Labour

Margaret Greenwood MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Minister, commenting on the DWP’s Benefit Cap statistics, said;

“Today’s figures highlight the worrying impact the benefit cap is having on families across the country, with 68,000 affected by the new lower cap level, a sharp increase

“Child poverty is also increasing. Last month the High Court ruled that the cap was “unlawful” for lone parents with young children, with the judge commenting that the cap was causing “real misery to no good purpose.

“Clearly, this Government’s decision to cut families’ incomes does not amount to supporting them into work, especially given their total failure to provide adequate affordable childcare. It is time that we urgently reviewed the Benefit Cap’s impact and effectiveness.

“Rather than penalising children for its failed austerity plans, the Government should instead undertake the task of supporting people into work, tackling the high cost of housing, improving pay and investing in childcare.”  

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the EPI report on trends in educational attainment and disadvantage, said:

“The findings of this report are deeply concerning but unfortunately come as no surprise. 

“If you cut school budgets and push out  teachers, as the Tories have done, then life in school will become even harder for the most disadvantaged kids. It is no wonder that we are still generations away from closing the attainment gap.

“The Tories’ key election pledge was to bring back grammar schools and segregate our children, a move that would make the situation even worse. A Labour Government would deliver an education system for the many, not the few.”

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on the delays for passengers at European airports, said:

“It is right that measures have been put in place to ensure safety at a time of increased terror threats but any measures taken to strengthen security have to be accompanied by proper border force staffing levels to avoid the chaos we’re seeing at the moment.

“The aviation industry warned that problems were around the corner months ago but the Government hasn’t listened, insisting that we’d already seen the worst of the delays.

“If holiday makers are to avoid further havoc, the Government must engage with Schengen member states to ensure they take immediate steps to resource their borders controls properly as ensuring safe and smooth travel from and to the UK is in our mutual interests.”

Richard Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to comments made by the President of the Prison Governors Association, said:

“The President of the Prison Governors Association today confirmed the deep crisis in our prisons.  Her members are understandably devastated by the decline of their service.  This crisis has been created by the disastrous policies of the Conservative Government. Prison officer numbers have been slashed while overcrowding has risen.

“Last week it was announced that violence in our prisons was at record levels. This week we have seen riots in The Mount and Erlestoke prisons. The situation cannot be allowed to continue.  Prisoners are not being rehabilitated and this is putting the public at risk. Only a Labour government will provide the investment, staff and attention needed to end the prisons crisis the Conservatives created and are failing to resolve.“

Barbara Keeley MP, Shadow Cabinet Minister for Social Care, commenting on the BBC’s You and Yours report of the shortfall in the numbers of care home beds said:

“Seven years of Tory inaction has taken a toll on the social care sector.  The Tories’ record is clear –  insufficient beds in residential care, one in three nursing homes failing inspections and 1.2 million older people living with unmet care needs.

“Keeping people out of hospital and residential care means investing properly in home care, intermediate facilities and supported housing. Yet, this Government has chosen instead to cut local authority budgets, taking £4.6 billion out of social care.

“We need a Labour Government to give social care the investment required to meet the needs of our growing older population. Our Manifesto set out our plans to increase social care budgets by £8 billion over the next Parliament and to work towards a National Care Service.”

Ends