Peter
Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on new ONS figures
that show household spending growth has slowed to its weakest pace for two and
a half years, said:

“The figures from the ONS today are a stark reflection of
seven years of Tory economic failure.

“The Conservatives’ Cabinet of chaos is now presiding over the
slowest growing country in the G7 – household spending is slowing, the number
of young people not in work or education remains largely unchanged and business
investment has stalled.

“It is time for a Labour government that will create an economy
that works for the many not the few.”

Diane
Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on today’s migration
statistics, said:

“Tory
migration policy is a shambles. Against all advice, Theresa May continues to
insist in maintaining an arbitrary net migration target of under 100,000, which
has never once been met.

“Now
it seems that her long-running campaign to malign international students is
based on fantasy, with no evidence of a major issue with students overstaying.

“Some
in government appear to be waking up to the idea that overseas students make a
valuable contribution to our country and have belatedly asked the Migration Advisory
Committee to gather evidence.

"Labour
will offer fair rules and reasonable management of migration; prioritising
jobs, growth and prosperity, not bogus net migration targets.”

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to reports that EU nationals living in the UK were sent deportation letters in error, said:

“EU
nationals have already been made to feel like a bargaining chip in Brexit
negotiations, so this error will no doubt cause a lot of anxiety.
 
“As this government is prone to U-turns the only assurance worth anything to
those affected is official documentation of their settled status.  If it
is true that Theresa May intends to grant those EU citizens currently living in
the UK the right to remain, they should simply be issued this now. Apparently
official documents from the Home Office are easy enough to send!”

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Education
Secretary, responding to the publication of GCSE results
today, said:

“A heartfelt congratulations to everyone receiving
their GCSE results today. We pay tribute to pupils, parents and teachers for
the crucial role they have played in achieving these fantastic results.

“As young people enter a new period in their lives,
whether in further study or work, it’s incredibly important that they receive
as much support as possible.

“Unfortunately the Government’s unnecessary
tinkering with grades have meant that there are many parents and employers who
are still struggling to understand what the results in maths and English
actually mean.

“Tory failure to properly explain the changes has
created confusion that has casted a shadow on a day that should be reserved for
celebration and young people considering the next step they will take in their
education.

“A Labour Government would restore the Education
Maintenance Allowance for young people entering Further Education, as well as
providing fit for purpose careers advice and bolstering apprenticeships.”

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow
Transport Secretary,
responding to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s Yorkshire Post article on
transport in the North, said:

“Grayling’s decision to wash his
hands of the North’s transport problems is a huge insult to commuters and
businesses.

“It’s true that the North can play
a larger role in determining and delivering its own transport priorities, but
only if it’s backed with funding from central government – an unlikely prospect
while Chris Grayling holds the purse strings.

“The Tories have a track record of
underinvestment and broken promises. London receives £1500 per person more in
transport spending than the North, but far from addressing this disparity the
Tories are making it worse by scrapping upgrades to the TransPennine
route.  

“Many people will be furious at
being told they should ‘take control’ whilst the government pulls the plug on
hundreds of millions of pounds worth of improvements to the region’s rail links
and presides over huge inequalities in transport spending between the North and
South.

“The North needs its fair share of
investment, not words of encouragement from Chris Grayling.

“That is why Labour has pledged to
help transform the economies of the North, underpinned by a £10bn commitment
for Crossrail for the North.”

Ends