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Tag: Speeches

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2020 Comments on Compensation for Families of NHS Staff

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2020 Comments on Compensation for Families of NHS Staff

    The comments made by Jonathan Reynolds, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, on 21 August 2020.

    Health and social care workers are putting their lives on the line to care for coronavirus patients, often without the proper equipment, and many have sadly lost their lives as a result.

    The Government was right to say we must honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. So it is shocking that families are being forced to choose between accessing social security they are entitled to or the compensation they need.

    This must change so that families can grieve in peace with the full support they have every right to expect.

  • Danny Alexander – 2010 Speech to the Inverness Chamber of Commerce

    Danny Alexander – 2010 Speech to the Inverness Chamber of Commerce

    The speech made by Danny Alexander, the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury, on 27 August 2010.

    Introduction

    Thank you.

    It was pointed out to me that I am the first Cabinet Minister from the Highlands since Baron Irvine was Lord Chancellor back in 2003.

    Yet this is where I felt the similarities between us end.

    As he is probably best remembered for spending nearly £60,000 of public funds on hand-printed wallpaper. While the only person likely to decorate my walls is my daughter – Isabel – and her rates tend to be far more reasonable.

    And this is an excellent place to start, for much of what I will be looking to achieve in the run up to November will focus on the elimination of unnecessary expenditure, while prioritising funds on the areas that matter most to the UK.

    So it’s a great pleasure to be in Inverness today, for my first major speech as Chief Secretary. And to be able to set out the steps we, as a Government, are taking to control public spending and restore confidence in our economy.

    For the decisions we have made since the election – and the actions we will take over the ensuing months – are essential to returning our economy to a sustainable path.

    We have steadied the ship, but if we wish to remain on course we must deliver on the plans we have set out.

    Defence of the Government’s position

    It is impossible to exaggerate the seriousness of the situation we inherited, or the risks to Britain – and to the Highlands – if we had continued on the same course.

    With an economy that was limping out of the longest recession since official records began.

    With almost 2.5 million people unemployed.

    Historically low levels of private investment.

    And a Budget deficit that was due to peak at £166.5bn – the largest in the G20.

    With no clear plan for getting it under control.

    A legacy that had the UK spending four pounds for every three it raises in taxation.

    Yet there are those in Opposition who deny the need to take action and clean up the mess they left behind.

    Who pretend that we could wait years before dealing with the deficit.

    This could not be further from the truth.

    There is nothing credible about denying that the deficit is a problem. There is nothing responsible about pretending it can be solved without making difficult, and sometimes painful, choices.

    For those who deny the need to reduce borrowing – unable to kick the destructive habit – would put our economy at far greater risk of recession.

    Yes it was right to take action to stop the banks collapsing. The stability of our economy depended on it.

    But economic stability now depends on having a credible plan to restore the public finances to a sustainable footing.

    We only need to look at the Euro area – and the recent turbulence in sovereign debt markets – to understand the cost of delaying difficult decisions – endangering jobs, growth, investment and control of your economy.

    This is why we now have a credible plan to deal with the record deficit. And why we will stick to it.

    To tighten the public finances by a total of £113bn by 2014-15.

    With around £30bn coming from tax measures.

    £11bn from the welfare reforms announced at the Budget.

    £61bn from departmental expenditure.

    And another £10bn from lower debt-interest.

    The necessary steps to ensure that we live within our means in the future.

    Mervyn King agrees that “it is essential to take measures this fiscal year to demonstrate the genuine commitment and determination of the new Government.”

    The OECD have praised our Budget, saying it provided “the necessary degree of fiscal consolidation over the coming years to restore public finances to a sustainable path, while still supporting the recovery.”

    And the head of the CBI has said “The Chancellor has achieved his twin objectives of setting out a credible plan for the public finances and producing a convincing growth strategy for the longer-term.”

    So I am determined to see this through, to deliver on our commitments.

    Fixing the nation’s finances is not just the right course of action, it is the only course.

    It is unavoidable, it is necessary, and it is fair. And we will stick to that principle of fairness in our spending decisions.

