Category: Speeches

  • Priti Patel – 2021 Comments on Appointment of Nick Herbert as the Chair of College of Policing

    Priti Patel – 2021 Comments on Appointment of Nick Herbert as the Chair of College of Policing

    The comments made by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, on 14 January 2021.

    I welcome Nick as the new Chair of the College of Policing – he will bring with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of policing and the criminal justice system.

    The College of Policing plays a vital role in delivering the training that makes our police force the best in the world, and is playing a crucial role in the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers.

    I would like to extend my thanks to Christine for her part in leading the College through the challenging demands on policing in 2020.

  • Priti Patel – 2021 Comments on Kay Richardson

    Priti Patel – 2021 Comments on Kay Richardson

    The comments made by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, on 14 January 2021.

    I can’t imagine the pain and suffering of the families of victims like Kay Richardson, and I want them to know their voices have been heard. Victims and witnesses of the most distressing crimes – including domestic abuse and sexual violence – must be protected while allegations are investigated. It is my priority to deliver justice for victims and Kay’s Law will put victims at the heart of the bail system, empower police to ensure that suspects are closely monitored, and protect the public.

  • Philippa Whitford – 2021 Comments on Victoria Prentis Not Reading Fisheries Deal

    Philippa Whitford – 2021 Comments on Victoria Prentis Not Reading Fisheries Deal

    The comments made by Philippa Whitford, the SNP spokesperson on Brexit, on 13 January 2021.

    Due to Brexit-induced bureaucracy, Scotland’s fishing communities are already experiencing severe disruption and cannot get their produce to their customers in the EU market on time. For the Tory Government’s fisheries minister to then admit that she did not even bother to read the details of the damaging deal because she was too busy is unbelievable and makes her position untenable.

  • Victoria Prentis – 2021 Comments on Provisional Fishing Quotas

    Victoria Prentis – 2021 Comments on Provisional Fishing Quotas

    The comments made by Victoria Prentis, the Fisheries Minister, on 14 January 2021.

    For the first time in 40 years we enter into annual fisheries negotiations as an independent coastal State. As a responsible independent coastal State we are taking measures to ensure that we fish sustainably, and that our fishermen can continue to operate smoothly while those annual negotiations take place.

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2021 Comments on NHS Performance Statistics

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2021 Comments on NHS Performance Statistics

    The comments made by Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 14 January 2021.

    These figures show the alarming and sustained pressure the NHS has been under for months now – impacting all areas of treatment. Hospitals are struggling to deliver urgent care in the most difficult of circumstances, while over 190,000 people have now been waiting over a year for treatment.

    Years of underfunding, bed cuts and understaffing left our NHS exposed when the Coronavirus epidemic hit us. It is vital that we now have a Herculean effort to roll out at least two million vaccines a week, with NHS staff vaccinations completed in the next week, to ease pressure on our NHS.

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2021 Comments on Universal Credit Cut

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2021 Comments on Universal Credit Cut

    The comments made by Jonathan Reynolds, the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on 14 January 2021.

    Under the Conservatives, families come last. The government’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic means Britain is facing one of the worst recessions of any major economy. Boris Johnson’s decision to cut Universal Credit will hit millions of families who are already struggling to get by.

    There cannot be another repeat of the government’s indecision and mismanagement of the free school meals scandal. The government must put families first during this lockdown and act now instead of waiting until the last minute. If ministers refuse, Conservative MPs have to opportunity to vote with Labour and give families the support they need to get through this pandemic.

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2021 Comments on Free School Meals

    Tulip Siddiq – 2021 Comments on Free School Meals

    The comments made by Tulip Siddiq, the Shadow Children and Early Years Minister, on 14 January 2021.

    Time and time again this government has had to be shamed into providing food for hungry children over school holidays. Stopping Free School Meals support over half-term will be devastating for many families who are living on the breadline in this pandemic.

    The Prime Minister’s claim to be morally outraged at images of woefully inadequate food parcels will ring hollow for parents who are worried about whether they will be able to put food on the table for their children over half-term.

  • Jim McMahon – 2021 Comments on Gatwick Job Losses

    Jim McMahon – 2021 Comments on Gatwick Job Losses

    The comments made by Jim McMahon, the Shadow Transport Secretary, on 14 January 2021.

    Nearly a year has passed since the Government promised proper support for aviation to help businesses through the pandemic. Ministers’ incompetence and failure to act is costing jobs.

    Labour has repeatedly called for a sectoral deal that supports the whole aviation industry, including securing jobs and protecting the supply chain, while continuing to press for higher environmental standards.

  • Keir Starmer – 2021 Comments on the Resignation of Richard Leonard

    Keir Starmer – 2021 Comments on the Resignation of Richard Leonard

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 14 January 2021.

    I would like to thank Richard for his service to our party and his unwavering commitment to the values he believes in.

    Richard has led Scottish Labour through one of the most challenging and difficult periods in our country’s history, including a general election and the pandemic.

    Even from opposition he has achieved a considerable amount for which he should be very proud. This includes securing a commitment for the creation of a national care service, securing action on a Jobs Guarantee Scheme to deal with youth unemployment, securing a human-rights based public inquiry into the treatment of care home residents during the COVID pandemic and securing support for a Fair Rents Bill to give new rights to tenants.

    He has done so with dedication to the values of our movement.

    I wish Richard the very best for the future as one of our MSPs and know that he will continue to play an important role in Scottish Labour.

  • Angela Rayner – 2021 Comments on the Government’s Competence

    Angela Rayner – 2021 Comments on the Government’s Competence

    The comments made by Angela Rayner, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, on 14 January 2021.

    The Conservatives have presided over the worst recession of any major economy and worst excess death rate in Europe.

    The British people need a government that is committed to defeating this virus and getting Britain vaccinated. Instead, the day after our country recorded the highest daily death toll since this crisis started, the Conservatives are playing politics and fighting amongst themselves.

    Labour is focusing on getting Britain vaccinated so we can secure our economy, protect our NHS and rebuild our country.