Labour

Commenting on the adjournment of Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council’s cabinet meeting last night, Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said:

“It is completely unacceptable that Kensington and Chelsea would rather cancel their meeting than obey court ruling to provide for a basic level of transparency.

“I welcome that Sajid Javid has supported Labour’s call in urging for the democratic process to be open and transparent but the response from the Government falls short of actually doing anything to address the utter chaos in the way this tragedy has been handled.  

“Sajid Javid needs to immediately ensure that all residents who are now homeless or in temporary accommodation are getting the support they need, and undertake an immediate review into the adequacy of corporate governance with a view to sending in commissioners to take control of the council if necessary.”

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on today’s ONS publications that show the savings rate falling, the trade deficit growing, sluggish growth in consumer spending and falling wages, said:

“These figures are very concerning, with the trade deficit growing at a time when we are negotiating our exit from the EU further exposing the lack of direction at the top of government.

“What is deeply worrying, in a week when we have also seen figures on soaring consumer borrowing, is that today’s data show a stark drop in savings alongside sluggish growth in consumer spending and a fall in disposable income. This suggests that the crisis in earnings not keeping up with prices means that many working households are struggling to make ends meet.

“Only a Labour government will introduce a £10 per hour minimum wage and build a high wage, high skill economy of the future.”

Commenting on the news that talks to restore power-sharing at Stormont have been extended to Monday, Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said:

“I am concerned that a deal has not been reached for today’s deadline but I welcome the news that the parties are continuing their intensive discussions over the next few days. It is the right decision by the Secretary of State to hold open the door for further negotiations if there is a chance that a deal can still be reached.

“If there is no further progress over the weekend, however, the Secretary of State must come to Parliament on Monday to explain what additional steps he intends to take to ensure a stable government can be re-established at Stormont.”

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party said:

“The Conservatives survived by the skin of their teeth today, supported by the DUP, but this is a government in chaos.

“The Conservatives are all over the place on Brexit, with ministers contradicting each other. On public sector pay, they say one thing and then do another, voting yesterday to continue the cutting the pay of our nurses, firefighters, police and other public sector workers. And today, they were forced to finally promise that women from Northern Ireland will no longer have to pay for abortions on the NHS under opposition and public pressure.

“This Government is out of control, with no mandate for continued cuts to our schools, hospitals, police and other vital public services or for a race-to-the-bottom Brexit. Labour will oppose these policies every step of the way.

“Labour offers a clear alternative, laid out in our manifesto, which would put wealth, power and opportunity back in the hands of the many not the few.”

Commenting on today’s High Court ruling ordering the Secretary of State for Transport to produce a report into Southern Rail within 14 days, Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary said:

“Passengers should not have had to go to the courts to seek accountability.

“Ultimately, the buck stops with the government. Tory ministers, who designed and awarded the franchise, have been ducking their responsibility for Southern’s abysmal service and for directing this unnecessary industrial dispute.

“A Labour government would stand up for the interest of passengers rather than train companies, taking Southern back into public ownership and creating a new body to have strategic oversight for the railway to end the chaos and fragmentation that has plagued Southern.”