    But always remember that there is nothing fair about having an ever growing burden of debt for our children to inherit. That is the least fair, the least progressive option of all.

    And the Spending Review is the next crucial step in this process.

    We need to cut public spending, but that is not an end in itself. It is an essential step on the path towards long-term, sustainable, and more balanced growth.

    Growth and Fairness

    We are seeing some very early signs that the economy appears to be heading in the right direction.

    The private sector is growing.

    Employment is on the rise.

    And exports are recovering in response to improving global demand.

    But we must remain cautious.

    I agree with Mervyn King when he says that we are likely to face a choppy recovery.

    To expect an easy ride after the biggest economic crisis of our lifetimes – and with the debt problems this Government has inherited – would be asking too much.

    And I know well how difficult things are for many local businesses here in the Highlands. I have held 28 surgeries in the last 2 weeks in communities right across this area, and at almost every one a local business came to discuss issues they were facing. Most often – but not always – access to finance from the bank.

    There are also some fantastic examples of innovation here in the local economy. Only today, I opened Fujitsu’s new office in Inverness, part of a substantial investment to deliver services and cut costs for the Highland Council. And I looked round the world class exhibition of housing innovation at the Expo.

    So it is crucial that our choices are driven by clear principles and objectives, led by the need to promote a more sustainable model for economic growth and prosperity.

    At the Budget, we took some significant steps to support the private sector, to lead the economic recovery.

    Setting out our ambition to create the most competitive corporation tax regime in the G20.

    Minimising burdens on businesses through a ‘one-in, one-out’ system of regulation.

    And starting the process of banking reform, with improving access to finance. We know more is needed on that issue, which is why we’re making it a priority.

    The Spending Review will have a strong focus on lasting economic growth.

    So as we scrutinise every pound of Government spending, we will identify those areas that do the most to promote sustainable growth and prosperity.

    We will also work with the private sector – with businesses and entrepreneurs ,such as yourselves – to identify the drivers of growth. Broadband access, transport infrastructure, the green economy being three that I know matter a great deal here.

    And we shall address the social barriers that inhibit individual progress, as this is the surest way to maximise national success.

    For as the Deputy Prime Minister set out last week, our determination to tackle the deficit and support economic recovery is matched by our determination to create a more socially mobile society.

    Getting people back to work, promoting fairness of opportunity, and ensuring that all parts of the UK are able to prosper.

    With this approach, the Spending Review will promote a fairer and more sustainable model for growth. By working in partnership with the devolved administrations to create an economy that is better balanced – where the benefits are more evenly spread across all people and regions of the UK.

    But while one key driver behind spending decisions will be investing in the recovery, another will be public sector reform.

    Empowering People

    As part of the Spending Review, I am overseeing a complete re-evaluation of the Government’s role in providing public services.

    We are doing this because the Spending Review is not just about reducing spending, it must also be about fundamental reform.

    Reform driven by very simple ideals – to give more power to people, to communities, and to those working on the front-line.

    Reform to get ‘more for less’, by harnessing the skills capacity and abilities of our public servants.

    Reform to ensure that budget reductions don’t just result in a salami slicing of public services.

    There is no hiding from the fact that there are difficult choices ahead. Public sector workers are understandably worried about their jobs, their future pay and their pensions.

    We have already announced a 2-year pay freeze – with modest rises for those earning under 21k.

    This cost reduction will help to protect jobs.

    And is exactly the sort of thing that has been happening in the private sector over the last 2 years.

    But I also believe that our reforms – where individuals will have more freedom and greater responsibility – will make the public sector a more attractive, as well as a more efficient place to work.

    This is crucial – because the experience, the dedication and the commitment of people working in the public sector is critical to delivering the improvements we need.

    The previous Government took a top-down approach – they believed that Whitehall (or Holyrood) should micromanage every action from Ipswich to Inverness – this has stifled innovation and created excessive bureaucracy.

    We have already started to sweep away this centralised approach, ending the complex system of Public Service Agreements.

    Freeing professionals from top-down targets and unnecessary interference.

    And we will continue to devolve power away from Whitehall and put it into the hands of local people and communities.

