Labour

“Today’s productivity figures again confirm the Tories’ failure on productivity growth, a crucial component of rising living standards.

“This is yet more worrying news given figures this week showing inflation rising and wage growth slowing, squeezing household incomes.

“The ONS says productivity growth “remains weak”, and Philip Hammond has previously admitted that the UK’s productivity gap is “shocking”. Yet the Tories have no plan to tackle the problem.

“Only Labour can end the Tories’ rigged economy with a serious plan to invest in our future to raise our productivity, and create the high wage, high skill economy of the future.”

Gill Furniss MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Steel, Postal Services and Consumer Protection, commenting on reports that Tata steelworkers have voted to accept Tata’s new pension scheme deal, said:

“This was always going to be a tough decision but we should recognise the fantastic work trade unions have done in getting the deal that has been accepted today. Thousands of steelworkers at Port Talbot now have job security for the next five years and they deserve the certainty that today’s result brings.

“Steel is a vital foundation industry for the UK. That is why it is important that today we have got a way forward for the Port Talbot steelworks, and that is why Labour will keep pressing the Government to give the steel sector the support it deserves.

“That means not marking steel ‘low-priority’ in the Brexit negotiations and not giving steel just one mention in the whole industrial strategy green paper. Actions matter, and this Government has done nothing to show it will actually support the UK steel industry.”

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy commenting on Theresa May’s visit to Copeland said:

“The Prime Minister today failed to assure that the UK is committed to the NuGen nuclear plant at Moorside in Cumbria.

“Taking an equity share as Labour has called for would ensure this vital power station built. Theresa May’s lack of action compounds a failed and incoherent energy strategy, clumsily lurching from crisis to calamity.

“Labour supports new nuclear and the growth of renewable energy, but the Tories appear hell bent on preventing either, rushing us out of the Euratom nuclear partnership and slashing low carbon energy support.

“The Tories’ failure is forcing up energy bills and threatening jobs.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1     Labour tabled multiple amendments to the recent Article 50 Bills to seek continued membership of Euratom (the European Atomic Energy Community) including NC192. The government rejected those attempts to keep the UK inside the nuclear research and trade community, despite strong calls from the nuclear industry.

a.       Leaving Euratom will have significant implications and disruption for the nuclear industry, and may affect the construction of Hinkley Point C.

b.      Legal opinion is split as to whether leaving the EU necessitates the leaving Euratom.

c.       Labour has come out in support of new nuclear.

2       The Government has greatly rolled back on support for low carbon energy to international condemnation.

a.       It is months late in its publishing of the legally required Emissions Reduction Plan.

b.      And risks missing it’s legally required Carbon Budgets as laid out in the Climate Change Act 2008.

3.     Significant disruptions in financial flows to the energy infrastructure makes projects more risky, driving up the cost of capital and impacting bills payers.

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on today’s Labour Market Statistics, said:

“We welcome the overall increase in employment, but are concerned that wide regional differences in the numbers of people in work remain.  

“It is also worrying to see that rising living costs are quickly catching up with wage growth. If this trend continues, the Government’s abysmal record on living standards will get even worse. 

“With wages set to be lower in 2021 than before the Tories came to power, they must now act to stop the growing pressure on low and middle income families. 

“That’s why Labour is urging the Government to reverse cuts to in-work support that could see some working families worse off by £2,600 a year.”

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on reports that General Motors is in talks to sell its European arm Opel, which includes the UK’s Vauxhall, said:

“In light of plans by General Motors to explore the option of selling Vauxhall and Opel, the Government should be pushing protection of our automotive sector right to the top of their agenda.

“Workers and investors need confidence that this industry will be robustly supported by Government for many years to come so that jobs are secure and investors are able to make long term decisions.

“I would also urge General Motors to work very closely with trade unions in progressing any deal to ensure that jobs are protected.”

Ends