Labour

Louise Haigh MP, Labour’s Shadow Policing Minister, commenting on the news that the manipulation of forensics data may have affected up to 10,000 cases, said:

“As the true scale of this scandal becomes apparent, the Tories’ decision to abolish the Forensic Science Service is beginning to look like a catastrophic error of judgement.

“The lack of statutory powers to enforce standards in forensics has given private providers a green light to cut corners.

“It is utterly scandalous to think that decision-making in child safeguarding or criminal prosecutions may have been adversely affected by this alleged manipulation.

“Ministers need to urgently explain what will be done to ensure anyone affected is identified and what steps are being taken so nothing like this can happen again.”

Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, commenting on BBC Radio London’s research which reveals councils across the capital will be spending a total of about £383m to make social housing safer following the Grenfell fire, said:

“The Government must listen to the calls of Labour and councils across London and use tomorrow’s Budget to keep its promise to help cover the cost of the vital fire safety measures needed to make homes safe.

“Forcing these costs onto councils, which have suffered from harsh cuts from the Tories, means that local people will have to foot the bill – and will place an even greater financial strain on our already over-burdened public services.”

 “The Grenfell Tower fire was an entirely avoidable human disaster that must never be repeated.”

Peter Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, responding to the Government’s customs resolutions and the publication of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill:

“While Labour recognises the need for the Government to begin preparations for an independent customs and tariff regime, that does not mean giving the Government a blank cheque to concentrate power in its own hands.

“The publication of the Government’s Bill on the establishment of the UK’s future customs and tariff regime is yet another example of Government legislation that gives large swathes of delegated powers to ministers with no reference to any meaningful parliamentary oversight. It is shocking the level of contempt this Conservative Government has for Parliament.

“Labour is committed to ensuring that any future changes to the UK’s customs and tariff regime face full parliamentary scrutiny and be considered on a similar footing to changes to the UK tax system. We therefore intend to amend the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill to reflect that commitment.”

Ahead of the Budget tomorrow, Labour has revealed that no new ‘starter homes’ have been built in three years, despite the Conservatives’ promise to build 200,000 of them.

‘Starter homes’ are a flagship Conservative commitment to first-time buyers, first announced in December 2014. In the Conservatives’ 2015 manifesto, they promised to build 200,000 starter homes but none have so far been built.

In addition to the lack of progress on building starter homes, analysis from Labour shows that the number of new low-cost homes to buy has halved since 2010. There are now 58,000 fewer affordable homes for first-time buyers than if building levels had continued at the level left by Labour.

Labour is challenging the Chancellor to use tomorrow’s Budget to reverse this abysmal record on house-building and to ensure that promised homes are actually built.

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, said:

“If hot air built homes, Conservative Ministers would have fixed our housing crisis. Three years after they pledged a big new programme of ‘starter homes’ for first-time buyers, not a single one has been built.

“Meanwhile, the number of home-owners under 45 has fallen by 904,000 since 2010 and the number of low-cost homes to buy has halved.

“The Chancellor must use the Budget to reverse this abysmal record and ensure that the homes they pledge are actually built. No more broken promises.

“The next Labour government will build 100,000 genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy a year, and help first-time buyers with first-dibs on new homes for local people, a new generation of discounted FirstBuy Homes, and a cut in stamp duty on their first home.”

Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, commenting on the UK losing its place on the International Court of Justice for the first time in its 71 year history, said:

“While we congratulate our friends in India on maintaining their place on the International Court of Justice, it remains a shocking indictment of Britain’s declining international standing that, for the first time in the history of the court, it will now be without a British judge. Theresa May and Boris Johnson like to proclaim their dream of a ‘Global Britain’, but here in the real world, her weak leadership and his repeated gaffes have left our country increasingly isolated and ignored.

“Only a Labour Government, which will restore values and principles to our foreign policy, and build bridges with our international partners, will allow us to recover our global influence, and re-take our rightful place as a leading player at the United Nations.”