    Enabling public sector professionals to deliver a service that is tailored to the specific needs of their area, and where the users – the public – have the ability to shape the services they receive.

    So in October, I will set out a completely new approach to public sector performance and accountability – a new Public Services Transparency Framework.

    Where the guiding principle is not accountability through a centrally designed system of targets and processes. But accountability to people.

    A system that gives professionals more freedom to decide how best to run their own services, in partnership with their local communities and other sectors.

    One where Departments will be responsible for publishing information to allow taxpayers to judge for themselves if we’re delivering on our commitments. And enable the public to hold Departments and Local Authorities to account.

    Providing democratic, rather than bureaucratic, accountability.

    It may seem obvious, but this is a radical shift from the failed, restrictive and centralised system of the last decade. Cutting public spending must not be an excuse for greater centralisation, but a spur to decentralise, to empower, to engage.

    It will empower local communities and those working on the frontline. As I have no doubt that people in the Highlands or elsewhere are far better placed to say what is needed in their local area than the faceless man from Whitehall.

    That is why the public consultation we have been running on the Spending Review has been one of widest ever undertaken by government and has already generated over 100,000 contributions.

    From frontline workers in Stornoway to policy experts in London, we have been seeking suggestions about where savings can be made.

    It is great to see the excellent Highland Council working hard to listen to people as it makes tough spending decisions too.

    Conclusion

    There is little doubt that, in the months ahead, we will all face some tough choices.

    I didn’t come into politics to cut public spending. But, like most people in the Highlands, I know it has to be done.

    As a politician, you don’t choose the time when you have the opportunity to govern. But you do decide how you respond to the challenges of your times.

    The question is not what we have to do – we have made our judgement as a Coalition as to the scale of change that is needed – but how we do it.

    So the spending decisions for which I am responsible will be guided by clear principles:

    To support private sector growth that lasts, that is more balanced across the people and places of the UK.

    To promote fairness and opportunity.

    And to devolve power away from Whitehall – empowering communities and front-line workers, giving them more responsibility and control for delivering their public services.

    The Spending Review is not just about next year, or the year after that. It will pave the way for the long-term success of the UK, our economy, and our people.

    There is no hiding from the fact that we’ll have to make some difficult choices.

    But the action we will take in October will put us back on a secure footing and allow us to plan for a better future.

    We are all in this together.

    And the Spending Review we will produce in two months time will show that this is the case.

    Not only during the testing times, that we have all been through.

    But for good times as well, once the recovery is secured.

  • Jesse Norman – 2020 Speech to ICAEW Virtual Conference

    Jesse Norman – 2020 Speech to ICAEW Virtual Conference

    The speech made by Jesse Norman, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, on 20 August 2020. Spelling errors issued in Treasury text corrected, but confused wording left in.

    Introduction

    Thank you very much indeed, Frank and I also thank Anita, Daniel and all of your team and the team that set up this amazing event. I have to say when you told me it was three days of online streaming and dozens of speakers and thousands of watchers, I thought this was nothing less than the Glastonbury of tax. I congratulate you on pulling that off. I think it’s an extraordinary achievement.

    Of course I am not really surprised, that this conference is going ahead, because the tax community is always ready, willing and able to embrace digitisation, and I’m going to come on to that a little later in my remarks.

    Frank, you’ve done that very brilliant chairman thing of roping in fifteen different topics that I’m going to talk to you about, and I’m happy to take questions any [sic] of those in questions, but the three areas I’m going to focus on are:

    HMRC’s response to Covid-19 and the pandemic

    the core question of how HMRC focusses on its main business – that is collecting tax

    and then, something I care very deeply about, and I’m thrilled that we have been able to make massive progress on in

    the last few months, which is the 10 year plan we’ve for HMRC to create a trusted, modern tax administration system

    Let me start by saying that, of course I am absolutely proud of what HMRC has done in relation to Covid. I think it’s been an astonishing set of outcomes for them. But I also think that HMRC, and it’s one of the lessons we’ve learnt is this, can’t operate in a vacuum. It needs trusted stakeholders, it needs a tax system that’s working, it needs many, many organisations and people around it to be as effective as it is and would like to be.

