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Tag: Speeches

  • Paul Scully – 2020 Comments on Small Business Support

    Paul Scully – 2020 Comments on Small Business Support

    Comments made by Paul Scully, the Small Business Minister, on 3 August 2020.

    I know from my own experience of running small businesses just how valuable the advice and experience of experts and peers can be when you are looking to grow your company.

    The strength of small businesses up and down the country will be vital as we begin to bounce back from coronavirus and re-build our economy. These schemes will help equip small business leaders with the leadership, resilience and problem-solving skills they need to grow their firms in the wake of this pandemic.

  • Robert Jenrick – 2020 Comments on Planning

    Robert Jenrick – 2020 Comments on Planning

    Comments made by Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on 4 August 2020.

    As we get Britain building we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally-friendly homes with a huge £1.3 billion investment announced today.

    This government is determined to level up all parts of the country and this funding will not only give a much needed boost to our economic recovery, it will help build the good quality, affordable homes the country needs.

  • Anne-Marie Trevelyan – 2020 Comments on Locusts

    Anne-Marie Trevelyan – 2020 Comments on Locusts

    The comments made by Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Secretary of State for International Development, on 4 August 2020.

    Vulnerable communities are on the brink of starvation because of the biggest locust outbreak in decades, made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

    British expertise is playing an important role in equipping companies with the right tools to combat the swarms and track where they will go next.

    But unless other countries also step up and act now, this crisis will spread and cause even more devastation.

  • Ed Miliband – 2020 Comments on Furlough Support

    Ed Miliband – 2020 Comments on Furlough Support

    The comments made by Ed Miliband, the Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on 31 July 2020.

    Many businesses still have little or no cash coming in, but are trying to do the right thing and save their employees’ jobs. They now face the stark choice of letting go of their staff or facing a hefty financial burden to keep them on.

    Businesses in vastly different sectors and circumstances should not be treated in this uniform way, and it is clearly unfair and illogical for those employers still locked down and unable to trade. Unless Ministers recognise the scale of the jobs crisis and change course they will force employers to make cuts, and be culpable for thousands of workers across the country losing their jobs and livelihoods.

    Labour is calling on the Government to end their damaging blanket approach to ending furlough support before it is too late, and to target support at the hardest hit sectors. This would encourage businesses to stick with workers and not make them redundant now, which is inevitable unless government changes course.

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2020 Comments on Care Home Testing Pledge

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2020 Comments on Care Home Testing Pledge

    The comments made by Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 3 August 2020.

    With infections rising, it’s frankly negligent ministers have failed to deliver on their promise to regularly test care home residents and staff. And to brief newspapers that over-50s may need to shield on the day shielding has been paused causes yet more unnecessary confusion and anxiety.

    Ministers have been too slow to act and explain their strategy throughout this pandemic. Test and Trace is costing £10 billion but is nowhere near the ‘world beating’ system we were promised.

    It’s critical measures are now put in place to control the virus including rapidly improving testing and locally-led contact tracing teams. The Government failed to protect care home residents and staff early on in this pandemic. They mustn’t make the same mistake again.

  • John Major – 2020 Comments on Death of John Hume

    John Major – 2020 Comments on Death of John Hume

    The comments made by John Major, the Prime Minister between 1990 and 1997, on 3 August 2020.

    John Hume was an advocate for peace in Northern Ireland for the greater part of his life.

    Few others invested such time and energy to this search, and few sought to change entrenched attitudes with such fierce determination.

    Those whose communities have been transformed into peaceful neighbourhoods may wish to pay tribute to one of the most fervent warriors for peace.

    He has earned himself an honoured place in Irish history.

  • Keir Starmer – 2020 Comments on Death of John Hume

    Keir Starmer – 2020 Comments on Death of John Hume

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 3 August 2020.

    It is deeply saddening to hear of the death of John Hume.

    Life across the island of Ireland is peaceful and more prosperous today because of his courage, vision and determination. He guided away from violence and towards justice, tolerance and democracy. He takes his rightful place in the pantheon of leaders whose legacy is of creating a better world for the next generation.

    My thoughts, and those of the Labour movement, are with Pat, John, Mo and the Hume Family.

  • Lucy Powell – 2020 Comments on HSBC and DW Sports Job Losses

    Lucy Powell – 2020 Comments on HSBC and DW Sports Job Losses

    The text of the comments made by Lucy Powell, the Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers, on 3 August 2020.

    We are seeing a wave of job losses across the high street which is not just a tragedy for the individuals and families concerned but underlines the real challenges facing retail, hospitality and leisure in our towns and cities.

    With many businesses struggling, Boris Johnson’s jobs squeeze threatening those still on furlough in fully and partially shut down sectors, and the lack of support for areas facing local lockdowns, it’s vital that Ministers step up. That’s why Labour has called for a flexible furlough and a Hospitality and High Street Fightback Fund to support businesses and workers in areas and sectors in distress.

  • Andy McDonald – 2020 Comments on Confidence of Employees Returning to Work

    Andy McDonald – 2020 Comments on Confidence of Employees Returning to Work

    The comments made by Andy McDonald, the Shadow Employment Rights and Protections Secretary, on 3 August 2020.

    The Government’s guidance on working with Covid-19 is vague, and years of cuts to inspectors mean rules on health and safety are difficult to enforce.

    Following confused public messaging and the failure to set up a working track and trace system, it is no surprise that many employers and employees do not feel safe to return to places of work.

    The Government must work closely with workers and trade unions to implement clearer rules and a plan for how they will be enforced in order to give workers and businesses confidence they will be safe.

  • Lucy Powell – 2020 Comments on Hays Travel

    Lucy Powell – 2020 Comments on Hays Travel

    The comments made by Lucy Powell, the Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers, on 3 August 2020.

    It’s devastating to hear that Hays Travel is faced with having to make almost 900 employees redundant, months after stepping in to save the jobs of those impacted by the collapse of Thomas Cook.

    The government’s illogical decision to withdraw furlough support from businesses across the board, regardless of sector or circumstance, is putting so many jobs at risk.

    With forecasts of a 10% unemployment rate and regular mass redundancies, it is clear the government must urgently target support where it is needed and protect people’s livelihoods.