Labour

The Government needs to concentrate on increasing capacity and improving schools in the areas that need it the most – Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, commenting on an NAO report on capital funding for schools, said:

“Hundreds of secondary schools in England are already full to capacity, while thousands more are crumbling and in desperate need of repair. Yet the Tories continue to waste millions opening free schools in areas that do not need them.

“The Government needs to concentrate on increasing capacity and improving schools in the areas that need it the most.”

February 22, 2017 GovWorldMagLabourGovernmental • Labour • Labour Party • political

It is crucial that the criminal justice system works in the interests of all victims – Carolyn Harris

Responding to the Victims’ Commissioner’s review into the treatment of child victims of sexual and violent offences, Labour’s shadow home office minister, Carolyn Harris, said:

“It is crucial that the criminal justice system works in the interests of all victims.

“But it is clear from this review that young victims of some of the most serious offences feel they are still being let down.

“Rather than trying to downplay the findings, the Government should accept there is a problem and get on with producing the Victims’ Law they promised to address it.”

February 22, 2017 GovWorldMagLabourGovernmental • Labour • Labour Party • political

Liz Truss is fast becoming the Secretary of State for prison escapes – Burgon

Richard Burgon, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on the escape of a prisoner from outside Aintree University Hospital, said:

“Liz Truss is fast becoming the Secretary of State for prison escapes. Under her watch the prison system lurches from crisis to crisis and she seems to have no cure.

“Liz Truss’ flagship Prisons and Courts Bill is due to this week and the pressure on her to deliver is mounting.”

February 21, 2017 GovWorldMagLabour

It is crucial that the Government urgently improve departmental monitoring and evaluation measures – Jon Trickett

Jon Trickett MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to a Regulatory Policy Committee report criticising the quality of departments’ impact assessments of policy decisions, said:

“Years of Tory cuts are clearly taking their toll on civil servants who face increased workloads, tight resources and worsening conditions.

“It is utterly unacceptable that departments are diverting resources away from providing rigorous impact assessment of their decisions – what some might call ‘idiot-proofing’ the civil service from Tory policy.

“Ministers could be leading us up the garden path and the departments themselves would be none the wiser.

“It is crucial that the Government urgently improve departmental monitoring and evaluation measures.”

February 21, 2017 GovWorldMagLabourGovernmental • Labour • Labour Party • political

Today’s figures show the Government’s debt still rising, seven years after the Tories started their austerity agenda – Peter Dowd

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on today’s ONS public sector finance figures, said:

“Today’s figures show the Government’s debt still rising, seven years after the Tories started their austerity agenda, and two years after they said they would balance the books.

“It’s clear that their slash and burn approach to public spending has not only given us a crisis in NHS and social care but also failed as an approach to reducing Government debt.

“Labour’s Fiscal Credibility Rule gives us a firm commitment to addressing the public finances while investing in our economy for the future as part of our programme to rebuild and transform Britain.”