    The ICAEW make an enormous difference, and its members too. So whether they are identifying areas for improvement, or helping us to consult, or improve schemes – thank you, and thank you ICAEW members very much indeed.

    I should also say, that we are coming to this, as you will appreciate, in a very specific economic context, certainly unlike any other in recent experience. We’ve now formally entered recession for the first time in eleven years. This is a highly unwelcome development although, alas, not surprising given the wider situation.

    The Chancellor has made perfectly clear his view that there will be hard times ahead, and last week’s figures confirm the truth of that statement.

    And of course, it’s true that hundreds of thousands of people have already lost their jobs, despite the incredibly valid efforts that HMRC and my Treasury officials have been engaged in, trying to protect the economy and protect businesses and protect employment.

    It’s sobering to reflect that many more people will almost certainly face redundancy or unemployment in the next few months.

    Having said that, I do think the work HMRC does can play an absolutely vital role in trying to mitigate the damage the pandemic is doing, and HMRC is at the centre of this activity too, as we’re going to discuss.

    You will appreciate that none of our public services will be doable if it wasn’t for the funding that comes through tax revenue, and that’s of course the core of HMRC’s responsibilities.

    HMRC at the forefront

    You don’t often hear HMRC ministers talking about them being at the forefront of delivering huge and successful new programmes, in record time and at the centre of the government’s response to a crisis, but that is what HMRC has done. As I say, I think it’s a tremendous achievement.

    Let me say also, we are acutely aware that by no means every aspect of every scheme is perfect. This process has been done at a blistering pace. We have been pulling together schemes as quickly as we can, and officials have been working around the clock to make sure that we deliver programmes that deliver the maximum good for the maximum number of people as quickly as possible, with the minimum of fraud.

    It might be worth just touching briefly on the results. The furlough scheme so far has helped 1.2 million employers claim just under £36 billion. HMRC also helped around 2.7 million self-employed people claim nearly £8 billion in grants, and helped employers by reimbursing some of the costs of statutory sick pay for COVID-related absences.

    In the case of Eat Out to Help Out, some 85,000 restaurants have now registered and the total amount claimed is £180 million, from 35 million covers claimed.

    So these are huge numbers, and to put that all in place at such speed is a considerable achievement.

    What I think is less noticed, but to me at least, and to you as tax connoisseurs, no less important, is that HMRC has also implemented more than 60 policy changes and easements, and they include things like:

    the deferral of tax payments through the VAT system and deferral of Income Tax Self-Assessment payments due in July 2020

    introducing a temporary relief for customs duty and import VAT on PPE and other medical supplies used to help combat Covid-19

    assisting in the production of millions of additional litres of alcohol hand sanitiser. HMRC set up a specialist team who moved very quickly to increase production of denatured (undrinkable) alcohol which has proved very important in fighting the virus

    It’s very interesting how brewers and distillers have also moved very quickly into that market and have created new markets for themselves. I’m not going to pass by this issue without singling out the Black Mountain Botanicals distillery in my constituency – who have done exactly that to great effect.

    So that’s the wider context, but of course that in itself, raises the question of where do we go from here. Is there going to be a ‘new normal’ for HMRC, and what does that new normal look like? For HMRC that does mean a refocussing and a reconsideration of the key principles by which they operate, again focussing wherever possible on supporting individuals, supporting businesses, protecting the taxpayer and ensuring the money comes in to fund public services.

    Where we go from here

    So what are those key principles?

    The first one will be that HMRC will continue to collect the tax due, but do so, as far as possible, in a way which supports taxpayers in the work they are doing and in particular, supports businesses that are supporting their employees. We want businesses to be doing the right thing and we want to do everything we can to support them in the way they do that.

    HMRC should communicate transparently and openly. That is very important. The consent on which a tax authority exists, and the consent of the wider tax system requires open and transparent communication.

    It’s of course always vital, for similar reasons, that HMRC should continue to be professional, fair and even-handed in their dealings with taxpayers.

    Where HMRC introduced temporary arrangements that have improved taxpayers’ experiences or created operational improvements, they need to, where possible, to build on these changes to deliver long-term sustainable solutions.

