Tag: Rachel Reeves

The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 11 May 2021.

To meet the challenges facing us as a country the Government must plan for the future.

Our economic foundations were not strong enough going into the pandemic and as we thankfully emerge from it, people deserve something better than before.

We need a transformation of our economy, so all workers have not only the skills they need, but fair pay for a fair day’s work, and greater security and opportunities for the future.

That’s got to be a major test of this Queen’s Speech and one the Government looks set to fail.

Labour would deliver a fair recovery, by valuing those who have kept our country moving, helping British industries to thrive and by creating good quality jobs in every community as we decarbonise our economy.

The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 28 April 2021.

In our country, the police don’t require the permission of a thief to investigate a burglary.

The Prime Minister can’t be judge and jury on his Ministers’ – or indeed his own – behaviour.

The Prime Minister shouldn’t be able to block investigations into his Ministers or himself when breaking the Ministerial Code.

The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 26 April 2021.

“There must be no bullying and no harassment, no leaking, no misuse of taxpayer money, and no actual or perceived conflicts of interest.”

These words are from the Prime Minister’s foreword to the Ministerial Code.

I don’t know if he believed them then, but he is trampling on them today.

The Prime Minister is now corrupting the standards of public life expected in high office.

As he tries to cover up payments for the luxury refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, possibly breaking the law through undeclared loans.

As for leaks, we are now seeing the pipes burst with the sewage of allegations.

The fish rots from the head down.

There is a reason why there is no Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards.

There is a reason why the Government won’t publish the long overdue list of Ministerial Interests.

The Prime Minister hasn’t wanted them.

This is a Prime Minister who would rather “let the bodies pile high” than act on scientific advice.

They are not bodies. They are people and loved ones, and they are missed.

When will the Government publish the Register of Minsters’ Financial Interests?

Who paid the invoices for the Prime Minister’s flat refurbishment in the first place, and when were those funds repaid?

When will the vacancy for the Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards be filled and will they be given powers to trigger independent investigations?

And, finally, will the minister apologise for the stomach churning comments that have come out today, and urgently announce a public inquiry into the Government’s handling of the pandemic?

This is all about conduct, character and decency.

Our country deserves so much better than this.

The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 24 April 2021.

The Ministerial Code clearly states ‘Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and the public’. This has not happened.

Given we know it only takes a text message from a friend to get the full attention at the top of your government, many people will wonder what personal goodwill could be generated by a secret donation to the redecoration of your living quarters.

Any external financial aid to a Prime Minister’s lifestyle must of course be fully declared at the time and as the Ministerial Code makes clear, real and perceived conflicts of interest must be avoided.

I believe there needs to be a full investigation given the gravity of the new accusations from your former Chief Adviser and the serious implications of other irregularities of this concerning episode.

The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 22 April 2021.

These revelations are explosive. It is shocking that basic checks were missed and companies without proper certification were allowed to jump the queue.

Time and time again Labour has called on the Conservatives to publish details of companies on the VIP fast lane, and time and time again they have refused, and insisted on covering them up.

This is yet more evidence of the Tory sleaze that is happening on Boris Johnson’s watch.

If the Conservatives don’t publish all of the details now, it is further proof that they think it is one rule for them and another for everyone else.

The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 21 April 2021.

Given the shocking revelations this morning and a serious lack of transparency for months, we welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to publish his text messages with business leaders in Prime Minister’s Questions today.

Since we also have no Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards in place, and no Register of Ministers’ Financial Interests published for nine months, these texts must immediately be made public.

The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 21 April 2021.

NHS nurses worked on our frontlines to protect us – but it’s a chum of the Prime Minister who has his phone number that gets offered a tax break, while they got a pay cut.

Revelations today seem to confirm a growing feeling that if one has access to a telephone number of someone like the Prime Minister or the Chancellor of the Exchequer, then they are able to gain special treatment, potentially even significant financial ones.

We need the Prime Minister to appear before the Liaison Committee immediately, and for a thorough investigation into his conduct on this matter.

Boris Johnson should also stick to the commitment he made this week in Prime Minister Questions and publish his text messages with other business leaders immediately.

The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 20 April 2021.

It says everything about the rampant Tory sleaze consuming this government that such a huge conflict of interest was revealed by mistake.

The Government keeps saying that it wants to be transparent on deals – but the redactions on this contract show this was a deliberate cover up. They’ve been caught red handed.

It’s clear it’s one rule for the Conservative Party and their friends and donors, and another for everyone else.