Labour is calling on Theresa May to come out of hiding and face the public

Jeremy Corbyn has been campaigning across the country at public events, meeting people to find out their concerns and hopes.

In contrast, the Prime Minister has emerged only for heavily stage-managed soundbites to the cameras before running into hiding again.

At a staged event at a community centre in Leeds last night, party workers and activists were shipped in and staff and the public were excluded.

May continues to refuse to debate Jeremy Corbyn in live TV debates despite overwhelming demand from the voters.  

Speaking at Labour’s HQ this morning, Jeremy Corbyn said:

“Theresa May is hiding from the public; she won’t take part in TV debates and she won’t talk to voters. Refusing to debate Labour in this election isn’t a sign of strength, it’s a sign of weakness.

"In showing contempt for the public in this way, the Prime Minister is showing that it’s Labour that stands up for the many, while she speaks only for the few.

"What is she afraid of? Voters deserve to know what political parties are offering.

"We are setting out our plans to rebuild and transform Britain, with a government for the many, not the few.”

Ends

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on today’s lower than expected GDP figures, said

“Today’s GDP figures reveal the threat to living
standards under the Tories.

“Growth for the first three months of 2017 was only
half of what was expected. It comes on the back of new forecasts last week from
leading independent forecasters showing growth and earnings expectations
slashed and inflation revised up.

“There is no hiding from the truth. The Tories’
economic plan has undermined the UK economy and is a threat to working people’s
living standards.  

“This General Election is a choice between a Labour
Party who will stand up for the many and a Tory Party which only looks after
the privileged few.” 

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. UK
   GDP Q1 2017 was 0.3 per cent.

ONS, GDP, April 2017

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/grossdomesticproductpreliminaryestimate/jantomar2017

2. The
   OBR were forecasting GDP growth for Q1 of 0.6 per cent.

OBR, Economic and fiscal outlook, March
2017, Table 3.2

http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/efo/economic-fiscal-outlook-march-2017/

3. The
   most recent HM Treasury comparison of independent forecasts for the UK
   economy show the below.

GDP 2017

Independent
median- 1.8%

OBR forecast-
2%

Difference-
-0.2%

Average
earnings 2017

Independent
median- 2.4 %

OBR forecast-
2.6%

Difference-
-0.2%

Inflation Q4
2017

Independent
median- 3.1%

OBR forecast-
2.7%

Difference-
+0.4%

 

GDP 2018

Independent
median- 1.3%

OBR forecast-
1.6%

Difference-
-0.3%

Inflation Q4
2018

Independent
median- 2.5%

OBR forecast-
2.2%

Difference-
-0.3%

Treasury,
Forecasts for the UK economy: a comparison of independent forecasts, 19 April
2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/609054/Forecasts_UK_Economy_April_2017.pdf

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on the TUC’s analysis which shows that if current trends continue the north-south divide will grow, said:

“It’s a stark exposure of seven years of Tory economic failure that the regions which are left behind in government investment are consistently those in the north of England.

“Labour will overturn our rigged economy by creating a Bank of the North to invest in the jobs of the future and that will stand up for the many not the few when it comes to government investment.”

Responding
to the Government losing its court bid to delay publication of its air quality
plan, Sue Hayman MP Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs said:

“Labour
welcome the High Court decision today.

“This
is the third time that the Government have lost in the courts on the issue of
air quality. They
must now publish their air quality plan without further delay.

“A
Labour government would bring forward a new Clean Air Act, setting out how we
would tackle air pollution that NHS experts say contributes to 40,000 premature
deaths every year. 

“While
the Conservatives shirk responsibility, Labour will deal with the dirty air
damaging the lives of millions of British people.”

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on Office
for National Statistics (ONS) figures showing an increase in crime over the
last year, said:

“These figures are a stark reminder of Theresa May’s record of
failure on policing and crime.

“Almost every force in the country recorded an increase in crime
over the last year, with worrying rises in some of the most violent offences,
including gun and knife crime and homicide.

“There is a real choice at this election on policing and crime.

“Theresa May recklessly cut police budgets as Home Secretary, with
the loss of over 20,000 officers, and plans to cut even further if re-elected.

“Labour will stand up for the many by prioritising neighbourhood
policing and bearing down on crime.”