    Finally, HMRC must continue to collect the money that pays for the UK’s public services, and that means continuing to prioritise tackling serious fraud and criminal attacks on the tax system, while making it as easy as it can be for individuals and businesses pay [sic] the right tax at the right time, without difficulty.

    So those principles really remain unchanged, but I think extended in some key areas. Let’s talk a little bit about how that might work.

    Of course, HMRC will still issue penalty notices, they should take a sympathetic approach to those who are struggling to pay their tax or file their returns. HMRC will accept the impacts of COVID-19 as a reasonable excuse, if properly evidenced, and will offer longer periods to request a review or appeal a decision.

    Similarly, HMRC has restarted debt collection activities and it’s absolutely right that it should do so. Of course they recognise, and I recognise that some individuals and businesses remain in uncertain financial circumstances.

    So HMRC will initially focus on collecting debts from taxpayers who are least affected by COVID-19 and most able pay [sic] their tax debts. Having said [sic] if you or any of your members’ clients have concerns about their ability to meet tax obligations, to get in touch with HMRC now, to see how they can be supported through deferrals or Time to Pay or any of the other measures that we’ve introduced to make sure they have adopted every measure to which they are entitled.

    So that is the full picture, but that in itself yields to consideration of what the future will bring, and there you get into the issue of HMRC’s 10-year strategy and all the work we’ve been doing on the tax administration system.

    HMRC’s 10 Year Strategy

    You and your members will have seen that last month we published the 10 year Tax Administration Strategy. I am delighted about that, it is fantastic to be able to put a 10 year process out there, so people have a proper sense of the direction in which we’re heading and can plan accordingly. Software providers can, I hope, flood into the market with new databases, platforms and apps which assist people to pay tax effectively and have the best possible interaction with the tax system.

    That whole plan, as your members will know, having probably read it and costed it closely, is a strategy of focus and collaborative improvement. I think has the potential to yield huge benefits. If you read it, you will see that collecting tax, while an important function, is by no means the only aspect of that plan. It’s also very important to support HMRC’s ability to act to improve our national resilience. It’s been able to do that with the furlough scheme, and that’s surely a very important function for it evolving over time.

    I also think the process of nudging people into digitisation isn’t just good for them, and many people have voluntarily adopted MTD for VAT already, but also has a tremendous potential productivity benefit for the economy as a whole. We have a long tail of businesses in the UK which are quite low on productivity, so this has a much wider potential economic benefit.

    So those three areas, tax, resilience and productivity are all at the centre of this plan. What does this involve? Well it means greater flexibly [sic], resilience and responsiveness in the tax system. It means improvements to businesses’ digital skills, and it means a series of measures focussed on reforming the tax administration in a way that reflects the modern economy, so that it is working in real time, it is allowing people and businesses to pay the right tax, without tax becoming a burden or too intrusive or difficult. And of course, it does enable the government to continue to support the economy and businesses and individuals at times of crisis.

    So that does that mean in practice [sic]. In the first case, it means extend Making Tax Digital (MTD) and pressing on with digitisation as they have done in countries like Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Australia and many others. That’s very important.

    Having successfully introduced a new, digital VAT service for business we will be:

    – extending MTD for VAT to VAT-registered businesses with turnover below the £85,000 VAT threshold from April 2022

    – introducing MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment for businesses and landlords with business and property income over £10,000 from April 2023

    – consulting on the detail of MTD for Corporation Tax in Autumn 2020

    So we are giving businesses, individuals and the software industry a long lead-in time to ensure people have time to prepare for this change. And for Income Tax Self Assessment taxpayers we’ll have the threshold so that those earning under that sum can opt out if they wish, though one of the fascinating things has been that many businesses have chosen to opt in to MTD despite not being covered by it as they fall below the threshold.

