Tag: Labour Party

The press release issued by the Labour Party on 11 September 2013.

Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to Labour Market Statistics, said:

“Today’s headline fall in unemployment is welcome, but what today’s figures expose is that while out of touch ministers are boasting, families are battling. They’re battling another fall in wages, another rise in youth unemployment and yet another rise in long term unemployment. There is simply not enough work to go round and the proof is a record high in the number of part-time workers looking for full-time jobs.

“Real wages fell yet again by £12 a week; unemployment went up across half of Britain; the youth jobless rate rose by 9,400 and long term unemployment rose yet again. There’s now been an incredible rise of 364,000 part time workers looking for full time jobs since the election.

“We can’t go on like this. Under David Cameron, Britain’s cost of living crisis is not improving, it’s intensifying.

“We need a recovery that benefits everyone, not just a few at the top. That is why Labour wants to help to make work pay by introducing a lower 10p starting rate of tax, paid for by a mansion tax, and to repeat the tax on bank bonuses to pay for a compulsory jobs guarantee for young people.”

The press release issued by the Labour Party on 12 September 2013.

Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on the Government’s announcement of an Initial Public Offering to the London Stock Exchange on Royal Mail, said:

“Ministers are pushing ahead with this politically-motivated fire sale of Royal Mail to fill the hole left by George Osborne’s failed plan. This is taking place despite opposition from a huge coalition including the Conservative Bow Group, the Countryside Alliance, the National Federation of Subpostmasters, the cross party BIS Select Committee as well as Royal Mail employees themselves.

“The Government has not addressed the huge concerns which remain on the impact the Royal Mail sale will have on consumers, businesses and communities, but ministers are ploughing on regardless.”

The press release issued by the Labour Party on 12 September 2013.

Douglas Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to President al-Assad’s assurances that Syria’s chemical weapons will be placed under international control, said:

“No one should be in any doubt as to the murderous nature of the Assad regime and so it is right that Assad be judged by his actions more than simply by his words.

“The challenge confronting Secretary Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov today in Geneva is to agree a means to identify, verify, secure and ultimately remove from Assad’s possession those weapons – with the final goal of destroying them altogether.

“Their task over the coming days is to prove that a goal that is desirable, is also doable.”

The press release issued by the Labour Party on 27 September 2022.

Keir Starmer has announced that in government Labour will give businesses the flexibility they need to train their workforce and deliver growth, by turning the Tories’ failed apprenticeships levy into a ‘Growth and Skills Levy’.

As part of a wider package, Labour has also announced that it will devolve adult education skills spending to combined authorities, and establish a new expert body – Skills England – to oversee the national skills effort.

As part of a crucial step to delivering the skills needed to drive growth, transition to net zero, and capture the benefits of new technologies, these reforms will give adults across the country the skills they need to gain good jobs and boost local and regional economies.

The Tories’ failure to deliver a skills system that works has left the country ill-prepared for the challenges we face over the next decade, including the transition to net zero, and reaping the benefits of technological change.

Labour’s plan for skills would:

• Turn the Tories’ failed Apprenticeships Levy into a ‘Growth and Skills Levy’ enabling firms to spend up to 50% of their levy contributions, including current underspend, on non-apprenticeship training – including modular courses and functional skills courses to tackle key skills gaps. By reserving 50% of the Growth and Skills Levy for apprenticeships, we will protect existing apprenticeship provision
• Better align skills policy with regional economic policy and local labour markets by devolving combining and various adult education skills funding streams to current and future combined authorities
• Establish a new expert body, Skills England, to oversee the national effort to meet the skills needs of the coming decade across all regions, and ensure we can deliver our Climate Investment Pledge.

Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“Labour will give employers new flexibility to invest in the world class training they need. Businesses want high skills, workers want skills training when they need it. We will see the biggest partnership between government, business and communities this country has ever seen.”

The press release issued by the Labour Party on 14 August 2022.

Keir Starmer says Labour wouldn’t let people pay a penny more on their fuel bill this winter as party unveils plan to save typical family £1,000

Keir Starmer said today (Monday) that Labour “wouldn’t let people pay a penny more” on their winter fuel bills as he unveiled the party’s plan to address the Tory cost of living crisis.

The Labour leader said that the party’s plan to stop bills rising this winter would save the typical family £1,000 now, get energy costs under control for the future and help tackle inflation.

Labour’s fully-funded £29bn plan would prevent the energy price cap rising through the winter, paid for by extra tax from oil and gas giants who are making eye-watering profits.

The emergency package announced by Keir Starmer would reduce energy demand and lower bills in the longer term by insulating 19 million homes across the country over the next decade through Labour’s Warm Homes Plan.

Labour originally urged the government to implement this plan a year ago. If they’d acted, they could have insulated 2 million of the coldest homes by this winter – saving the typical household an additional £1,000 every year on their energy bills.

Freezing the price cap will bring inflation down by 4%, making future interest rate rises less likely and easing the burden on households and businesses.

Further plans include a plan to secure our energy supply to make sure we’re protected against future shocks and build Britain’s energy independence.

Labour would stop bills rising now, and create sustainable energy for the future – helping people get through the winter while providing the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy.

Keir Starmer MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“Britain’s cost of living crisis is getting worse, leaving people scared about how they’ll get through the winter. Labour’s plan to save households £1,000 this winter and invest in sustainable British energy to bring bills down in the long-term is a direct response to the national economic emergency that is leaving families fearing for the future.

“We’ve had 12 years of Tory government that has failed to prepare and refused to invest, leaving bills higher and our country less secure. This is a national emergency. It needs strong leadership and urgent action.

“Labour’s fully-funded plan would fix the problems immediately and for the future – helping people get through the winter while providing the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy. Only Labour can give Britain the fresh start it needs.”