The comments made by Denis MacShane, the former Labour MP for Rotherham, on Twitter on 26 December 2021.
My fav Tutuism: “when the white man came to South Africa we had all the land, they had all the bibles. They said “Fall to your knees and pray to the Lord”. When we got up they had all the land and we had all the bibles.”
The comments made by George Freeman, the Science Minister, on 25 December 2021.
Today is a monumental milestone for international and UK space science: the Webb Space Telescope will allow us to go further and deeper to explore and discover our planetary universe.
The project draws heavily on the world-class expertise of top UK scientists and engineers who were able to deliver vital pieces of this complex and powerful telescope.
Being at the heart of this international project showcases the innovative talent of the UK’s world-leading scientists and engineers, and emphasises our position as a global science powerhouse.
The comments made by Alister Jack, the Secretary of State for Scotland, on 22 December 2021.
Our focus is on a strong, sustainable recovery, particularly as we face new challenges from the Omicron variant. That’s why this week we doubled the amount of additional funding available to the Scottish Government to tackle Omicron to £440m – and that’s in addition to the record £41 billion per year funding settlement set out in October for the next three years.
The hugely successful UK Government-funded vaccine and booster programme has never been more important and I’d urge everyone to get their jabs when eligible.
Helping people back to work is crucial and our Plan for Jobs is working. We’re also investing £191million in projects at the heart of communities across Scotland from three major Levelling Up funds and £1.5billion is going into Growth Deals from Shetland to Selkirk. Building back better and stronger is our priority.
The comments made by Julia Lopez, the Digital Infrastructure Minister, on 22 December 2021.
We are moving rapidly in our national mission to make sure everyone can benefit from faster gigabit-speed broadband. National coverage has jumped from six per cent to sixty-five per cent in just two years.
The law changes we are consulting on today will help us go further and faster to make our homes fit for the future with the infrastructure people will need to take advantage of new technologies in the coming decades
The comments made by George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, on 22 December 2021.
We have now concluded negotiations with the EU, setting catch levels for 2022. As an independent coastal State, we entered discussions representing the interests of the entire UK fishing industry and have secured certainty for the incoming year.
The balanced agreement made today provides a strong foundation as we seek to deliver more sustainable fisheries management, as set out in our landmark Fisheries Act.
The comments made by Wes Streeting, the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 22 December 2021.
We’re all breathing a sigh of relief that Christmas is going ahead as planned, but the country also deserves some certainty about what comes after Christmas so that families and businesses can plan ahead.
The virus won’t be taking Christmas off and there’s still a risk of the NHS being overwhelmed in the new year.
Boris Johnson is too weak to get any measures to keep the country safe through his Cabinet.
The Prime Minister is focused on clinging on to his job, half his Cabinet are preparing their leadership campaigns, and the country is left with no plan to deal with the imminent threat of Omicron.
The Government must stop arguing amongst itself, come forward with a plan, and give people and businesses clarity.
The comments made by Stephen Morgan, the Shadow Schools Minister, on 22 December 2021.
The Government needs to act on this decision now.
With the Omicron variant spreading fast, there’s an urgent need to get these jabs in to arms. The Government has taken its eye off the ball on vaccinations for children and young people, with just 47% of eligible children aged 12-15 vaccinated.
Labour has called for a Christmas vaccine guarantee to offer every eligible 12–15-year-old a vaccination before they go back to school.
The comments made by Lucy Powell, the Shadow Culture Secretary, on 22 December 2021.
Pantos and other cultural events at Christmas are great British traditions, that are now at risk as many productions and live events have seen a dramatic drop off in demand and many, many cancellations due to Covid.
The Government needs to take further action to support the sector before we see the demise of many of our treasured theatres and venues across the country and a nightmare before Christmas for freelancers and workers for whom this should be their boom time of the year.
Labour is calling for the Culture Recovery Fund eligibility criteria to be opened up so businesses and workers don’t fall through the cracks, and for the Government to review the Reinsurance Scheme which as designed is totally inadequate. Ministers have lost their grip, and it is theatres and workers across our towns and cities who are paying the price.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 22 December 2021.
This budget is about focusing on the issues that matter most to Londoners, working to build a safer, greener, fairer city. This means investing more in the police and tackling crime, building more genuinely affordable homes for Londoners, supporting businesses during this difficult time, skilling up Londoners for well-paid jobs, tackling air pollution and the climate emergency, and providing more opportunities for young Londoners to reach their potential.
The pandemic is continuing to have a serious impact on London’s finances and the Government is still refusing to properly fund our public services, particularly the Met police, Transport for London and the London Fire Brigade. Raising council tax by £2.66 per month is not something I want to do, but the Government is leaving us with no choice if we are to help prevent the collapse of TfL and ensure our police officers and firefighters have the resources they need.
Despite the difficult financial situation we face in London, I’m excited about the incredible programmes this budget will help us to fund next year, targeting our resources where they can make the biggest difference to Londoners. This includes: offering free training to anyone who is unemployed or low paid, providing a mentor to young Londoners in need, building more homes Londoners can actually afford, and investing millions on green projects so that we can continue to lead the way on tackling air pollution and climate change.
I’ll never forget that London gave me the opportunities to go from a council estate to being Mayor of the greatest city on earth. As we seek to navigate and recover from this terrible pandemic, I’m determined to use this budget to help build London back as safer, greener, fairer and more prosperous city – putting the dark days of the pandemic behind us and building the better and brighter future all Londoners want and deserve.
The comments made by Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 21 December 2021.
We recognise that the spread of the Omicron variant means businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors are facing huge uncertainty, at a crucial time.
So we’re stepping in with £1 billion of support, including a new grant scheme, the reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and further funding released through the Culture Recovery Fund.
Ultimately the best thing we can do to support businesses is to get the virus under control, so I urge everyone to Get Boosted Now.