Press Office of Finn Armstrong

[Martin Rigby]

Press Office of Finn Armstrong MP

Member of Parliament for East Lothian

Labour Party Member

[Martin Rigby]

Armstrong: I have never had confidence in this Government

WESTMINSTER -- Finn Armstrong, the Labour MP for East Lothian, recently spoke on the floor of the House of Commons on the no confidence motion tabled on an opposition day by the Leader of the Opposition. With a theme centered around the "me-first" mentality that Armstrong persuasively argues defines the Conservative Government, the senior Scottish Labour MP skewered the record of subsequent Tory leaders and policies. After touching on the agenda of austerity foisted upon the British people, Armstrong said, "This band of hypocritical opportunists have proven time and time again that they are willing to throw convention out the window, willing to abandon their purported principles to climb the ladder of power."

After declaring that he has no confidence in the Government, Finn Armstrong went to speak to the press outside the chamber of the Commons. "Yes, both parties will be electing new leadership in the coming days and weeks. But that is no excuse to keep this out-of-touch failure of a government around for a day longer than we can prevent it. If that is the best defence the Tories can offer to their extended grip on power, it just shows their true opportunist colours."

Armstrong concluded his remarks, saying that, "The clear course of action is to give the British people a say on the direction the Government should take post-Brexit. Only Labour will be fighting to end austerity, strengthen social services, and enhance the quality of life for all Britons."

[Martin Rigby]

Armstrong named Shadow Chancellor, outlines priorities

WESTMINSTER -- With the recent election of Emily Greenwood as Leader of the Opposition, a new shadow cabinet was announced and notably included Scottish Labour MP for East Lothian, Finn Armstrong, as Shadow Chancellor. Armstrong, who has previously served in Gordon Brown's government and on the opposition frontbench under Ed Milliband, was "deeply humbled and honoured" to have been asked to serve in such an important role as Shadow Chancellor. "Emily ran on a platform of bringing Britain back together, and I could not agree more that building sustainable, equitable economic growth in this new economic era is vital to that mission," Armstrong said.

The new Shadow Chancellor then commented on his plans for building that inclusive economic growth that is at the core of Labour's promise to voters. "First, we must end austerity. No ifs or buts. Period. When the government reduces funding for vital social services in real terms, it means that our citizens must make do with less, and that places an especially onerous burden on those who are less fortunate or who are left behind. To end austerity while maintaining budgetary sanity, we will ensure the strongest shoulders bear the heaviest tax burden. Cracking down on tax evasion will be one of my priorities, as will be ensuring that low-income earners won't see a tax increase."

Finn Armstrong then commented on what's been dubbed "the new economy," saying, "Adding protections for the self-employed, contractors, and everyday workers is a must in the economy of the 21st century. Labour will extend the national living wage to under-25s while enhancing trade union protections across Britain. And, of course, we will invest in the green sector and disincentivize pollution and carbon energy sources to reach zero net emissions by 2030."

[Martin Rigby]

Armstrong praises Greenwood's performance, slams Tory lies in Parliament

WESTMINSTER -- Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Finn Armstrong, Labour MP for East Lothian, recently spoke to the press following the first Prime Minister's Questions to feature new Labour Leader Emily Greenwood and Prime Minister Sir Arthur Stanley. "To be perfectly frank, I think Emily did a great job exposing the Tory u-turn on Heathwick, criticising their job cutting and outsourcing agenda, and standing up to the heartless Tory plans on the Winter Fuel Payment," Armstrong told the media.

Most notably, however, was the resignation of the Work and Pensions Secretary, Milly Calvert, following the intense scrutiny of her brief provided by Emily Greenwood during PMQs. "Emily saw through the Tory lies, innuendos, and half-truths. Labour's leader called out the onerous burden that the new WFP scheme would place on pensioners, and Britain is better for it today."

But Armstrong didn't stop there, going a step further and saying, "I join my colleagues on the Labour frontbench in calling for a formal apology from the Prime Minister and the retraction of the disastrous Winter Fuel program that will leave pensioners out in the cold. The stealth benefit cut of £100 million is unconscionable - and the fact a Tory minister spread falsehoods about that plan goes to show how they don't care about ordinary Britons."