General Press Cycle

[Nicholas Eden (LAB)]

I have often said, from the backbenches, that the inquiry into the Hillsborough Disaster is insufficient in scope and in scale, it does not cover the right time period for example. I am therefore very pleased to be able to say to my constituents and to everyone in Liverpool that the tireless work of MPs from across the Mersey, including myself, Linda Chalker, and numerous Opposition MPs is being rewarded with action. I would like to formally invite the Hillsborough Justice Campaign to Number 10 Downing Street for a meeting with myself and the Prime Minister to divine our next steps for a proper inquiry into the deaths of so many of our loved ones and members of our community.

[Ruth Murphy (LAB)]

The Foreign Secretary's announcement today has been much welcome in my constituency and by my constituents.

We still remain sceptical. Today, I was attacked by the Home Secretary for 'politicising' the issue and former Tory Ministers have called mine and the Foreign Secretary's constituents 'workshy hoodlums' to no condemnation. So while we'll take today's announcement with a massive tonne of salt, this is a welcome development: I know the Hillsborough Justice Campaign will work tirelessly to ensure we do not see another stitch up. 

It is important that I remind my constituents and others across Merseyside and the country who are passionate about this issue that should legal proceedings occur, we must not comment on them in order to ensure said proceedings are executed as smoothly and fairly as possible.

[William Summer (CON)]

Earlier today the Shadow Health Secretary told reporters that she is confused by the Government's position in response to the HIV AIDS crisis. I have simply this to say. 

The scientists who received £100 million in funding for HIV-AIDS research aren't confused about the Government's position.

The millions of British people who are now being presented with more information than ever before about how to prevent the spread of HIV-AIDS aren't confused about the Government's position.

The HIV-AIDS advocacy groups and charities that we worked with to build our crisis plan aren't confused about the Government's position.

Maybe Labour is genuinely confused, or maybe they're acting confused for political purposes. I don't really care. 

What matters is this: those with this disease are getting the help they need, the British public are getting the information they need, and the scientists and health professionals on the frontlines of this fight are getting the support they need. When it comes to the Government's commitment to fight this epidemic, there is zero confusion.

[Nicholas Eden (LAB)]

Whilst Mr Cardigan continues to try and restore our economy one constituency at a time with more and more Party HQs I would strongly suggest to him that he actually try and formulate some policy rather than continuing to rely on gimmicks.

[Nicholas Eden (LAB)]

I have just had a meeting with the Prime Minister and members of the Hillsborough Justice Committee where we listened to all the views that were offered by my constituents and members of the public from across the city of Liverpool. The Prime Minister and I are in agreement with the Committee that there must be a full and independent inquiry which is at liberty to examine all the facts and evidence before publishing the whole lot with recommendations for criminal action, wherever criminal liability could rest, and reopening the coroner's inquest. Like all MPs from Liverpool whether we be Tory or Labour I stand with my constituents and my city at this difficult time and I promise that you'll never walk alone.

[Marcus Redgrave (LAB)]

I am proud to have been appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science. For a lad who left school at 16 with little prospects, becoming Shadow Education Secretary is a testament to the equality of opportunity offered by Labour. 

My driving mission will be expanding education to those deprived by this Tory government. For eleven years, this government has failed to invest in the futures of many. Too many leave school blocked off from universities thanks to inequality, too many are taught in worn-down schools without proper resources and too many are let down by a failure to invest in skills education. 

Under Labour, it will be different. We’ll hire 15,000 new teachers, invest in skills education and make sure our education system is there for the many, not the few.

[Ruth Murphy (LAB)]

The new Secretary of State for Security once said his boss had let "Iraq, the Soviet Union and South Africa all fall into chaos." As well as insulting the Foreign Secretary, he called the Foreign Secretary's own constituents 'workshy hoodlums.' 

Dylan Macmillan has refused to defend himself or his constituents. That the Prime Minister has made this move so soon after meeting the Hillsborough Justice Campaign is a slap in the face to my constituents and to the Foreign Secretary's. 

[Tommy Dawson (LAB)]

First the Prime Minister refused to condemn backbench members of his own party for vile, racist remarks directed at the hero Nelson Mandela and their clear sympathy for the white supremacist Apartheid order. Now he's promoted a person who not two weeks ago referred to those in a region that do real work, that create real wealth as "workshy hoodlums" to a frontbench position. Perhaps the Prime Minister is simply spineless, but I think it's more likely that deep down he actually believes these things - after all, he did join these people in division time and time again over the past 12 years. 

[William Summer (CON)]

I have just left the House of Commons, where I had the privilege of introducing the Government's Misuse of Drugs Act. This legislation sends a powerful message that this Conservative Government is resolutely committed to the rule of law, to keeping our communities safe, and protecting every child in Great Britain. Our legislation imposes the harshest ever sentences against those who violate our laws by selling controlled substances, and for the first time introduces mandatory minimum sentences for the same offense. At the same time, the Government is taking the revolutionary step of integrating rehabilitation into the criminal justice system, reducing rates of recidivism and giving youth offenders a second chance. Together, the Government is working to create a healthier, safer, and stronger Britain.

[Marcus Redgrave (LAB)]

On paper, it should be immensely reassuring for a former Defence Secretary and Secretary-General of NATO to return to the government benches, particularly after the security breaches of the last year.

However, we cannot be reassured by the new Security Minister. As Defence Secretary a decade ago, he oversaw policies that resulted in us being poorly prepared for the Argentinian invasion of the Falklands. 

He also recently criticised the Foreign Secretary for letting “Iraq, the Soviet Union and South Africa fall into chaos”. It seems we now have a Security Minister with a record of failure and of undermining his colleagues.