John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on today’s ONS publications that show the savings rate falling, the trade deficit growing, sluggish growth in consumer spending and falling wages, said:

“These figures are very concerning, with the trade deficit growing at a time when we are negotiating our exit from the EU further exposing the lack of direction at the top of government.

“What is deeply worrying, in a week when we have also seen figures on soaring consumer borrowing, is that today’s data show a stark drop in savings alongside sluggish growth in consumer spending and a fall in disposable income. This suggests that the crisis in earnings not keeping up with prices means that many working households are struggling to make ends meet.

"Only a Labour government will introduce a £10 per hour minimum wage and build a high wage, high skill economy of the future.”

Commenting on the news that talks to restore power-sharing at Stormont have been extended to Monday, Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said:

“I am concerned that a deal has not been reached for today’s deadline but I welcome the news that the parties are continuing their intensive discussions over the next few days. It is the right decision by the Secretary of State to hold open the door for further negotiations if there is a chance that a deal can still be reached.

“If there is no further progress over the weekend, however, the Secretary of State must come to Parliament on Monday to explain what additional steps he intends to take to ensure a stable government can be re-established at Stormont.”

Jeremy
Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party said:

“The
Conservatives survived by the skin of their teeth today, supported by the DUP,
but this is a government in chaos.

“The
Conservatives are all over the place on Brexit, with ministers contradicting
each other. On public sector pay, they say one thing and then do another,
voting yesterday to continue the cutting the pay of our nurses, firefighters,
police and other public sector workers. And today, they were forced to finally
promise that women from Northern Ireland will no longer have to pay for
abortions on the NHS under opposition and public pressure.

“This
Government is out of control, with no mandate for continued cuts to our
schools, hospitals, police and other vital public services or for a
race-to-the-bottom Brexit. Labour will oppose these policies every step of the
way.

“Labour
offers a clear alternative, laid out in our manifesto, which would put wealth,
power and opportunity back in the hands of the many not the few.”

Commenting on today’s High Court ruling ordering the Secretary of
State for Transport to produce a report into Southern Rail within 14 days, Andy
McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary said:

“Passengers should not have had to
go to the courts to seek accountability.

“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 interest 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.”

Debbie Abrahams MP, Shadow Work
and Pensions Secretary,
raised a Point of Order today on the Government’s failure to meet its legal
deadline to set out its state pension age timetable. Debbie said:

“This
chaotic Government is breaking its own laws by refusing to set out its
timetable for the state pension age.”

“Should
they implement the recommendations of the Cridland Review, up to 34 million
people will be expected to work longer.”

“Given
their complete failure to adequately communicate the equalisation of the state
pension age for women, it is absolutely vital that this Tory Government comes
clean with its plan now.

“In our manifesto Labour is committed to leaving
the state pension age at 66, as part of our plans to ensure a secure and
dignified retirement for the many, not just a few.”