Labour

Kate Osamor, Labour’s Shadow International Development Secretary, responding to the publication of ODA statistics for 2016, said:

“Britain is rightly acclaimed around the world for our commitment to poverty reduction and helping the world’s poorest. It is vital that we uphold this reputation and that the attempts that are underway within the Tory party to undermine the aid budget are opposed.

“The scale of the increase in aid being spent by non-DfID government departments is concerning. Some of these departments, including the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence, have consistently received “Poor” or “Very Poor” ratings in Publish What You Fund’s Aid Transparency Index.

“The Government must explain what steps it is taking to address this across all the departments now disbursing the aid budget. The public rightly want to see full transparency and accountability in how the aid budget is being spent, and the Government needs to up its game.”

Diane Abbott, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to Theresa May’s remarks on freedom of movement, said:

“Theresa May has let the cat out of the bag. Freedom of movement will continue after we have left the EU.

“But this is not what voters were told either before or since the referendum.

“This latest broken promise is symptomatic of the Tories’ dysfunctional approach to Brexit.

“EU workers and their UK employers deserve certainty about their future but are being badly let down by this Government.”

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party said:

“Ken Livingstone’s comments have been grossly insensitive, and he has caused deep offence and hurt to the Jewish community.

“Labour’s independently elected National Constitutional Committee has found Ken guilty of bringing the party into disrepute and suspended him for two years.

“It is deeply disappointing that, despite his long record of standing up to racism, Ken has failed to acknowledge or apologise for the hurt he has caused. Many people are understandably upset that he has continued to make offensive remarks which could open him to further disciplinary action.

“Since initiating the disciplinary process, I have not interfered with it and respect the independence of the party’s disciplinary bodies. But Ken’s subsequent comments and actions will now be considered by the National Executive Committee after representations from party members.”

Ends

Keir Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, commenting to the European Parliament vote on the negotiating guidelines for exiting the EU, said:

“It is important that the European Parliament has reached agreed guidelines, and we particularly welcome the emphasis that negotiations should be conducted in ‘good faith and full transparency’.

“Labour also strongly support the Parliament’s insistence that a future EU-UK deal requires the UK to retain international standards on human rights, climate change, social rights and the fight against tax evasion and avoidance. Labour’s six tests for the final Brexit deal made clear that there can be no drop in EU-derived rights and protections.

“These will be the most complex and important negotiations for decades and it is vital that the Prime Minister reflects on these guidelines and sets about building alliances and good faith with our EU partners.”

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on today’s ONS productivity figures, said:

“Today’s productivity figures again confirm the Tories’ abject failure on productivity growth, with growth slowing significantly over the last year and undershooting even the pessimistic forecasts from the Bank of England and others.

“Productivity growth, as an enabler of higher pay, is a crucial component of rising living standards. Today’s figures are yet more worrying news for working people who face a slump in their standard of living under this Tory Government.

“The ONS today said there is ‘little sign of an end to the UK’s ‘productivity puzzle’ and there is no sign of the UK closing the record productivity gap with other G7 economies.

“Philip Hammond has previously admitted that the UK’s productivity gap is ‘shocking’. Yet the Tories lack a serious plan to tackle the problem.

“Only Labour has a serious plan to invest in our future to raise our productivity and deliver on jobs, prosperity and rising living standards.“