“I’d
like to begin by saying thank you to the returning officer and their staff for
all their work in making sure this election runs smoothly.

 “I
also must thank my wife, Sophia, and our beautiful daughter, Hannah. Both are a
constant source of strength, love and inspiration to me. Without their support,
this campaign would not have been possible.

“Can
I also thank the police for all that they have done today and throughout the
campaign.

 “For
democracy to work it needs the support of dedicated public servants and here in
Stoke-on-Trent we can be proud to have some of the most dedicated in the
country.

“I’d also like to thank my agent George Sinnott, and the
incredible team of Labour Party workers and volunteers who have sustained this
campaign throughout. To see the energy and commitment that all of you have
shown these last few weeks is a reminder of the incredible strength and passion
of our movement.

“I feel profoundly humble to have been chosen by
the people of Stoke-on-Trent Central to represent them in Parliament.

“My wife Sophia and I chose to make our life here and it was the
best decision we ever made. I’m proud to call the Potteries my home, and I’m
prouder still to have been given the opportunity to represent our city as your
next MP.

“In recent weeks Stoke-on-Trent has found itself in the national
spotlight. Our city has been the focus of a media which all too often
prefers to dwell on our problems instead of highlighting our achievements.

“But over these last few weeks a city lazily dubbed by some as the
capital of Brexit has once again proven to the world that we are so
much more than that.

“We are a city of innovators and educators, artists and
entrepreneurs. We pioneered the first industrial revolution and I believe that
we have the potential to lead the next one.

“This city will not allow ourselves to be defined by last year’s
referendum. And we will not allow ourselves to be divided by the result.

“Nor will we be divided by race, or faith, or creed. We will move
forward together to tackle the problems that we face and secure a brighter,
more prosperous future for one another.

“So for those who have come to Stoke-on-Trent to sow hatred and
division, and to try to turn us away from our friends and neighbours, I have
one message – you have failed.

“Tonight the people of Stoke-on-Trent have chosen the politics of
hope over the politics of fear. We have said with one voice that hatred and
bigotry are not welcome here. This is a proud city and we stand together.

“This election is a victory for British values of tolerance and
respect. But it is also a victory for the proud Labour values that are the
hallmark of our city and its people.

“It is a message that the people of Stoke-on-Trent won’t just sit
back while this Tory government cuts our National Health Service to the bone
and puts the future of our public services at risk.

“It is a warning that we will not stand idly by while politicians
in Westminster pour ever-money into London and the South East while the rest of
the country is simply left to fend for itself.

“And it is a demand that the contribution our people have made to
this country is respected and rewarded with the support and investment we
deserve.

“Politics
can be passionate – and there have been moments in this campaign that have
polarised people.

“My
job – and it is the job of all of us here – will be to put this campaign behind
us – and work together.

“For those who voted for me in this election, thank you very much.
But for those who did not, or who did not vote at all, I want you to know that
I will be your representative as well.

“I will work every day to repay the trust that the people of
Stoke-on-Trent have placed in me.

 “I will be a strong, local voice that our city needs and I
will always put the people of Stoke-on-Trent first. I have a plan for the
Potteries, and that plan begins today.”

Baroness
(Angela) Smith of Basildon, Labour’s Leader in the House of Lords, in response
to reports of potential government concessions on the Article 50 Bill, said:

“Reports
that the Government is considering a serious concession on parliamentary
engagement and a vote on the negotiations are welcome.

“What
happens next is a pivotal moment and will determine the tone and trust in the
weeks, months and years to come on this issue.

“Ministers
have rightly conceded the need for a vote before the deal is concluded and we
welcome that.

“Our
amendment on a vote on the outcome of negotiations has been drafted by taking
note of what happened in the Commons, including ministerial comments, as well
as expert advice from peers in the Lords debates. The Government will have
heard the senior cross bench peer and former Supreme Court judge Lord Hope’s
speech about the need for further
legislation should this Bill not be amended.

“We
believe we would win that vote. The Government of course could try to overturn
it in the Commons.

“But
rather than Ministers just holding to the line that they won’t amend the bill
but will make a statement on the record, it would be a positive and mature
signal for future progress of legislation if having accepted the principle they
write this into the bill.”

Ends

Richard
Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to the Government’s
Prison and Courts Bill, said:

“While
there are some welcome proposals, overall this is a damp squib from a Tory
Party who have no solutions to the problems they have created in the justice
system

“We
were promised the ‘biggest overhaul of prisons in a generation’ but there is no
plan to deal with understaffing and overcrowding – the two biggest challenges
facing the prison system.

“A
duty on prisons to reform is of course welcome. But without a plan to back it
up, this is simply a symbolic gesture.

“Labour
is open to Governors having greater autonomy, but this must not become a way
for Ministers to simply shift responsibility for their policy failures
elsewhere.

“And
the Chief Inspector of Prisons has already queried whether league tables could
be meaningful.

“Preventing
cross examination of victims of domestic violence by the perpetrator is
welcome. However, the Tories’ reckless cuts to legal aid have greatly
contributed to this unacceptable situation.”

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home
Secretary, responding to the release of the
latest migration statistics, said:

“The Tories’ immigration policy is a
complete mess. Despite their claims, they are still nowhere near to achieving
their unworkable target.

“The Tories blame the EU for this,
but EU and non-EU long-term migration are the same, and each of them is way
over 100,000 by themselves. The ONS are clear there was no statistically
significant fall in net migration numbers. 

“The only significant drop was in
international students, who enrich our education system and the wider economy
and whose decline will make us all worse off.”

Paul
Blomfield MP, Shadow Brexit Minister, responding to a BMA report that reveals
more than four in ten European doctors are considering leaving the UK following
Brexit, said:

“Labour
has been warning the Government for months now that its failure to guarantee the
status of Europeans living and working here is not in the national interest.

“These
findings from the BMA are a stark wakeup call about the consequences of this
uncertainty for a health service already at breaking point.

“The
Government must act urgently and guarantee the status of Europeans – for our
health service, for our economy and to create goodwill amongst our future
negotiating partners.

“It’s
failure to do so is an act of self-harm.”