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Tag: 2020

  • Rachel Reeves – 2020 Comments on NAO Investigation into Government Procurement

    Rachel Reeves – 2020 Comments on NAO Investigation into Government Procurement

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 18 November 2020.

    This report confirms that this Tory government’s approach to procurement has fallen far short of what this country deserves. Lessons must be learned.

    The National Audit Office has shown how, at best, this incompetent government can’t even get basic paperwork right.

    At worst, that the government may be deliberately attempting to cover their tracks, avoid scrutiny or withhold information from the public while wasting taxpayer money.

    From paying for useless PPE to a maintaining Serco’s failed contract tracing system, we have seen disastrous decisions which have squandered public money and held back our country’s response to Covid-19.

    The country deserves to have confidence their money is being spent effectively by the government – and to know without doubt that friends and donors to the Conservative party aren’t profiting from this pandemic.

  • Wes Streeting – 2020 Comments on NAHT Report

    Wes Streeting – 2020 Comments on NAHT Report

    The comments made by Wes Streeting, the Shadow Minister for Schools, on 18 November 2020.

    Labour has consistently called for proper support for school leaders and a system of accountability that genuinely improves the learning experience for children and young people. We will only get the best out of our pupils if we get the best out of our teachers, support staff and school leaders which requires good quality training and professional development.

    Even before the coronavirus pandemic, progress to close the gap between pupils from the most and least disadvantaged backgrounds was not only stalling under this Government, but slipping into reverse. The Government must urgently refocus its attention on tackling educational disadvantage to prevent an entire generation of children from being left behind.

  • Steve Reed – 2020 Comments about the Towns Fund

    Steve Reed – 2020 Comments about the Towns Fund

    The comments made by Steve Reed, the Shadow Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, on 18 November 2020.

    Scandal-prone Robert Jenrick has, yet again, been dragged to the House of Commons to explain why he misused taxpayers’ money to benefit the Conservative Party.

    There are real concerns that the Secretary of State misused taxpayers’ money to help his own bid for re-election, then tried to cover what he’d been up to just days before a damning report was released.

    Sunlight is the best disinfectant: Mr Jenrick must answer these questions and reassure the public that taxpayers’ cash isn’t being misused by the Conservatives for their own gain.

  • Steve Barclay – 2020 Statement on Freeports

    Steve Barclay – 2020 Statement on Freeports

    The statement made by Steve Barclay, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in the House of Commons on 16 November 2020.

    On 16 November, the Government launched the bidding process for the allocation of freeports in England by publishing a bidding prospectus. The bidding period will close on 5 February 2021.

    Leaving the EU creates new opportunities for the UK to strengthen the union and become a hub for international trade and investment. Revitalising our port regions through an ambitious freeport policy is a key component of realising this vision and unlocking the deep potential of all nations and regions of the UK.

    The creation of freeports will be a cornerstone of the Government’s plan to level up opportunity across the country. Freeports will increase trade, create employment and attract investment in order to form innovative business clusters that benefit local areas. This in turn will help rejuvenate left-behind communities across the UK, by attracting new businesses, spreading jobs, investment and opportunity.

    The bidding prospectus sets out how ports, businesses, local government and other local partners can come together to bid for freeport status.

    At the centre of our new freeports policy is an ambitious new customs model which will improve upon both the UK’s existing customs facilitations and the freeports the UK previously had. Our freeports model also introduces a package of tax incentives for businesses to invest in freeports, and seed funding to develop key infrastructure to help level up some of our most deprived communities. We are introducing new measures to speed up planning processes to accelerate development in and around freeports and new initiatives to encourage innovators to test new ideas to drive additional economic growth and create jobs.

    Freeports will be selected according to a fair, transparent and competitive bidding process, and will be expected to collaborate closely with key partners across the public and private sectors.

    We want all the nations of the UK to share in the benefits of freeports. As such, we are working constructively and collaboratively with the devolved Administrations to seek to establish at least one freeport in each nation of the UK as soon as possible.

    The “Freeports bidding prospectus” CP315 has been laid in Parliament. Copies are available in the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office, and also at: https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/freeports-bidding-prospectus.

  • Matt Hancock – 2020 Comments on Government Securing 5 Million Doses of Moderna Vaccine

    Matt Hancock – 2020 Comments on Government Securing 5 Million Doses of Moderna Vaccine

    The comments made by Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 16 November 2020.

    Today’s announcement is excellent news and an encouraging step forward in our fight against COVID-19.

    We have moved swiftly to secure 5 million doses of this hugely promising vaccine meaning we are even better placed to vaccinate everyone who will benefit should the rigorous safety standards be met.

    But we are not there yet. Until science can make us safe, we must remain vigilant and keep following the rules that we know can keep this virus under control.

  • Robert Jenrick – 2020 Comments on Social Housing

    Robert Jenrick – 2020 Comments on Social Housing

    The comments made by Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on 17 November 2020.

    We are delivering on the commitment we made to the Grenfell community that, never again, would the voices of residents go unheard. This white paper will bring transformational change for social housing residents, giving them a much stronger voice and, in doing so, re-focusing the sector on its social mission.

    I want to see social housing tenants empowered by a regulatory regime and a culture of transparency, accountability, decency and service befitting of the best intentions and deep roots of social housing in this country.

    The new approach and regulatory changes we set out in this white paper will make a measurable difference to the lived experiences of those living in England’s 4 million social homes in the years ahead.

  • Amanda Solloway – 2020 Comments on Claw to Clear Up Space Junk

    Amanda Solloway – 2020 Comments on Claw to Clear Up Space Junk

    The comments made by Amanda Solloway, the Science Minister, on 17 November 2020.

    There are millions of hazardous pieces of space junk orbiting the Earth – if a single one collides with a satellite it could interfere with vital everyday services that we all rely on like broadband or GPS.

    The first ever interstellar clean-up mission, driven by ground-breaking British scientists and researchers, is just another example of how the UK’s space sector is out of this world.

  • Grant Shapps – 2020 Comments on UK/US Aviation Deal

    Grant Shapps – 2020 Comments on UK/US Aviation Deal

    The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 17 November 2020.

    The Air Services Agreement will allow us to continue to travel and trade with one of our closest friends and allies, working together to mutually boost our economies, either side of the Atlantic. This is just one of many steps we’re taking as we move towards a bright new future at the end of the transition period.

  • James Duddridge – 2020 Comments on Violence in Ethiopia

    James Duddridge – 2020 Comments on Violence in Ethiopia

    The comments made by James Duddridge, the Minister for Africa, on 17 November 2020.

    The UK calls for immediate de-escalation and the protection of civilians following further violence in Ethiopia and attacks on Asmara, Eritrea over the weekend.

    We are working closely with humanitarian agencies to ensure that aid reaches civilians affected by the fighting.

  • Ian Murray – 2020 Comments on Boris Johnson Calling Devolution a Disaster

    Ian Murray – 2020 Comments on Boris Johnson Calling Devolution a Disaster

    The comments made by Ian Murray, the Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, on 17 November 2020.

    This confirms that Boris Johnson doesn’t believe in devolution and would put the future of the United Kingdom at risk.

    His Government should have been working in partnership with the devolved governments during this crisis. Instead, people across the UK have been paying the price for his failings.

    Devolution is one of Labour’s proudest achievements and we will always fight for a strong Scotland in the UK.

    Scotland deserves better than two governments obsessed by division – Labour will work to bring our country together.