Labour

Today Labour has tabled a targeted amendment to the Article 50 Bill (the European Union [Notification of Withdrawal] Bill).

The amendment seeks to ensure Parliament is able to hold the Government to account throughout the Brexit negotiations on the impact of decisions on women and those with protected characteristics.

Sarah Champion, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities said:

“Labour has a long record of championing and protecting equal rights and we will hold the government to account using the Equality Act brought in by the last Labour government.

“Whilst we respect the will of the British people, we won’t pander to the will of this Tory government to chip away at hard won progress on equality.”

Responding to the Fabian Society’s report “At the crossroads: the future of British retail”, Chi Onwurah, Labour’s Shadow Business Minister said:

 “This is further evidence that Theresa May’s industrial strategy is little more than window-dressing for continued managed decline under the Tories. Last week’s Green Paper had almost nothing to say about retail, and this report underlines the failure of this Government to respond to urgent challenges such as automation and low productivity.

“It’s clear that this Government’s tactic of cherry-picking favoured sectors for backroom deals is leaving the vast majority of British workers out in the cold. Labour’s industrial strategy will take a whole-economy approach to build a high-wage, high-growth Britain that genuinely works for everyone.“

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, calling on Theresa May to withdraw her offer to Donald Trump of a State Visit, said:

“Let no one be in doubt that I will oppose, and the Labour Party will oppose, all those who fan the flames of fear at home and abroad.

“I support the demand of millions of British people: Donald Trump should not be welcomed on a state visit to this country while he continues to propagate his anti-women, anti-Muslim and anti-Mexican policies.

“This world defeated segregation, we defeated Apartheid and we will defeat this nasty policy created to sow division and hatred.

“His invite should be withdrawn until the executive orders are gone and every element of them repealed.

“History judges us by the actions we take in opposing oppression.

“I am proud that during the 1980s and 1990s I stood with Labour party members, trade unionists and faith leaders opposing the racist regime of South Africa.

“I was there on the day Margret Thatcher opened her door to P.W. Botha while Nelson Mandela languished in a prison cell.

“Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Party were on the wrong side of history then just as Theresa May and her Conservative Party are on the wrong side of history today.

“The Labour party stands unequivocally with those demonstrating today and will do so until we are victorious.

“I have written to Theresa May to demand that she withdraws her offer to Donald Trump of a State Visit.”

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on a report from The UK in a Changing Europe, ‘A successful Brexit – four economic tests’, said:

“This is an important and detailed piece of work which should be looked at seriously by everyone involved in the Brexit negotiations.

“It is vital for the good of the country that we can hold the Government to account using a series of tests like this, but to do so we will need much greater openness and transparency than the Government has shown so far.

“That’s why Labour’s amendments to the Bill in Parliament this week will seek to require regular progress reports from the Government and full Parliamentary scrutiny.”

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, commenting on President Trump’s potential state visit to the UK, said:

“Donald Trump should not be welcomed to Britain while he abuses our shared values with his shameful Muslim ban and attacks on refugees’ and women’s rights.

“Theresa May would be failing the British people if she does not postpone the state visit and condemn Trump’s actions in the clearest terms. That’s what Britain expects and deserves.”