Labour

Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, commenting on the BBC annual report, said:

“The BBC is one of the world’s greatest broadcasters and we shouldn’t be surprised that its top stars – who millions of people tune in to watch and listen to every week – are well paid.

“Labour recognises the BBC’s dilemma: the need to give licence payers value for money while operating in a competitive commercial environment against other broadcasters who do not have to disclose what they pay.

“It’s wrong that only a third of the BBC’s highest paid stars are women, and we welcome Lord Hall’s commitment to close the gender pay gap by 2020. It would be good to see a similar commitment, and similar levels of transparency, from other media organisations – especially those who are criticising the BBC today.”

Richard Burgon, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on HM Chief Inspector of Prisons’ Annual Report for 2016-17, said:

“This report makes it clear that the crisis in our prisons is getting worse by the day.

“Our prisons are becoming ever more dangerous for prisoners and staff alike. Assaults on staff are up by over a third and it is a stain on the nation that not a single young offenders institute inspected was deemed safe.

“The Conservative Government’s failure to get a grip of this crisis, including dropping prison reform from the Queen’s Speech, is making it more difficult to turn prisoner’s lives around and to reduce risk to the public.

“Drastic Conservative cuts to prison budgets and staff numbers are driving this prisons crisis. Labour would tackle it by recruiting thousands of new prisons officers and increasing staff retention by improving terms and conditions.”

Paul Blomfield MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Exiting the EU, commenting on the House of Lords EU Committee report on Brexit: the EU data protection package, said:

“Labour has repeatedly raised concerns about security information and data sharing, which we heavily rely on to investigate and prevent terrorism. 

“It’s clear that the Government has no idea what maintaining close criminal justice and law enforcement ties with our European neighbours will look like, and no plan to make data sharing work.

“The Government’s chaotic approach to the Brexit negotiations and intransigent red line on the European Court of Justice, meaning we could crash out without a deal on anything, risks threatening our safety.”

Today, Labour’s Shadow Treasury Team challenged the failing economic record of this anarchic Cabinet at the final Treasury Questions of the parliamentary session.

The Chancellor and his team’s performance proves beyond a doubt that he has no answer on low pay, no answer on tackling tax avoidance and no answer on the disastrous impact that leaving the EU without a transitional arrangement will have on British jobs.

It is clear Labour is ready as a government-in-waiting – ready to replace a chaotic and bitterly divided Conservative Party.

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, speaking after Treasury Questions, said:

“A multi-millionaire Chancellor, on £145,000 a year, living in two grace and favour properties at taxpayers’ expense, and renting out another property for a reported £10,000 per month, should not attack public sector workers – our hospital cleaners, nurses, teachers and firefighters – as overpaid.

“Today, the out of touch Chancellor has once again refused to take the opportunity to apologise to our public sector workers. Millions of public sector workers will have been left bitterly disappointed by the Chancellor’s failure to commit to doing the right thing and adopt Labour’s proposals to lift the public sector pay cap.”

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the findings of Sir Michael Marmot, said:  

“The slowing rate of life expectancy improvement since 2010 is an alarming revelation which reflects this Government’s failings to improve the health of our nation.

“Sir Michael Marmot rightly raises his concerns around inadequate health and social care funding, especially compared with other Western European countries. Theresa May’s sustained underfunding of our health service is clearly damaging life chances of the most vulnerable in our society. 

“The next Labour Government will ensure our health and care system is properly funded so our children are given the best possible start in life, and older people are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.”