Nia Griffith MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, responding to the Urgent Question on the National Security Capability Review in the House of Commons, said:

“It is completely unacceptable that the Defence Secretary cannot answer the most basic questions about the Government’s defence review, which many fear is just a thinly veiled attempt to force more cuts on Britain’s Armed Forces.

“Under this Government, we have seen a dramatic fall in the size of the Army and there is a gaping black hole of £20bn in the defence equipment plan.

“The simple fact is that you cannot do security on the cheap and the British public expects the Government to ensure that defence and the Armed Forces get the funding that they deserve.”

Jon Trickett MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to Carillion going into liquidation, said: 

“The Government must act quickly to bring these public sector contracts back in-house to protect public services and ensure employees, supply chain companies, taxpayers and pension fund members are protected.

"Given £2 billion worth of Government contracts were awarded in the time three profit warnings were given by Carillion, a serious investigation needs to be launched into the Government’s handling of this matter.

"It is vital that shareholders and creditors are not allowed to walk away with the rewards from profitable contracts while the taxpayer bails out loss-making parts of the business.”

Richard Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to reports that the UK Justice Secretary is seeking legal advice over John Worboys’ release, said:

“It is important that the victims of Worboys’ crimes, as well as the wider public, have faith in our justice system. So it is right that the Ministry of Justice seeks advice on a Judicial Review of this case, as the rules permit.

"A Judicial Review would look at whether the Parole Board’s decision was taken properly, but there are wider questions that must also be answered. The Worboys case raises many serious questions that anything less than an independent end-to-end review into the handling of the case—from the first report to the police of an attack right through to the Parole Board hearing—would let down the victims and the wider public." 

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, responding to the Government’s housing announcement, said: 

“This welcome Government climb-down is further proof that Labour is winning the argument and making the running on housing. 

“When Conservative Ministers voted down this Labour proposal previously they described it as ‘unnecessary regulation’ which ‘will deter investment and put up rents’. 

“The Government must now rethink its ideological refusal to help renters in other areas too, starting by backing Labour’s plans for longer tenancies and controls on rents.” 

Karen Buck MP, who proposed these measures in a Private Members Bill, said: 

“I am delighted that the government have agreed to back this important Bill this time around. 

“One million rented homes are unfit for occupation- plagued by problems such as damp, mould or extreme cold. This Bill requires landlords to ensure that all homes are fit to live in and gives tenants new rights to challenge them if they do not. 

“Everyone should have the right to a decent home and this is one step towards making that happen.”

Jon Trickett MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to talks on the future of Carillion, said:

“It has been clear for months that Carillion has been in difficulty but the Government has continued to hand over contracts to the company even after profits warnings were issued.

"Jobs and public services are now at risk because the Tories were blinded by their commitment to a failing ideological project of introducing the profit motive into taxpayer funded services. 

"Labour urges the Government to stand ready to intervene and bring these crucial public sector contracts back in-house in order to protect Carillion’s employees, pension holders and British taxpayers.”