, taking Southern back into
public ownership and creating a new body to have strategic oversight for the
railway to end the chaos and fragmentation that has plagued Southern.”