Tag: Speeches

Marsha de Cordova – 2020 Comments on Financial Inequality

The comments made by Marsha de Cordova, the Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, on 28 July 2020.

This new evidence shows that working time inequality between lower and higher-income households was worsening even before the crisis hit.

The Government must carry out and publish an Equality Impact Assessment of the financial and social measures it has taken so far to support people through the pandemic.

It’s vital to prevent lower-income households bearing the brunt of the crisis when they were already doing less paid work than high-income households and many wanted to be doing more.

With the gap in total hours of paid work between high and low-income households growing, Labour will continue to push for a response that stops families from falling into hardship.

July 28, 2020
Liz Truss – 2020 Comments on the Trade and Agriculture Commission

Comments made by Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, on 27 July 2020.

We’re stepping up our engagement with all the groups who have an interest in Britain’s agriculture trade policy. The Trade and Agriculture Commission will ensure the voices of the public and industry are heard, and that their interests are advanced and protected. It will advise the government on how Britain can remain a world-leader in animal welfare and environmental standards, and how we can seize new export opportunities for our farmers.

This is about putting British farming at the heart of our trade policy and ensuring that our agriculture industry is amongst the most competitive and innovative in the world.

July 27, 2020
Jim McMahon – 2020 Comments on Protecting Jobs in Travel Industry

Comments made by Jim McMahon, the Shadow Transport Secretary, on 29 July 2020.

The Government’s handling of this issue has been nothing short of chaotic. The airline industry and passengers need clarity.

The past few days have been symptomatic of the Government who were too slow to enter the lockdown, too slow to get vital protective equipment to NHS, social care and other key workers, and too slow on testing and tracing to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

It will take a long time to recover from the impact of the virus. The Government must focus support on the sectors that desperately need it, like aviation, aerospace and its supply chain, which supports almost a quarter of a million jobs, with strict climate conditions and ensuring the gains are shared with the public.

July 27, 2020
Kerry McCarthy – 2020 Comments on Funding for Cycling

Comments made by Kerry McCarthy, the Shadow Cycling Minister, on 27 July 2020.

It’s been five months since the Government first announced this funding for cycling in the Spring Budget, three months since Shapps’ cycling press conference and yet again all we have is a re-announcement.

Tory Ministers have dragged their feet and failed to seize the opportunity this crisis has posed. Although funding is welcome, cyclists will be rightly concerned about how long it is going to take to actually put these plans into practice.

No one wants a return to the levels of pollution and congestion we saw before the lockdown began, but, if we fail to make our roads safe enough to cycle, people will revert back to taking the car.

July 27, 2020
George Eustice – 2020 Comments on Environmental Land Management Scheme

The comments made by George Eustice, the Secretary of State for the Environment, on 27 July 2020.

The so-called greening requirements have added little to our environmental efforts. We believe that farmers will benefit from this reduced bureaucratic burden next year as we begin the move towards our new Environmental Land Management scheme which will deliver greater benefits for the environment.

We will be setting out more detail in the autumn on how we will ensure a smooth transition for our farmers, as they move towards our new, fairer agricultural system, which will reward them for the hard work that they do to protect our environment.

July 27, 2020
James Cleverly – 2020 Comments on Lebanon

Comments made by James Cleverly, the UK Minister for the Middle East, on 27 July 2020.

I was deeply impressed by the passion and drive of the Lebanese people I met. I am confident that this country can have a bright future, but it must take urgent and drastic action now to avoid economic catastrophe.

The UK is helping to tackle coronavirus in the country, which in turn will help stop future waves of the disease. This pandemic has already caused the death of so many around the world, but together we can stop it. No one is safe until we are all safe.

July 27, 2020
Gerry Grimstone – 2020 Comments on Tech for Growth

Comments made by Gerry Grimstone (Baron Grimstone of Boscobel), UK Minister for Investment, on 27 July 2020.

Diversifying and increasing trade and investment in sectors such as tech will be crucial for economic recovery from Coronavirus, and Britain has a vital role to play globally.

The UK is home to some of the most innovative tech companies in the world while also being one of the deepest and most globally connected financial centres. It is why we are the top choice for tech firms seeking a base to launch internationally into new markets.

This programme will further deepen our trade relationships with some of the most exciting emerging markets around the world, and lead to solutions that address one of the most prominent global challenges in today’s world, financial inclusion.

July 27, 2020
John Woolf – 2020 Statement on Hate Speech and Rapper Wiley

The Twitter post from 25 July 2020 by John Woolf from A-List Management, following anti-semitic posts by rapper Wiley.

Following Wileys anti semitic tweets today we at @A_ListMGMT have cut all ties with him. There is no place in society for antisemitism.

July 27, 2020
Jo Stevens – 2020 Comments on the Online Harms Bill

Text of the comments made by Jo Stevens, the Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on 26 July 2020.

The failure to tackle these high-profile examples of hate speech shows why we so desperately need proper legislation to force the social media companies to keep people safe online.

Social media companies have had repeated opportunities to show they can police their sites effectively. But when high profile individuals are allowed to keep their platforms after spreading vile anti-Semitic abuse – and then doubling down when challenged – it’s clear that self-regulation isn’t working.

The government promised this bill more than a year ago – it’s high time they showed they take the safety of those who use the internet as seriously as the needs and influence of the big tech firms.

July 27, 2020
Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2020 Comments on Contingency Plans for those Returning from Spain

Text of the comments made by Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Shadow Home Secretary, on 27 July 2020.

Labour has made clear that it supports evidence-based protective measures at the border.

We have long called for all the scientific evidence to be made public and for a ramped-up track trace and isolate system to be in place so as to avoid the need for the blunt tool of 14-day quarantine.

The Government’s policy regarding travel restrictions has lacked grip and coherence from the outset.

This latest decision-making process regarding Spain and the short-notice for travellers has created a sense of panic and loss of control.

The Government should have proper contingency plans to support people coming home where there is no guarantee their employers will allow them 14 days of work flexibility.

And it is high time that a sector-specific deal for aviation is introduced as quarantine measures continue to affect the travel industry.”

July 27, 2020