On whether Keir Starmer sympathises with students seeking tuition fee or rent refunds, his spokesperson would not be drawn – would only say: "The immediate priority is making sure every students gets a good education safely, either in person or remotely".
Added: "We understand there is deep anxiety for students and their parents across the country... We have a huge amount of sympathy for what students are having to go through, and not to forget their parents as well."
Keir's response to the idea of processing asylum seekers on Ascension Island? "Ludicrous and inhumane. It’s completely impractical and it would be hugely expensive for taxpayers."
Spokesperson says Keir Starmer has taken unconscious bias training.
Asked whether Starmer would support peaceful resistance to bailiffs now that the eviction ban has ended, his spokesperson said: "If we’re going to stop mass evictions, it’s for the government to take national action to do that."
Asked why Labour is supporting Covid restrictions if they are confusing, Starmer's spokesperson said: "At the moment what the country wants to see is everyone come together and try to defeat this virus." Added that Labour "accepts" rules are based on expert advice.
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Angela Rayner speaks at Labour soft left group Mainstream’s reception, kicks off by saying she “a lot to say”
“When the British people voted for us, they voted for change,” she says. “The Labour Party is at its best when it’s bold… We should make clear our driving mission is to represent working people. When vested interests stand in the way, we should take them head on.”
“Let’s be honest. The public have the impression we’ve defended the status quo rather than challenged it. Represented the establishment… At worst, we became it.”
“It’s our job to show the British people whose side we’re on… The very survival of the Labour Party is at stake.”
“We should be brave enough to shake up the Westminster system,” she says
“People feel the system isn’t working for them… that here’s always someone jumping the queue or cheating the system. If we don’t have an answer to that, the right wing populists will offer theirs”
"The Party is discontinuing its legal claims against Karie Murphy, Seumas Milne, Georgie Robertson, Harry Hayball and Laura Murray on a ‘no order as to costs’ basis. The five welcome the resolution of the claims."
The Labour Party has dropped its lawsuit against five ex-staffers who had been accused of leaking a controversial internal report: politicshome.com/news/article/l…
Labour NEC member Mish Rahman accuses Labour of spending "millions of pounds in members’ money" on pursuing the case so far that "could have been spent on the general election": politicshome.com/news/article/l…
I’m at an event by the Centre for Social Justice, “From baby boom to baby bust”. Miriam Cates says polling shows 92.4% of UK young women want to become mothers but 69% of young women believe waiting til 35 to start a family is no problem despite fertility stats.
Cates says she was surprised by how toxic the response was when she talked about this subject in parliament. She says Rosie Duffield was supposed to be on the panel but hasn’t joined today as she fears for her safety due to the controversial nature of the discussion.
IDS from the audience says migration is neither the answer nor a problem. He says he has 4 children, all nearing or over 30, and only one grandchild, so he can see this play out in his family. He is concerned about parents who want to stay home being punished via the tax system.
“The Labour Party will always stand up for working people fighting for better pay, terms and conditions at work.
“This isn’t about appearing on a picket line. Members of the frontbench sign up to collective responsibility. That includes media appearances being approved and speaking to agreed frontbench positions.
I’m told “There hasn't been anything from LOTO ahead of the latest set of strikes.” i.e. there was no fresh warning from the Labour leadership to frontbenchers not to join picket lines. Whether there is a reaction to Sam Tarry’s decision to join one today remains to be seen.
It’s summer recess and some of the frontbenchers who might have been joining Sam Tarry on the picket line today - after joining last time - are currently away.
Labour whip Nav Mishra is in Cyprus with the Royal Air Force (along with other MPs) 👇
It's been more than three months since I moved to @TheHouseMag, where I'm interviewing parliamentarians of all parties and writing features on all sorts of subjects. Here's a lil thread on highlights so far... 🧵
I was particularly pleased with this feature, speaking to Labour MP Andy McDonald and Conservative Duncan Baker about opening their homes to Ukrainian refugees – personal stories with heart: politicshome.com/thehouse/artic…
Another story with a lot of heart – I spoke to the fascinating Anoosheh Ashoori, his wife Sherry and MP Janet Daby about his experience of being detained in Iran, ongoing fight for those left behind and feelings towards Boris Johnson: politicshome.com/thehouse/artic…