Labour

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s refusal to commit to delivering schemes in the Government’s Road Investment Strategy at today’s Transport Questions, said:

“The Office of Rail and Road report into Highways England showed the Government’s Road Investment Strategy to be in chaos. The agency are over budget, behind schedule and serious doubts have been cast on whether promised investment will be delivered on time, if at all.

“The Road Investment Strategy is beginning to look like a wish-list rather than a deliverable plan to improve England’s road network. The government must reassure the public that promised works won’t be cancelled or delayed, and they should explain how they will guarantee road users’ safety following their failure to manage investment in England’s roads.”

Cat Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs, commenting on the ONS Young NEET figures out today, said:

“While it is welcome that the latest figures show a decline in the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), this Tory Government continues to fail young people.  

“There are still  826,000 young people who are NEETs. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to perform worse than their peers in school.

“Those who manage to find work are excluded from the national living wage and many are subjected to exploitative zero-hours contracts.

“Only Labour will prioritise young people’s needs and address these failings.”

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, commented on the Governments Defined Benefit Green Paper, said:

“Moves to allow employers to erode the value of their workers’ pensions, which could reportedly cost 11 million pensioners thousands of pounds, are absolutely unacceptable.

“Employers shouldn’t be allowed to break their promises on pensions and we will not stand by while the Government gives the green light to companies to downgrade them.

“The Tories are letting older people down, Labour will fight to guarantee a secure retirement.”

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, following the publication of the Supreme Court’s judgement on the legality of the minimum income threshold for UK citizens who seek to bring families here, said,

“The Supreme Court accepted the legitimacy of the Government measures, but it also held that Home Office rules unlawfully fail to take account of requirements to safeguard children’s welfare. 

“These rules cause hardship for thousands of families, prevent UK citizens being united with their families and clearly discriminate against women, BAME communities, and people on lower incomes.

“These measures were drawn up as part of Theresa May’s failed policy to reduce net migration.  Labour opposes rules that are clearly discriminatory. We will implement a fair and balanced immigration system which does not split families apart.”

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the findings of the Citizens Advice Bureau report, said:

“It is shocking to see that hundreds of thousands of low income workers, most of whom are women, are being blocked from these workplace pension schemes by the Tory Government.

“This month Labour demanded the Government look at how people working multiple jobs could be allowed to save. They refused.”

“While the Tories abandon older people, Labour wants to ensure that everyone can have the secure, dignified retirement that they deserve.”