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Tag: 2020

  • Matt Hancock – 2020 Comments on the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Vaccine

    Matt Hancock – 2020 Comments on the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Vaccine

    The comments made by Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 30 December 2020.

    The approval of the Oxford vaccine is a massive step forward in our fight against coronavirus. It is a tribute to the incredible UK scientists at Oxford University and AstraZeneca, whose breakthrough will help to save lives around the world. The light at the end of the tunnel just got brighter.

    Vaccines are the exit route from the pandemic. We have already vaccinated hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people and the new Oxford jab will allow us to accelerate our vaccination plan, allowing us to return to normality in the future.

    This is a moment to celebrate British innovation – not only are we responsible for discovering the first treatment to reduce mortality for COVID-19, this vaccine will be made available to some of the poorest regions of the world at a low cost, helping protect countless people from this awful disease.

    I want to thank every single person who has been part of this British success story. While it is a time to be hopeful, it is so vital everyone continues to play their part to drive down infections.

  • Ben Wallace – 2020 Comments on Afghan Staff Being Allowed to Stay in UK

    Ben Wallace – 2020 Comments on Afghan Staff Being Allowed to Stay in UK

    The comments made by Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for Defence, on 29 December 2020.

    Nobody’s life should be put at risk because they supported the UK Government to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan.

    As the situation in the region evolves, it is only right we do more to protect local citizens who stood shoulder to shoulder with our armed forces.

    As a former soldier I know the bond between the brothers who fight by our side. These Afghans stood by us and risked their lives to make a better country. We owe them a debt and I am proud that the Home Secretary and I can finally close this chapter and thank them for their service.

  • Gavin Williamson – 2020 Comments on Army Helping with Testing in Schools

    Gavin Williamson – 2020 Comments on Army Helping with Testing in Schools

    The comments made by Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education, on 29 December 2020.

    It is a true cross-government effort to make sure secondary schools and colleges have the support, guidance, materials and funding they need to offer rapid testing to their staff and students from the start of term.

    I am grateful to the armed forces personnel, and all the school and college staff, leaders and volunteers working to put testing in place. This will help break chains of transmission, fight the virus, and help deliver the national priority of keeping education open for all.

  • Ben Wallace – 2020 Comments on Army Helping with Testing in Schools

    Ben Wallace – 2020 Comments on Army Helping with Testing in Schools

    The comments made by Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for Defence, on 29 December 2020.

    The UK Armed Forces are stepping up once again this holiday. This week I have authorised over a thousand Armed Forces personnel to assist schools returning after the Christmas break.

    They’ll share considerable experience of testing across the country and the successful school pilots conducted this autumn.

    We are grateful for the professionalism and commitment they and our colleagues in teaching are showing to get students back into the classroom and on with their education.

  • Liz Truss – 2020 Comments on the UK and Turkey Trade Agreement

    Liz Truss – 2020 Comments on the UK and Turkey Trade Agreement

    The comments made by Liz Truss, the Secretary of State for International Trade, on 29 December 2020.

    Today’s deal covers trade worth more than £18 billion, delivers vital certainty for business and supports thousands of jobs across the UK in the manufacturing, automotive and steel industries.

    It paves the way for a new, more ambitious deal with Turkey in the near future, and is part of our plan to put the UK at the centre of a network of modern agreements with dynamic economies. More trade and investment will drive economic growth across our United Kingdom and help us build back stronger from Covid.

  • Jo Stevens – 2020 Comments on the Hospitality Industry and High Streets

    Jo Stevens – 2020 Comments on the Hospitality Industry and High Streets

    The comments made by Jo Stevens, the Shadow Culture Secretary, on 28 December 2020.

    Visitors normally flock to the UK because of our rich heritage, vibrant restaurant scene and stunning natural attractions.

    This has been a devastating year but it is within the gift of the Government to support our vital tourism sector so that it can be there to welcome back visitors, both from the UK and abroad, when it’s safe to do so.

    Labour has consistently called for sector specific support and reallocating this public money from businesses that have returned it is an obvious solution.

  • Ed Miliband – 2020 Comments on the Hospitality Industry and High Streets

    Ed Miliband – 2020 Comments on the Hospitality Industry and High Streets

    The comments made by Ed Miliband, the Shadow Business Secretary, on 28 December 2020.

    Businesses across the UK are facing a black hole this winter with billions wiped from their incomes during the crucial Christmas period.

    Those businesses in our visitor economy are facing not only the effects of restrictions here, but the huge loss of spend from tourism to the UK. Our hotels, hospitality and high streets will be especially hard hit.

    Unless Ministers change tack a winter wipe-out of these usually vibrant businesses is a real possibility. They must do the right thing and see them through to the end of this crisis.

  • Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Publishing SAGE Advice

    Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Publishing SAGE Advice

    The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, on 29 December 2020.

    The Government cannot continue to hide from reality and must urgently publish the scientific advice on the return of schools.

    Parents, pupils and staff are incredibly concerned about what will happen next week, with the Prime Minister governing through media leaks rather than evidence and clarity.

    The Government has lost control of the virus and children’s education is suffering as a result. It’s time for the Prime Minister to own his mistakes and be honest about whether students can return to schools and colleges in a week’s time.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2020 Comments on Michael Gove’s “Bumpy Moments” Interview

    Rachel Reeves – 2020 Comments on Michael Gove’s “Bumpy Moments” Interview

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 28 December 2020.

    The Government is treating its own incompetence as inevitable.

    There is no reason why the deal the Government ended up with had to be run so close to the wire, nor why this period must be bumpy had the Government prepared properly.

    But instead they refused to engage with business on preparations and dodged repeated questions from Labour for months on how many customs agents were recruited and ready, and what IT systems are properly in place.

    They should behave like grown-ups and take responsibility for governance.

  • Lisa Nandy – 2020 Comments on UK Citizens Not Receiving Government Support Abroad

    Lisa Nandy – 2020 Comments on UK Citizens Not Receiving Government Support Abroad

    The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 28 December 2020.

    The Government has a duty to support and protect UK citizens who have been arbitrarily detained around the world. Shamefully, it is failing in that duty.