Category: Speeches

Justin Madders – 2020 Comments on Test and Trace Statistics

The comments made by Justin Madders, the Shadow Health Minister, on 20 August 2020.

This incompetent government is failing to improve test and trace. In a whole range of measures, from the time it takes to return tests, to the percentage of people who are contacted who have been in close contact with a person who tested positive, things are going backwards. For a quarter of all tests to take longer than 72 hours to get results back is a worryingly poor performance.

In the week that NHS Providers said track and trace was failing, it seems nobody in the Government has yet picked up responsibility to turn things round. It beggars belief that the head of test and trace has now been given more responsibility by the Government.

August 20, 2020
Gavin Williamson – 2020 Comments on GCSE Results

The comments made by Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education, on 20 August 2020.

Young people getting their results today can feel incredibly proud of all they’ve achieved in the face of immense challenge and uncertainty.

This is an exciting day and young people now can look forward to taking their next steps, whether that is returning to schools and colleges in September to do A levels or our brand new T Levels, or taking one of the many other routes available like starting an apprenticeship.

I also want to pay a special tribute to teachers and school leaders this year who have shown dedication, resilience and ingenuity to support their students to get to this moment.

August 20, 2020
Stephen Doughty – 2020 Comments on Situation in Mali

Comments made by Stephen Doughty, the Shadow Minister for Africa, on 19 August 2020.

Recent events in Mali are deeply concerning and it is vital that we see an immediate return to the rule of law and democratic and constitutional processes. Detained political figures, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, should be released and a peaceful dialogue established to avoid further instability. Free and fair elections must then be held to ensure the right of the people of Mali to determine their country’s future direction.

The UK government is right to join international partners in condemning the coup, but must now commit to continuing to support humanitarian efforts in the region to help bring about much-needed peace and stability.

Our country’s strategic interests are best served when the UK collaborates with democratic allies to support democratic order in Mali, particularly in light of growing jihadist terrorism in Mali and the pressing need for a coordinated international effort to combat the threat it poses to wider regional stability.

August 20, 2020
Justin Madders – 2020 Comments on Working Conditions for Midwives

Comments made by Justin Madders, the Shadow Health Minister, on 20 August 2020.

[Commenting on the Royal College of Midwives survey that shows midwives are missing meals and toilet breaks]

This is deeply concerning and shows not only how our amazing midwives go above and beyond every single day but also how they are being let down by a Government that has simply failed to deal with the chronic workforce shortages in the NHS.

We are short of 2,500 midwives in the NHS in England which, against an overall staffing shortfall of over 100,000, is forcing staff to do more and more and putting them under ever increasing strain.

The Government needs to come up with a credible staffing plan otherwise we risk losing many of these dedicated people to burnout.

August 20, 2020
Thangam Debbonaire – 2020 Comments on Homelessness Statistics

The comments made by Thangam Debbonaire, the Shadow Housing Secretary, on 20 August 2020.

These figures highlight the urgent need to extend the evictions ban, to avoid thousands more people being made homeless in the run up to winter.

Before Covid, we already had devastatingly high numbers in temporary accommodation as a direct result of 10 years of Conservative government, whose policies have pushed people into poverty.

The Government have known for months that an evictions crisis is looming. Not for the first time, it has been too slow to take action and we’re now facing a potential disaster if the ban is lifted with no plan for what comes next.

August 20, 2020
Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Students Receiving GCSE Results

The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, on 20 August 2020.

Today marks the culmination of years of hard work by young people across the country. I congratulate them on everything that they have achieved, and wish them the best as they move on to the next stage of their education or training.

But the reality is that many of these young people will have faced huge stress in recent days, as the government’s incompetent and chaotic handling of the results fiasco left them concerned about their futures.

This incompetence must come to an end. The government must urgently ensure that every young person, including those studying BTECs, get the grades they deserve quickly and do not lose out on any further stage of their education because of this government’s incompetence.

August 20, 2020
Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Gavin Williamson and the Exams Algorithm

The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, on 20 August 2020.

Gavin Williamson was warned again and again about the problems with the grading algorithm, and each time, he did nothing.

This endless pattern of incompetence is no way to run a country. His failure to listen to warnings and to act on them risked thousands of young people being robbed of their futures.

It is time for full transparency. The Department for Education must now publish all correspondence to and from the Secretary of State in which concerns about this algorithm were discussed, as a matter of urgency.

Young people deserve to know how they came to be let down so badly.

August 20, 2020
George Eustice – 2020 Comments on the Environment Bill

The comments made by George Eustice, the Secretary of State for Environment, on 19 August 2020.

The targets we set under our landmark Environment Bill will be the driving force behind our bold action to protect and enhance our natural world – guaranteeing real and lasting progress on some of the biggest environmental issues facing us today.

I hope these targets will provide some much-needed certainty to businesses and society, as we work together to build back better and greener.

August 19, 2020
Kevin Foster – 2020 Comments on the Latin American Disabled People’s Project

The comments made by Kevin Foster, the Minister for Future Borders and Immigration, on 19 August 2020.

The Latin American Disabled People’s Project has been doing such vital work helping vulnerable EU citizens apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, providing support right through the pandemic.

EU citizens are an integral part of UK society which is why I’m pleased there have been more than 3.5 million grants of status already securing people’s rights in UK law.

August 19, 2020
Robert Buckland – 2020 Comments on Pausing the Prisoner Early Release Programme

The comments made by Robert Buckland, the Secretary of State for Justice, on 19 August 2020.

This has been an unprecedented situation but thanks to the hard work and dedication of our staff we have stopped coronavirus taking hold in prisons, which means we can now pause the early release scheme.

We continue to keep this decision under review, but independent public health experts have judged our approach effective and we continue to do all we can to help the NHS and prevent our staff and prisoners from being at risk.

August 19, 2020