    We think this is the start of a really interesting process as we continue to embrace technology,

    And what do we want to see from that? Well we obviously want to see greater use of real-time information. That’s a vital component – it’s currently very hard for the taxpayer to have an immediate picture in real time of tax liabilities. It’s a big change, but it does help the government. Let’s be clear that if we had a more up to date picture of taxpayers’ financial positions would have enabled SEISS support to be better targeted for those who needed it. Quarterly reports submitted before the introduction of SEISS would have given us almost a further full year’s data, and this would have enabled us to pay SEISS grants based on self-employed workers most recent trading levels. There will be a very concrete improvements [sic] to people’s lives and the resilience of their businesses coming out of these potential changes.

    We also want to explore options for timely payment of taxes, and I realise different sectors face different challenges in this regard. The delays in the UK system can make it hard for people to manage cashflow, particularly for the newly self-employed, whose first tax bill could be up to 22 months after they start trading. We want to open a debate, a wider discussion, about the pros and cons of bringing tax payment more into line with the increasingly real-time nature of tax reporting and other taxpayer services. Of course that also has the effect of helping people to avoid a cashflow crisis at their end and stops them falling into debt, so that has some benefit. We also want to push ahead towards a secure, easily accessible single digital account. We want taxpayers to have one complete financial picture which draws on different sources of information and enables HMRC to provide a more tailored service to their needs.

    Alongside that, but very importantly for the ICAEW and your members, we want HMRC to improve services for agents / representatives, who we regard as an integral part of the wider tax system, and we want to support them and help them do what they can to support their clients, and of course we want to raise standards in that area.

    And the final thing, the bit that often gets forgotten. I know none of this is big box office in political terms…but even in this bit, the thing which tends to get forgotten the importance of modernising the Tax Administration Framework. Our current framework is somewhat complex and somewhat out of date. It needs to be simplified and it needs to be brought up to date. And the goal of that is to allow HMRC and taxpayers to benefit from advances in the use of technology and data, for example by simplifying processes so that businesses need only register once with HMRC for all taxes, and to stop this current system where people have to go around navigating different rules, processes and deadlines for different taxes, and having to sign up with the tax authority on several occasions.

    Wrapping up

    So this, taken together, is I think quite a significant and important moment. Actually, I think it’s important for the country, not just the tax work. I think it forms a coherent package of change, and a long term package of change.

    Therefore I am very excited about it.

    I want to reiterate my sincere thanks to the ICAEW for their collaboration already – both with officials and with me personally – in taking this strategy forward. I am absolutely committed to working very closely with you and with the industry and agents tax profession to understand and improve the tax administration system over the next few years.

    I am now very happy to take questions and thank you everyone again for inviting me to this conference.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office – 2020 Statement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office – 2020 Statement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

    The statement made by the UK, France and Germany on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) on 20 August 2020.

    On 20 August, the US sent a letter to the UN Security Council requesting to initiate the ‘snapback’ mechanism, which allows a participant to the JCPoA to seek the reimposition against Iran of the multilateral sanctions lifted in 2015 in accordance with resolution 2231, adopted by the UN Security Council.

    France, Germany and the United Kingdom (“the E3”) note that the US ceased to be a participant to the JCPoA following their withdrawal from the deal on 8 May, 2018. Our position regarding the effectiveness of the US notification pursuant to resolution 2231 has consequently been very clearly expressed to the Presidency and all UNSC members. We cannot therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPoA.

    The E3 are committed to preserving the processes and institutions which constitute the foundation of multilateralism. We remain guided by the objective of upholding the authority and integrity of the United Nations Security Council. We call on all UNSC members to refrain from any action that would only deepen divisions in the Security Council or that would have serious adverse consequences on its work.

    We remain committed to the JCPoA despite the significant challenges caused by US withdrawal. We believe that we should address the current issue of systematic Iranian non- compliance with its JCPoA obligations through dialogue between JCPoA participants, including through the Joint Commission and use of the Dispute Resolution Mechanism. In order to preserve the agreement, we urge Iran to reverse all measures inconsistent with its nuclear commitments and return to full compliance without delay.

    As we have already underlined, including in our 19 June statement, we have serious concerns regarding the implications for regional security of the scheduled expiry of the UN conventional arms embargo, particularly given Iran’s destabilising activities, which continue unabated. The E3 are determined to bring adequate answers to these challenges and will continue to work with all UNSC members and stakeholders to seek a path forward that preserves space for further diplomacy. Our efforts will be guided by the need to uphold the authority and integrity of the UN Security Council and to advance regional security and stability.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2020 Comments on the Resignation of Louise Casey

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2020 Comments on the Resignation of Louise Casey

    The comments made by Thangam Debbonaire, the Shadow Housing Secretary, on 20 August 2020.

