This Tory government is in denial about their incompetent preparations, and at the growing problems from the deal they negotiated with the EU.

Just like their handling of Covid-19, there’s no urgency either.

But the more they ignore issues the bigger they become. [THREAD]👇
Right now, the biggest industry the Tories have grown is red tape and form filling.

This is all adding to the stress, disruption and delays to British businesses which they can ill afford.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Having spent months talking up this deal as the saviour of British fishing, the problems that have followed have been a stark and concerning contrast.

More and more in the industry highlight the difficulties in selling to vital EU markets.
Labour’s Shadow DEFRA Secretary @LukePollard has been pressing the government in the Commons and @steph_peacock has written calling for action.

The fishing industry is not happy, and deserves far more respect than this.
Our Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary @louhaigh has been pressing the government on the problems facing NI.

She and I spoke up about the serious implications for people in NI last Sunday and called for urgent attention to make the Protocol work.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northe…
Ministers call these ‘teething problems’.

Tell that to businesses finding it harder to navigate non-tariff barriers the Prime Minister said didn’t exist.

The Tories have failed to listen to businesses, industry groups and unions. They need to start now. theguardian.com/politics/2021/…
I asked the Government about the recruitment of new customs agents so many times last year.

It was clear they were going to be vital to helping British businesses cope with changes.

Now, the Tories’ poor preparations are proving costly.
As one of our country’s greatest exports, Labour wants our cultural sector, and all those running it, to prosper.

But as @Tim_Burgess writes, this government is holding it back.

We're working with @musiciansunion for new solutions – watch this space. independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-…
So, what *have* the Tories been doing?

Undermining employment rights of workers. An utter disgrace, as @Ed_Miliband spells out.

This is not the future our country deserves. With the trade union movement, we will oppose cuts to people’s rights at work.
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
The incompetence and the arrogance of this Tory government is breath-taking.

It is holding back British businesses, workers and slowing our economic recovery.

People’s livelihoods are on the line. The UK deserves better than this carelessness.

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More from @RachelReevesMP

13 Jan
This government’s procurement is an ugly mark on its pandemic response.

We’ve seen millions wasted on unusable PPE, a national Serco tracing system not reaching contacts it should, and a growing catalogue of cronyism.

But what's happened this week is a new low.
🔴THREAD🔴
This government outsourcing #FreeSchoolMeals leaves families with shocking replacements for normal vouchers. These photos are a disgrace.

But while they seem adamant to not feed hungry children, let's remind ourselves of contracts they have splashed on in recent months...
In April, the Tories gave £250 million to Ayanda Capital for 50 million face masks - which were later found to be unsafe for NHS workers.

Labour highlighted this as one of the early examples of cronyism given links to the Tory party.

theguardian.com/world/2020/aug…
Read 10 tweets
30 Nov 20
👥This week in cronyism - and it's not off to a good start.

Sometimes I think this Tory govt imagines we'll all just stop noticing their catalogue of cronyism. They seem to have nothing to say in response.

Stories keep unfolding - Labour will keep holding them to account. 👇
Shocking news just days ago that Hancock's former neighbour won a Covid contract despite no prior experience in medical supplies. He sent a Whatsapp message to the Health Sec. in March asking for a contract.

theguardian.com/world/2020/nov…
That's not the only crony story linked to the Health Secretary this month.

It has also been recently uncovered that he gave a key Covid role to lobbyist pal without even declaring any conflict of interest.

thetimes.co.uk/article/matt-h…
Read 9 tweets
29 Nov 20
We’ve been here before - the clock is running down for the Tories to reach a deal with the EU. Not getting a deal would be one of the biggest political failures of recent history. This degree of reckless incompetence with this Tory government cannot be ruled out.
To end up empty handed without a trade deal and with tariffs would essentially be economic sabotage of British manufacturing industries from their own government. Do Tory ministers care? The current Chancellor didn’t even mention it this week. Pitiful.
Back in February 2019, Michael Gove warned that farmers may never recover from a no deal scenario. Yet fast forward to now, and the added stress the Tories are putting many of our country’s farmers under is unforgivably cruel. scotsman.com/news/politics/…
Read 7 tweets
22 Nov 20
Another week in Tory government cronyism - and one where the term "chumocracy" is becoming far too familiar. A thread on what's been happening.👇
This isn't just a matter of waste or cronyism - it's a matter of public trust, and it has a huge impact on our public services. My piece this morning in @Independent lays out why this government has got to tackle this now.
independent.co.uk/voices/boris-j…
The health secretary is the latest figure today to face questions over ‘chumocracy’ as it turns out he quietly gave his university friend a job. Answers are urgently needed here.

thetimes.co.uk/article/matt-h…
Read 10 tweets
15 Nov 20
There’s only a handful of days left for our dangerously distracted government to deliver the oven-ready deal they promised. Leaving without a deal would be devastating for our industries and for consumers - and would have deep repercussions for the UK. 1/6
It takes zero political skill to leave with no deal. None. It requires no strategy, detailed understanding, diplomacy, negotiation, co-operation or vision. It would be the ultimate admission of Tory failure and it’s absolutely damning that it still can’t be ruled out. 2/6
To end up empty-handed with no deal would be devastating for British industries from farming to manufacturing. Useless Tory ministers tour TV studios admitting they have not even modelled the impact of no deal on our industries. They should hang their heads in shame. 3/6
Read 6 tweets
11 Nov 20
Just now at #PMQs @Keir_Starmer spoke about NEW figures of £130 million spent on comms consultants.

As we wait for the results of the National Audit Office investigation I've called for in the summer, here's a reminder of how this is just the tip of the iceberg 👇
The most recent one, reported only yesterday - was one for £670,000 handed out to a family friend of Dominic Cummings with little experience.
ft.com/content/6159d5…
Then there's also this one with Public First - a £840,000 contract to a company owned by James Frayne, who has previously worked with Cummings, Gove and who co-wrote the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto. It did not go out to tender.

opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-…
Read 6 tweets

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