Tag: Speeches

  • 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.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2020 Comments on Homelessness Statistics

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2020 Comments on Homelessness Statistics

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

    These figures highlight the urgent need to extend the evictions ban, to avoid thousands more people being made homeless in the run up to winter.

    Before Covid, we already had devastatingly high numbers in temporary accommodation as a direct result of 10 years of Conservative government, whose policies have pushed people into poverty.

    The Government have known for months that an evictions crisis is looming. Not for the first time, it has been too slow to take action and we’re now facing a potential disaster if the ban is lifted with no plan for what comes next.

  • Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Students Receiving GCSE Results

    Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Students Receiving GCSE Results

    The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, on 20 August 2020.

    Today marks the culmination of years of hard work by young people across the country. I congratulate them on everything that they have achieved, and wish them the best as they move on to the next stage of their education or training.

    But the reality is that many of these young people will have faced huge stress in recent days, as the government’s incompetent and chaotic handling of the results fiasco left them concerned about their futures.

    This incompetence must come to an end. The government must urgently ensure that every young person, including those studying BTECs, get the grades they deserve quickly and do not lose out on any further stage of their education because of this government’s incompetence.

  • Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Gavin Williamson and the Exams Algorithm

    Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Gavin Williamson and the Exams Algorithm

    The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, on 20 August 2020.

    Gavin Williamson was warned again and again about the problems with the grading algorithm, and each time, he did nothing.

    This endless pattern of incompetence is no way to run a country. His failure to listen to warnings and to act on them risked thousands of young people being robbed of their futures.

    It is time for full transparency. The Department for Education must now publish all correspondence to and from the Secretary of State in which concerns about this algorithm were discussed, as a matter of urgency.

    Young people deserve to know how they came to be let down so badly.