    This raises serious questions about the Government’s strategy on rough sleeping.

    This chaotic Government has no plan to avoid a self-made homelessness crisis this winter. They need to extend the ban on evictions, and come forward with a credible plan to keep their promise that no renter will lose their home because of Coronavirus.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2020 Comments on Evictions

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2020 Comments on Evictions

    The comments made by Thangam Debbonaire, the Shadow Housing Minister, on 20 August 2020. The comments are in reference to a letter written by Labour Metro Mayors, the Mayor of London and council leaders from across England to the Housing Secretary calling for an urgent extension of the ban on evictions, which is due to end on Sunday 23rd August.

    The situation couldn’t be more urgent. The Government has three days to avoid a cliff edge, with thousands of people at risk of eviction and homelessness. The Government can still change course. They must extend the ban, and come out with a credible plan to protect renters during this crisis.

  • Justin Madders – 2020 Comments on Test and Trace Statistics

    Justin Madders – 2020 Comments on Test and Trace Statistics

    The comments made by Justin Madders, the Shadow Health Minister, on 20 August 2020.

    This incompetent government is failing to improve test and trace. In a whole range of measures, from the time it takes to return tests, to the percentage of people who are contacted who have been in close contact with a person who tested positive, things are going backwards. For a quarter of all tests to take longer than 72 hours to get results back is a worryingly poor performance.

    In the week that NHS Providers said track and trace was failing, it seems nobody in the Government has yet picked up responsibility to turn things round. It beggars belief that the head of test and trace has now been given more responsibility by the Government.

  • Gavin Williamson – 2020 Comments on GCSE Results

    Gavin Williamson – 2020 Comments on GCSE Results

    The comments made by Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education, on 20 August 2020.

    Young people getting their results today can feel incredibly proud of all they’ve achieved in the face of immense challenge and uncertainty.

    This is an exciting day and young people now can look forward to taking their next steps, whether that is returning to schools and colleges in September to do A levels or our brand new T Levels, or taking one of the many other routes available like starting an apprenticeship.

    I also want to pay a special tribute to teachers and school leaders this year who have shown dedication, resilience and ingenuity to support their students to get to this moment.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2020 Comments on Situation in Mali

    Stephen Doughty – 2020 Comments on Situation in Mali

    Comments made by Stephen Doughty, the Shadow Minister for Africa, on 19 August 2020.

    Recent events in Mali are deeply concerning and it is vital that we see an immediate return to the rule of law and democratic and constitutional processes. Detained political figures, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, should be released and a peaceful dialogue established to avoid further instability. Free and fair elections must then be held to ensure the right of the people of Mali to determine their country’s future direction.

    The UK government is right to join international partners in condemning the coup, but must now commit to continuing to support humanitarian efforts in the region to help bring about much-needed peace and stability.

    Our country’s strategic interests are best served when the UK collaborates with democratic allies to support democratic order in Mali, particularly in light of growing jihadist terrorism in Mali and the pressing need for a coordinated international effort to combat the threat it poses to wider regional stability.

  • Justin Madders – 2020 Comments on Working Conditions for Midwives

    Justin Madders – 2020 Comments on Working Conditions for Midwives

    Comments made by Justin Madders, the Shadow Health Minister, on 20 August 2020.

    [Commenting on the Royal College of Midwives survey that shows midwives are missing meals and toilet breaks]

    This is deeply concerning and shows not only how our amazing midwives go above and beyond every single day but also how they are being let down by a Government that has simply failed to deal with the chronic workforce shortages in the NHS.

    We are short of 2,500 midwives in the NHS in England which, against an overall staffing shortfall of over 100,000, is forcing staff to do more and more and putting them under ever increasing strain.

    The Government needs to come up with a credible staffing plan otherwise we risk losing many of these dedicated people to burnout.