Tracy
Brabin MP, Labour’s Shadow Early Years Minister,
commenting on the NAHT report on school readiness, said:

“This
report should make sobering reading for Tory ministers. It is yet more evidence
of a problem that has worsened on their watch. It is now incumbent on the
government to ensure their spending on childcare goes towards high quality
early years education, supporting children to get the best start in life.

“By
contrast, the Tories’ chronically underfunded 30-free hour childcare offer has
not only left too many parents not receiving the free care they were promised
but has seen many of the most experienced and highest-rated providers walk
away from the sector entirely. Ministers should take their concerns seriously
before the childcare sector reaches a crisis point.

“A
Labour government would provide genuinely free and high-quality childcare, with
all parents of 2-4 year olds entitled to 30 hours, and the investment needed to
deliver it in practice. We would also reverse the Tory cuts to Sure Start,
which the evidence showed was a highly effective programme in supporting
children to be school ready.”

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on the
Interim Report of the IPPR Commission on Economic Justice, said:

“The Commission’s findings drive home the deep problems of the
British economy, which have been gravely worsened by seven years of Tory
failure that has seen average wages fall and debt rise.

“The Tories have given huge tax breaks to the super-rich and giant
corporations, but failed to deliver the investment in infrastructure, skills
and research and development that are needed to create the secure, high-wage
jobs of the future. As the report shows, the result is an economy dominated by
insecurity and falling living standards.

“The Commission’s interim report is yet more evidence in support
of Labour’s transformational economic programme, with high investment across
the whole country supporting an industrial strategy and a wider spread of asset
ownership to build an economy that works for the many, not the few. I welcome
the Commission’s work and I look forward to seeing the final report.”

Jonathan
Ashworth, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to a pay protest by NHS staff at
Parliament today (Wednesday 6 September 2017), said:

“NHS
staff are long overdue a pay rise which matches the compassion and dedication
which they bring to their working lives. The Tory Government has taken NHS
staff for granted for years and the result is staffing shortages across the
health service and ever longer waits for patients.

“72 per cent of the public now
think that there are too few nurses to provide safe care to patients. This is
totally unsustainable. The Government’s public sector pay cap has created a
workforce crisis in the NHS which is driving trust deficits and causing misery
for patients.

“Some
Tories are hinting the cap will eventually be lifted but they voted
against Labour’s amendment to lift the pay cap earlier in the summer. It’s
simply not good enough. Nurses, midwives and paramedics should be valued and
rewarded for the brilliant work that they do and the Government must make their
plans on NHS pay clear now, before it is too late.”

Diane
Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on the treatment of detainees at Brook
House immigration detention centre, said:

“Sadly
this is not an isolated incident. Under this Tory Government, Britain’s
detentions centres have developed a reputation for inhumane treatment.

“It’s no
wonder that the Home Office have repeatedly blocked my own attempts, as Shadow
Home Secretary, to visit Yarl’s Wood and that that the UN’s rapporteur on
violence against women was denied access to inspect conditions at this
controversial facility.

“There
have been numerous reports of improper conduct in G4S-run institutions, but the
Tories seem content to continuing paying this company millions in taxpayers’
money without holding them to account for their failures.

“Theresa
May’s “hostile environment” for immigrants has gone too far. The Government has
a duty to ensure that detainees are treated with basic dignity and in
accordance with their Human Rights.

“We
cannot seek to promote human rights around the world, while holding detainees
indefinitely and treating them in this despicable manner.”

Kate
Osamor MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, commenting
on Priti Patel’s announcement on the UK response to the South Asia floods,
said:

“Priti
Patel’s response to the floods in South Asia has been slow and insufficient.

“It has
now been more than two weeks since the floods struck and Priti Patel’s
announcement last Friday that the UK will contribute just £400,000 of new
funding in Nepal, from an annual aid budget of over £13 billion is not good
enough.

“Priti
Patel must now urgently come before Parliament this week and make a statement
that keeps the world’s eyes on South Asia and shows that this government is
serious about tackling the unfolding catastrophe.

“Tropical
Storm Harvey’s recovery effort in Houston may be grabbing mainstream media
headlines, but we must not ignore the millions suffering across South Asia.
British humanitarian responses must be driven by need – not the column inches a
disaster receives in the mainstream media.”