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Tag: Speeches

  • Stephen Doughty – 2020 Comments on African Migrants in Saudi Arabia

    Stephen Doughty – 2020 Comments on African Migrants in Saudi Arabia

    The comments made by Stephen Doughty, the Shadow Minister for Africa, on 31 August 2020.

    Emerging evidence of the shocking conditions in which African migrants are being held in Saudi detention centres is deeply disturbing and demands immediate action.

    The Saudi Government must bring an immediate end to this appalling practice and permit access for independent health and human rights experts. It is vital that those being detained are held in line with international migration law and treated with the dignity and compassion they deserve.

    UK Government Ministers must immediately raise this worrying situation with their counterparts in Saudi Arabia, particularly in light of the country’s historically poor record on protecting and upholding human rights.

  • Preet Gill – 2020 Comments on the Foreign Aid Budget

    Preet Gill – 2020 Comments on the Foreign Aid Budget

    The comments made by Preet Gill, the Shadow International Development Secretary, on 31 August 2020.

    The British public are rightly proud of the role they have played in supporting the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.

    This latest move by the government to backtrack on a manifesto commitment they made last year shows that their word cannot be trusted, and signals a retreat from the world stage in the middle of a global pandemic.

    Labour is committed to continuing our global reputation as a development power by ensuring we continue to show Britain at its best; as an outward-looking, progressive country making the world safer, fairer and better for all.

  • Keir Starmer – 2020 Comments on the Future for Young People

    Keir Starmer – 2020 Comments on the Future for Young People

    The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 31 August 2020.

    For millions of families across England, this week will be a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

    Excitement for children who will be back in the classroom for the first time in months. But, anxiety for teachers and parents about a year ahead that is full of uncertainty because of a pandemic that continues to cast its shadow over children’s education.

    I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication of our teachers and school staff who have worked tirelessly over the summer to make sure schools can reopen safely.

    Labour want and expect children to be back at school. Every day that schools were closed was a day of opportunity, learning and support lost. This situation was worsened by the exams fiasco and the Government’s chaotic approach to education.

    We cannot keep repeating those same mistakes. Young people’s futures cannot be held back by the Conservatives’ incompetence.

    That is why the Education Secretary must come to Parliament to tell us how he will protect our children’s futures. He needs to explain how he will make up for the damage already done, bring pupils up to speed and mitigate against the ongoing risk from the pandemic.

  • Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Keeping Schools Safe

    Kate Green – 2020 Comments on Keeping Schools Safe

    The comments made by Kate Green, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, on 1 September 2020.

    The learning that children have lost in recent months shows that keeping schools safely open to all must be a national priority in the months ahead.

    When schools are closed, we see deep inequalities become more entrenched, and those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds lose out most. If the Conservative Government cannot guarantee pupils the education they deserve, then they will fail a whole generation of children.

    Young people’s futures cannot be held back by Conservative incompetence. This is a wakeup call for ministers. They must ensure that schools stay open, that parents and teachers are supported, and that pupils get all the help they need to catch up.

  • Louise Haigh – 2020 Comments on Potential Closure of Support Service for Terror Victims

    Louise Haigh – 2020 Comments on Potential Closure of Support Service for Terror Victims

    The comments made by Louise Haigh, the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on 1 September 2020.

    The press release noted “For two decades the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation, established in the names of the two boys murdered by the IRA in Warrington in 1993, has provided a free national support service for victims of terrorism in the UK, including trauma-informed health and wellbeing services.”.

    The death of Tim and Johnathan was an unthinkable tragedy, and the work their families have done to support victims of terror in the three decades since has made an extraordinary difference to thousands of people.

    In the week that would have been Tim’s fortieth birthday, it is a real insult that the support service established in his memory is under threat because the Prime Minister simply will not keep his promises.

    In this week of all weeks, the Prime Minister must act and secure the future of the support service and the vital work it does.

  • Rosena Allin-Khan – 2020 Comments on Suicide Figures

    Rosena Allin-Khan – 2020 Comments on Suicide Figures

    The comments made by Rosena Allin-Khan, the Shadow Mental Health Minister, on 1 September 2020.

    This worrying upward trend in England highlights the importance of taking suicide and mental ill health seriously.

    In their 2019 manifesto, the Conservatives promised action for mental health services – yet, in the midst of a health crisis that has separated many of us from our loved ones and support networks, they have been silent.

    Suicide is both a public health and social inequality issue, and with the right interventions it is preventable – today’s figures must be a wake up call for the government.

  • Alok Sharma – 2020 Comments on Green Home Grants

    Alok Sharma – 2020 Comments on Green Home Grants

    The comments made by Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business and Energy, on 28 August 2020.

    Green Homes Grants are a key part of our plans to build back greener, helping make 600,000 homes more energy efficient with government vouchers, while supporting 100,000 skilled jobs and supporting our transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

    From today people will have the chance to see how this scheme could help save money on their energy bills and connect to trusted local tradespeople across the country, so they are ready for the scheme’s launch in September.

  • Lucy Powell – 2020 Comments on Workers Returning to Offices

    Lucy Powell – 2020 Comments on Workers Returning to Offices

    The comments made by Lucy Powell, the Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers, on 27 August 2020.

    It beggars belief that the Government are threatening people like this during a pandemic. Forcing people to choose between their health and their job is unconscionable. Number 10 should condemn this briefing and categorically rule out any such campaign.

  • Lucy Powell – 2020 Comments on the Automotive Sector

    Lucy Powell – 2020 Comments on the Automotive Sector

    Comments made by Lucy Powell, the Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers, on 27 August 2020.

    The UK’s world-leading automotive industry has been rocked by coronavirus and livelihoods are on the line. But Ministers won’t listen to reason and are refusing to recognise some sectors have been hit harder than others.

    They must urgently target support at the sectors that need it with a focus on creating skilled, green jobs – and do right by the communities across the UK they promised to protect.

    Anything less would be a betrayal of many communities which helped get Boris Johnson elected.

  • Cat Smith – 2020 Comments on Children Society Report

    Cat Smith – 2020 Comments on Children Society Report

    The comments made by Cat Smith, the Shadow Minister for Young People, on 28 August 2020.

    This eye-opening [Good Childhood] report lays bare the stark pressures and difficulties faced by young people in the UK, compared to those in other European countries.

    Young people and children have been left behind since long before the Coronavirus crisis. With children in the UK ranking lowest for life satisfaction across Europe, the Government remain utterly out-of-touch with the real struggles faced by young people.

    The Government must finally provide a comprehensive measurement of children’s well-being in order to properly quantify changes and target resources.