Tag: Rachel Reeves

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on G7 Deal on Multinational Taxation

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on G7 Deal on Multinational Taxation

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 5 June 2021.

    It’s encouraging to see these first moves towards a global pact on tax avoidance.

    But this government has spent the last few weeks actively watering down what was initially intended to be an ambitious 21% rate of global minimum corporate tax.

    That would have brought £131 million extra a week to Britain for our NHS and other public services, while also stopping our high streets being aggressively undercut.

    This government must now show leadership, push for a 21% rate in negotiations, and use the money to fund our schools and our NHS.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Taxation of Multinationals

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Taxation of Multinationals

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 3 June 2021.

    This week is a chance for the Government to back British business and help our public services rebuild out of the pandemic.

    Boris Johnson is gifting the biggest multinationals £131 million a week. Labour says let’s fund our NHS instead.

    Now that we’re out of the EU we have even more reason to show global leadership in cracking down on tax avoidance.

    Yet this government seems set on weakening a deal that would bring billions back to Britain and stop our high streets being undercut by the likes of Amazon, Google and other big multinationals.

    If the Government is serious about seeing our high streets thrive, they must make sure the businesses on them – whether it’s on Armley Town Street in my constituency, or Market Square in the Chancellor’s – have a level playing field.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Global Minimum Rate of Corporation Tax

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Global Minimum Rate of Corporation Tax

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 23 May 2021.

    The Conservatives have a choice: they can join Labour in tackling large-scale tax avoidance or they can allow billions of pounds to leave Britain.

    This global pact will bring in extra tax benefitting Britain, while stopping huge multinationals and online giants from undercutting our businesses.

    By making sure they pay their fair share in Britain, we can level the playing field for our brilliant businesses, and build an economic recovery with thriving industries, strong public services and good, secure jobs for all.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on CBI’s Seize the Moment Report

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on CBI’s Seize the Moment Report

    The comments made by Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 24 May 2021.

    British businesses played a crucial role during the pandemic, and they are vital as we shape a fair economic recovery, and look to create the decent jobs that help people and places prosper.

    Today’s report rightly underlines that we face a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the UK economy for a new future.

    Labour will work with businesses to unleash people’s potential and help tackle the shared challenges we face as a society.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Government Letting Workers Down

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Government Letting Workers Down

    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.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on the Independent Adviser for Ministerial Interests

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on the Independent Adviser for Ministerial Interests

    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.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Ministers with Covid Contract Links

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Ministers with Covid Contract Links

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

    Under the increasing spread of Tory sleaze, knowing how exposed some of our frontline staff were during the height of the pandemic without proper PPE, but also that Tory friends and donors were being awarded £2 billion worth of contracts creates increasingly serious questions for government.

    The government have long rejected Labour’s call for basic transparency by publishing the VIP fast lane, but this cannot go on given new revelations of corruption risk, and of companies without proper certification being allowed to jump the queue.

    As we are still missing an Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards, and a Register of Ministers’ Interests, the government must require Ministers to publish openly and with full transparency, communications between them and those businesses who have won contracts since the pandemic begun and emergency procurement was introduced.

    Otherwise it’s increasingly clear that it is one set of rules for Ministers and their close friends, and another for everyone else.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on the Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards Becoming Independent

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on the Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards Becoming Independent

    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.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Downing Street Refurbisment

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Downing Street Refurbisment

    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.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Allocation of Government Contracts

    Rachel Reeves – 2021 Comments on Allocation of Government Contracts

    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.