Richard Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for Justice, commenting
on Ministry of Justice data which reveals a record number of assaults
in prisons, said: 

“Once again we see how
Conservatives’ cuts are creating a crisis in our prisons. Every few months we
get a new record for the number of assaults as the Government’s cutting of
prisons budgets and staff bites. It is scandalous that we now have an assault every
20 minutes in our prisons.

“Government policies that have led
to severe overcrowding and cutting of more than 6,000 prison officers are
squarely to blame for this situation. Yet one in three prisons suffered further
cuts in officer numbers in the first six months of this year alone.

“When prisoners can’t be let out
of their cells for 23 hours a day due to soaring violence and under-staffing,
it makes a mockery of the Government’s claims that it is turning prisons into
places of education and reform.” 

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home
Secretary, speaking in response to the release of Home office data, said:

“This serious
discrimination is widespread. It is unacceptable that the Home Office’s own
report states that the level of discrimination is little changed from previous
years.

“The Prime Minister says she wants
to tackle burning injustices. But this Tory Government is presiding over a
policing system which still discriminates against black people. Warm words are
not enough. It is long past time that the government acted to address these
unacceptable disparities.” 

Debbie Abrahams
MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the Annual Survey of Hours
and Earnings, said:

 “Year after
year people are worse off. Earnings have fallen again and real wages are lower
than they were a decade ago.

“This
Government has fundamentally failed working people with over 7 million people
now living in poverty in a working household.

“It has also
failed women, who are still being paid on average nearly 20% less than men.
  

“The next Labour
Government will immediately give millions a pay rise by introducing a £10 per
hour real living wage, scrapping the public sector pay cap and taking action to
close the gender pay gap.”

John
Healey MP, Labour’s
Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, responding to the House of Commons’
unanimous support for Labour’s motion to protect supported housing, said:

“Under
pressure from Labour, Theresa May has been forced to backtrack on the
Government’s ill-conceived plans for supported housing.

“Now,
after unanimous House of Commons backing for Labour’s motion committing to
safeguard the long-term future and funding of supported housing, any new
Government proposals must reflect the clearly expressed will of Parliament.”

Keir Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, responding to David Davis telling the Brexit select
committee that Parliament might not get to vote on the final Brexit deal until
after we leave the EU, said:

“David
Davis and Theresa May’s comments only add to the confusion and chaos over the
Government’s approach to the Brexit negotiations.

“Labour
has been clear from the outset that Parliament must have the final say on the
terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union before March 2019.

“Ministers
must urgently clarify their comments and accept Parliament will not be
side-lined.”‎