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Tag: 2020

  • Rachel Reeves – 2020 Comments on Boris Johnson Refusing to Meet Grieving Families

    Rachel Reeves – 2020 Comments on Boris Johnson Refusing to Meet Grieving Families

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 2 September 2020.

    These revelations that bereaved families had to write to Boris Johnson five times asking to meet him – for him to privately go back on his public word and refuse are astounding, and upsetting for so many whose families and lives have been impacted by COVID in this way.

    41,504 people have tragically lost their lives to this virus. The very least the Prime Minister could do is respond truthfully to their families, and have the heart to meet some of them and their representatives.”

    The Prime Minister has been going back on his word all summer – but to not even meet with grieving families hits a new low.

  • Preet Gill – 2020 Comments on International Development and the UK

    Preet Gill – 2020 Comments on International Development and the UK

    The comments made by Preet Gill, the Shadow International Development Secretary, on 2 September 2020.

    Since the Department for International Development’s formation in 1997, it has delivered life-saving and life-changing support including vaccinating millions of children against polio and other deadly diseases and ensuring millions have had access to a good education.

    The British people are rightly proud of the impact UK aid and development has had in supporting the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.

    However, under this Government, the future of the UK’s commitment to lead on international development is uncertain.

    With the launch of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office today, the Government must show that it is committed to the principles DfID was founded on to consolidate the hard-won soft power and reputation built up since its inception. Now is the time to step up and show genuine global leadership to make the world safer, fairer and better.

  • Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Gavin Williamson and Taking Responsibility

    Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Gavin Williamson and Taking Responsibility

    The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Education Secretary, on 2 September 2020.

    The evidence given by Ofqual today has raised serious questions about Gavin Williamson’s role in this summer’s exam fiasco.

    Gavin Williamson has repeatedly tried to blame Ofqual and officials for the crisis over exams. It is now clear he was responsible.

    Williamson must urgently come to the Commons to offer an explanation and to take responsibility for his own incompetence.

  • Lisa Nandy – 2020 Comments on US Not Helping in Global Vaccine

    Lisa Nandy – 2020 Comments on US Not Helping in Global Vaccine

    The comments made by Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, on 2 September 2020.

    This is an extraordinary attack on the World Health Organisation in the midst of a global pandemic and a deeply concerning setback in the search for a vaccine.

    This kind of ‘vaccine nationalism’ risks hampering the fight against the spread of Covid-19 and ultimately delaying the development, manufacture and distribution of a vaccine. This is a global fight that demands a coordinated international response.

    It is becoming increasingly clear that the UK government is either unwilling or unable to exert influence across the Atlantic, and that the ‘deep friendship… and special relationship’ heralded by the Foreign Secretary is becoming increasingly one-sided.

    The UK must now show global leadership, begin building alliances with our democratic partners around the world and work collaboratively to prevent a national scramble for a vaccine.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2020 Comments on African Migrants in Saudi Arabia

    Stephen Doughty – 2020 Comments on African Migrants in Saudi Arabia

    The comments made by Stephen Doughty, the Shadow Minister for Africa, on 31 August 2020.

    Emerging evidence of the shocking conditions in which African migrants are being held in Saudi detention centres is deeply disturbing and demands immediate action.

    The Saudi Government must bring an immediate end to this appalling practice and permit access for independent health and human rights experts. It is vital that those being detained are held in line with international migration law and treated with the dignity and compassion they deserve.

    UK Government Ministers must immediately raise this worrying situation with their counterparts in Saudi Arabia, particularly in light of the country’s historically poor record on protecting and upholding human rights.

  • Preet Gill – 2020 Comments on the Foreign Aid Budget

    Preet Gill – 2020 Comments on the Foreign Aid Budget

    The comments made by Preet Gill, the Shadow International Development Secretary, on 31 August 2020.

    The British public are rightly proud of the role they have played in supporting the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.

    This latest move by the government to backtrack on a manifesto commitment they made last year shows that their word cannot be trusted, and signals a retreat from the world stage in the middle of a global pandemic.

    Labour is committed to continuing our global reputation as a development power by ensuring we continue to show Britain at its best; as an outward-looking, progressive country making the world safer, fairer and better for all.

  • Keir Starmer – 2020 Comments on the Future for Young People

    Keir Starmer – 2020 Comments on the Future for Young People

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 31 August 2020.

    For millions of families across England, this week will be a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

    Excitement for children who will be back in the classroom for the first time in months. But, anxiety for teachers and parents about a year ahead that is full of uncertainty because of a pandemic that continues to cast its shadow over children’s education.

    I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication of our teachers and school staff who have worked tirelessly over the summer to make sure schools can reopen safely.

    Labour want and expect children to be back at school. Every day that schools were closed was a day of opportunity, learning and support lost. This situation was worsened by the exams fiasco and the Government’s chaotic approach to education.

    We cannot keep repeating those same mistakes. Young people’s futures cannot be held back by the Conservatives’ incompetence.

    That is why the Education Secretary must come to Parliament to tell us how he will protect our children’s futures. He needs to explain how he will make up for the damage already done, bring pupils up to speed and mitigate against the ongoing risk from the pandemic.

  • Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Keeping Schools Safe

    Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Keeping Schools Safe

    The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, on 1 September 2020.

    The learning that children have lost in recent months shows that keeping schools safely open to all must be a national priority in the months ahead.

    When schools are closed, we see deep inequalities become more entrenched, and those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds lose out most. If the Conservative Government cannot guarantee pupils the education they deserve, then they will fail a whole generation of children.

    Young people’s futures cannot be held back by Conservative incompetence. This is a wakeup call for ministers. They must ensure that schools stay open, that parents and teachers are supported, and that pupils get all the help they need to catch up.

  • Louise Haigh – 2020 Comments on Potential Closure of Support Service for Terror Victims

    Louise Haigh – 2020 Comments on Potential Closure of Support Service for Terror Victims

    The comments made by Louise Haigh, the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on 1 September 2020.

    The press release noted “For two decades the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation, established in the names of the two boys murdered by the IRA in Warrington in 1993, has provided a free national support service for victims of terrorism in the UK, including trauma-informed health and wellbeing services.”.

    The death of Tim and Johnathan was an unthinkable tragedy, and the work their families have done to support victims of terror in the three decades since has made an extraordinary difference to thousands of people.

    In the week that would have been Tim’s fortieth birthday, it is a real insult that the support service established in his memory is under threat because the Prime Minister simply will not keep his promises.

    In this week of all weeks, the Prime Minister must act and secure the future of the support service and the vital work it does.

  • Rosena Allin-Khan – 2020 Comments on Suicide Figures

    Rosena Allin-Khan – 2020 Comments on Suicide Figures

    The comments made by Rosena Allin-Khan, the Shadow Mental Health Minister, on 1 September 2020.

    This worrying upward trend in England highlights the importance of taking suicide and mental ill health seriously.

    In their 2019 manifesto, the Conservatives promised action for mental health services – yet, in the midst of a health crisis that has separated many of us from our loved ones and support networks, they have been silent.

    Suicide is both a public health and social inequality issue, and with the right interventions it is preventable – today’s figures must be a wake up call for the government.