Tag Archives: Labour

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, commenting on the local election results, said:

“The results were mixed. We lost seats but we are closing the gap on the Conservatives. I am disappointed at every Labour defeat in the local elections. Too many fantastic councillors, who work tirelessly for their communities, lost their seats.

“We have five weeks to win the General Election so we can fundamentally transform Britain for the many not the few.

“We know this is no small task – it is a challenge on an historic scale. But we, the whole Labour movement and the British people, can’t afford not to seize our moment.  

“The British people have been held back for too long. Labour will put more money in people’s pockets with a £10 real living wage, look after our pensioners by protecting the triple lock on state pensions and give everybody the care and dignity they deserve by properly funding our NHS and social care system.

“I urge everyone to vote Labour because things can, and will, change.

Emily Thornberry, Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to reports that the Tories are planning a vote on Syria if re-elected, said:

“Now the truth is out. A vote for the Tories is a vote to escalate the war in Syria and prolong the suffering of its people; to risk open conflict between our armed forces and those of Russia and Iran; and to follow Donald Trump’s lead with blind loyalty, no matter where it takes us, and no matter what our other allies think. In short, it is a vote to repeat the mistakes of Iraq from a Prime Minister who just last weekend refused to accept that she got Iraq wrong.

“Instead of this headlong rush to war, the British government should be working flat out through the United Nations to support the current talks on de-escalation of the conflict, with a view to creating a permanent ceasefire, a political solution and a lasting peace. That is what the Syrian people need, not Theresa May’s secret plans to escalate the war.

“These reports also reveal that – even on matters of peace and war – Tory MPs cannot be trusted to think independently and do what is best for the country. This increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister just sees them as voting fodder, and if they are prepared to back her rush to war, they will also surely vote for a chaotic Brexit and the dismantling of our NHS. The only way to stop them is to vote Labour.”

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, commenting on the news that Prince Philip is to retire from carrying out royal engagements, said:

“I would like to pay tribute to Prince Philip following his decision to retire from public service.

“He has dedicated his life to supporting the Queen and our country with a clear sense of public duty.

“His Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme has inspired young people for more than 60 years in over 140 nations.

“We thank Prince Philip for his service to the country and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.”

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, responding to Theresa May’s speech in Downing Street, said:

“Theresa May is playing party games with Brexit in the hope of winning advantage for the Tories in the General Election.

“By winding up the public confrontation with Brussels, the Prime Minister wants to wrap the Conservative party in the Union Jack and distract attention from her government’s economic failure and rundown of our public services.

“But Brexit is too important to be used as a political game in this election.

“These are vital negotiations for every person in Britain and for the future of our country. But Theresa May is putting party interest ahead of the national interest.

“The Prime Minister is right that there are those in Brussels who don’t want a deal. But that is also true of leading figures in the Tory party, who want to use Brexit to turn Britain into a low wage tax haven.

“The Prime Minister says that no deal would lead to a different economic model for Britain.

“In plain terms, that means wiping out employment rights and consumer protections and giving still more tax breaks to the rich and big corporations.

“That’s the threat and the risk that comes from this Tory Government.

“Only Labour can be trusted to negotiate a Brexit deal that puts jobs and living standards first. Labour will negotiate a Brexit for the many not the few.”

Angela Rayner, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on reports that Theresa May is facing her first uprising of the election as the Tories urge her to abandon school funding plans, said:

“It speaks volumes that even Theresa’s own backbenchers realise her approach to school funding is simply an exercise in moving inadequate sums of money around. On top of this, their cuts to per-pupil spending will mean fewer teachers, cuts to school support staff and larger class sizes; while some schools are not even able to afford basic school repairs.

“Labour supports the principle of moving towards a fairer funding formula for schools and will ensure that all schools have the funding they need. Only Labour will build an education system accessible to everyone, not just the privileged few.”