Osborne has a choice: cut taxes for the few or hit three million working families with tax credit cuts - McDonnell

John McDonnell MP, Labours Shadow Chancellor, speaking after Treasury Questions in the House of Commons, where the Chancellor refused to confirm his reversal of cuts in tax credit to three million families, said:

“It has taken three months for George Osborne to finally say he is prepared to listen to Labour’s warnings on tax credit cuts. He now has to hear what we are saying – that if he u-turns fairly and in full, then we will support him.

“George Osborne has a choice before him today, he can push on with his tax giveaways to big corporations and the wealthiest in our country, or he can reverse those tax breaks to the few and go for a lower surplus target in 2019/20 while sticking to his self-imposed Charter, and still be in a position to not hit three million working families with these tax credit cuts.

“The ball is now in Osborne’s court.”

Ends

They need too step back and reconsider

In the same week the Government celebrate expanding our national parks, they vote to allow drilling under them - Nandy/McCarthy

Lisa Nandy MP Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary and Kerry McCarthy MP Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, commenting on today’s Statutory Instrument on fracking, said:

“Today in the House of Commons, the Government u-turned and tried to use a parliamentary backdoor to sneak through fracking regulations which are totally inadequate. This is despite agreeing to a crucial Labour amendment to the Infrastructure Bill earlier this year. Labour’s amendment ensured several safeguards had to be met before fracking could take place.

“These new regulations will allow shale gas drilling to take place in drinking water protection zones, important wildlife sites and below our beautiful national parks and stunning world heritage sites.

“So, in the same week the Government celebrate expanding our national parks, they vote to allow drilling under them.

“We absolutely believe these weakened regulations fail to provide critical environmental safeguards, safeguards which must be re-introduced before any further developments in fracking can take place.

“Labour will be objecting to these and as we believe this is such a serious issue we will be asking for a vote of the whole House next week.“