UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Speeches

  • Grant Shapps – 2021 Comments on Transport Decarbonisation

    Grant Shapps – 2021 Comments on Transport Decarbonisation

    The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 14 July 2021.

    Transport is not just how you get around. It is something that fundamentally shapes our towns, cities and countryside, our living standards and our health. It can shape all those things for good or for bad. Decarbonisation is not just some technocratic process. It’s about how we make sure that transport shapes quality of life and the economy in ways that are good.

    It’s not about stopping people doing things: it’s about doing the same things differently. We will still fly on holiday, but in more efficient aircraft, using sustainable fuel. We will still drive, but increasingly in zero emission cars.

    The Transport decarbonisation plan is just the start – we will need continued efforts and collaboration to deliver its ambitious commitments, which will ultimately create sustainable economic growth through healthier communities as we build back greener.

  • Gavin Williamson – 2021 Comments on Qualifications

    Gavin Williamson – 2021 Comments on Qualifications

    The comments made by Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education, on 14 July 2021.

    As we recover from the pandemic, there can be no room in our education system for second rate qualifications.

    Great qualifications are essential to helping everyone – no matter their age or background – to get good jobs and realise their ambitions.

    These reforms will simplify and streamline the current system, ensuring that whatever qualification a young person or an adult chooses they can be confident that it will be high-quality and will lead to good outcomes.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2021 Comments on the Return of Rob Roberts

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2021 Comments on the Return of Rob Roberts

    The comments made by Thangam Debbonaire, the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, on 13 July 2021.

    Most people found to have sexually harassed their staff would expect to lose their job.

    But because of a procedural anomaly and the Conservatives’ refusal to act, Rob Roberts’ constituents are being denied the chance to decide whether or not they want him as their MP.

    Labour has proposed a change to close this loophole but the Government is inexplicably blocking it. Yet again, they seem to think it is one rule for them and another for everyone else.

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2021 Comments on Cuts to Universal Credit

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2021 Comments on Cuts to Universal Credit

    The comments made by Jonathan Reynolds, the Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions, on 14 July 2021.

    The Government’s plan to cut Universal Credit for millions of families by £1,000 a year is morally and economically wrong.

    Under this Government millions of children are already living in poverty; this cut will only make things harder.

    It is time the Government saw sense, backed struggling families and cancelled their cut to Universal Credit. Labour would replace Universal Credit with a fairer social security system .

  • Sir John Major – 2021 Statement on Foreign Aid Cuts

    Sir John Major – 2021 Statement on Foreign Aid Cuts

    The statement made by Sir John Major, the Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997, on 13 July 2021.

    The Government has blatantly broken its word, and should be ashamed of its decision.

    It seems that we can afford a “national yacht” that no-one either wants or needs, whilst cutting help to some of the most miserable and destitute people in the world.

    This is not a Conservatism that I recognise. It is the stamp of Little England, not Great Britain.

  • Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2021 Comments on Tackling Racist Abuse

    Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2021 Comments on Tackling Racist Abuse

    The comments made by Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Shadow Home Secretary, on 14 July 2021.

    The long awaited Online Harms Bill has been continuously promoted as a way to solve this problem by the Government but, not only do delays mean it is unlikely to come into force before 2024, but the current bill would not stop this vile abuse.

    The racist abuse on social-media faced by our England players is unacceptable, social-media companies need the toughest of sanctions to do more to take down this awful material.

    The time for change is now, more delays will only prolong the abuse that takes place on social media. This must be a priority for the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.

  • Jo Stevens – 2021 Comments on Racism on Social Media

    Jo Stevens – 2021 Comments on Racism on Social Media

    The comments made by Jo Stevens, the Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on 12 July 2021.

    The horrific racist abuse of the England penalty-takers had a disappointing inevitability to it.

    Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have the means to stop this hatred on their platforms and yet they decide to do nothing.

    Meanwhile the Government’s long-promised Online Safety Bill has yet again been delayed with progress unlikely to get underway until after the summer.

    No one should have to put up with this abuse online, social media companies’ self-regulation has to end and instead we need tough new laws.

    The Prime Minister has previously done no more than turned a blind eye to racism against our players. Warm words and gigantic England flags are no substitute for using the power he has, to make it stop.

  • Angela Rayner – 2021 Comments on Natalie Elphicke

    Angela Rayner – 2021 Comments on Natalie Elphicke

    The comments made by Angela Rayner, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, on 12 July 2021.

    While the country was commiserating our great team, Tory MPs were sneering at an inspirational player who stepped up to feed hungry kids when they voted to leave them without food.

    Whether it’s their failure to support the vulnerable, or booing our boys after they have done our whole country proud, the Nasty Party is back.

    The question every Conservative MP needs to answer is – did they call out these appalling comments? And after his failure to support our players in their stance against racism, Boris Johnson must publicly condemn these disgraceful messages. Whose side is he on, the lion hearts on the pitch or the Tory MPs who attack them.

  • Kate Green – 2021 Comments on Exams in 2022

    Kate Green – 2021 Comments on Exams in 2022

    The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, on 12 July 2021.

    Time and again the Conservatives have delayed action on exams creating two years of chaos and uncertainty. Schools, colleges and pupils must know how they’ll be assessed by the return to school in September not weeks into the autumn term.

    The Conservatives’ proposals include nothing on levelling the playing field for pupils who’ve missed most school, while their “feeble” catch-up plan will leave 11 out of 12 school pupils without any support next year.

    Ministers have again demanded school and college staff to work into the holiday all while they’re managing the end of the school year and getting preparations in place to keep kids in school come September. Ministers cannot continue to pass the buck but must set out comprehensive plans which match Labour’s ambition for our children’s futures.

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2021 Comments on Free School Meal Provision

    Tulip Siddiq – 2021 Comments on Free School Meal Provision

    The comments made by Tulip Siddiq, the Shadow Minister for Children, on 13 July 2021.

    Feeding hungry children cannot be a part-time activity, yet this Conservative Government is again stripping away the support that millions of families rely on.

    Ministers have had to be shamed into providing food for hungry children throughout the pandemic and it is a disgrace that we are having to do this all over again.

    Ensuring no child goes hungry is at the heart of Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan, which includes guaranteeing free school meals support over all school holidays during the pandemic.