The comments made by Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Health Secretary, on 23 August 2021.
Children’s health and well-being should be an absolute priority for ministers, especially after these last 18 months. Health Visitors are central to making sure the health of every child matters.
Instead, health visitor numbers have been cut and ministers have dismissed the concerns of those calling for health visitors to be given the backing and resources needed.
The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, on 23 August 2021.
The Conservatives chaotic, last-minute approach is damaging children’s education. Parents would rightly expect Ministers to have learnt from their mistakes over the last year, but once again families are being treated as an afterthought.
After two years of disrupted education each day in school matters. The Conservatives’ systematic refusal to plan ahead is just not good enough. Labour is demanding better for our children’s futures.
The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 23 August 2021.
This virtual G7 meeting is a make or break test of the Prime Minister’s ability to bring together international partners, rise to the occasion and show leadership.
The UK must step up and demand three crucial outcomes. First, that as many people as possible have safe passage out of Afghanistan by prioritising efforts to extend the air bridge out of Kabul beyond 31st August. Second, global agreement to deal with the unfolding refugee crisis by working with neighbouring countries to keep land borders open. And third, a strategy for supporting those who will be left behind.
The G7 must agree a joint strategy to safeguard our collective security and guarantee Afghanistan does not become a safe haven for terrorist organisations that pose a threat to the UK.
The Prime Minister has had eighteen months to plan for this – the world’s eyes are on tomorrow’s meeting to make the next seven days count.
The comments made by Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 23 August 2021.
We are all enjoying the return to a more normal way of life and getting our children back into school is a really important part of that process. We want to ensure schools are both safe and comfortable for students and staff – and have been clear that good ventilation is crucial.
As well as offering vaccines to 16 and 17 year olds and regular testing, we continue to work with the Department for Education to manage COVID-19 in schools and colleges. This includes the pilot we are running to test different air cleaning methods in school settings.
The comments made by Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education, on 21 August 2021.
Providing all schools with CO2 monitors will help them make sure they have the right balance of measures in place, minimising any potential disruption to education and allowing them to focus on world class lessons and catch up for the children who need it.
By keeping up simple measures such as ventilation and testing, young people can now enjoy more freedom at school and college.
The comments made by Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 22 August 2021.
Our new national antibody testing will be quick and easy to take part in, and by doing so you’ll be helping strengthen our understanding of COVID-19 as we cautiously return to a more normal life.
I’m proud to see all parts of the UK uniting around this new initiative and working together to arm ourselves with even more valuable insights into how COVID-19 vaccines are protecting people up and down the UK.
Our phenomenal vaccination programme continues to build a massive wall of defence across the country – already preventing around 24 million infections and more than 100,000 deaths in England alone. I urge everyone across the UK to get both vaccinations as soon as possible.
The comments made by Bridget Phillipson, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, on 18 August 2021.
People are already feeling the effects of inflation, whether it’s at the supermarket, petrol pump or paying for home improvements.
The Government must do all it can do to keep materials and other supplies moving to prevent the shortages that can lead to higher costs.
Whether the inflation is temporary or otherwise, families should not have to pay the price for the Government’s lack of plan for HGV drivers and the costly red tape following their deal with the European Union.
The comments made by Jim McMahon, the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, on 18 August 2021.
Rail travel has long been unaffordable for many people, thanks to the Conservatives prioritising the profits of private companies over passengers. This would be yet another eye-watering hike hot on the heels of the failure of the Government’s so-called money saving flexi ticket scheme.
The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 18 August 2021.
Austin served his constituency of Great Grimsby with remarkable commitment for 38 years. There are few MPs whose dedication to their constituents would translate into changing their surname to ‘Haddock’ to promote local industry.
His big sense of humour was matched by his deep Labour values. My thoughts are with his wife Linda and his children.
The comments made by John Healey, the Shadow Defence Secretary, on 21 August 2021.
Ministers were utterly unprepared for the US troop withdrawal and Taliban take-over. Labour fears we could see a tragic repeat at Kabul airport, if the US insist on a strict deadline for withdrawal without Britain’s agreement to evacuate safely all the Afghans we’ve pledged to help.
Ministers must show the strength of purpose and leadership that’s been missing in recent months. We know this is difficult and there’s no guarantee of success. Britain must pursue every option to save Afghans in danger and check Taliban actions.