General Press Cycle

[Nicholas Eden (LAB)]

Has anyone seen the Leader of the Opposition? Does anyone know where he is? Does anyone even know who he is? How can the public trust a man to be Prime Minister if they don't see him actually do anything? How can the public trust a party when their leader doesn't stake out any actual positions on any of the issues of the day?

[Ruth Murphy (LAB)]

Rigorous Opposition is important. The government of the day needs someone putting their feet to the fire and ensuring they are briefed and ready to adapt with responding to the pressing issues of the day.

I haven’t been in the brief long, but I am happy with the impact I’ve already made: from getting the government to consult on the roles schools can have in responding to the HIV-AIDS crisis to forcing them to draft up a comprehensive plan on tackling health inequality which has risen under their tenure, we are already seeing this Opposition make real, tangible changes in people’s lives. I look forward to seeing just what we could do in government.

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I have just been to the House where I responded to the Health Secretary's HIV-AIDS action plan. The opposition wholeheartedly welcomes the steps outlined today and we know they will save lives. But now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back. To truly ensure the British people are protected from this virus, the government needs an approach that is more comprehensive, responsive and collaborative

[William Summer (CON)]

Ruth Murphy ended her interview with The BBC by claiming that the Government is acting as if, "we're faced with easy choices." Mrs. Murphy is, for whatever reason, insinuating that the Government is pretending for political purposes that all is good, and that our only plan of action is to cross our fingers and hope for the best. The reality is this: in literally the first few sentences of the Chancellor's budget speech, he made it quite clear that the Government recognizes the challenging times Britain faces, and the Government has acted accordingly by building a budget that responds to those challenges. Once again, we see a Labour Party that is far more comfortable relying on rhetoric than they are arguments rooted in fact. 

While Labour will undoubtedly continue to capitalize on every media appearance they get to spin their narrative, this Conservative Government will remain hard at work cutting your taxes, creating good paying jobs, and supporting small business. You don't have to take my word for it, check the Government's budget for yourself.

[Alex Cardigan MP (LD)]

The Liberal Party, and now the Democrats, have always stood with our brothers and sisters in Southern Africa. Their struggle is one which is a real fight against oppression, for real change and democracy. Just as we were calling for meaningful action on Rhodesia in the 70s, and knew the dangers of Vietnamese intervention in the 60s, we are calling for real action now in support of the anti-Apartheid movement. We are on the verge of change - it must be embraced, not tiptoed towards. Having travelled around South Africa myself, I know and have seen the hateful barbarism of their system first-hand, and this is a topic of passion for me. That is why I will be joining anti-Apartheid protesters outside the South African Embassy later this afternoon, and encourage fellow MPs to join me. 

Any Conservatives willing to help dispel their party's shocking record of off-cuff, yet revealing comments about the South African regime, are more than welcome to join me. I do not agree with Terry Dicks MP that Nelson Mandela is a "Black terrorist" or with Teddy Taylor MP that he "should be shot". For real action and real anti-racist activism, join me.

[William Summer (CON)]

I've just been to the floor of the House, where I've introduced the Government's Sexual Offense Act 1991. Britain is a tolerant and understanding society, but there is no room for tolerance when it comes to sexual violence. This legislation ensures that the law is on the side of victims of rape and sexual violence, and I encourage all MPs to join the Government in passing it.

[Ruth Murphy (LAB)]

Michael Heseltine's bluff has been called. The government has hidden behind a report which is not comprehensive and whose findings they have been interpreting selectively. Advisors advise and Ministers decide - but in this case Ministers haven't been making enough decisions and making those decisions quickly enough. 

Whether it's on schools, the distribution of condoms or expanding education and information to at risk groups, the government's approach is still lacking despite the improvements that have been established in their new strategy. The Labour Party will continue pushing for a public health orientated response to the HIV-AIDS crisis that is more comprehensive, responsive and collaborative.

[Steve]

The main bit of this bunch is Murphy and Croft having some kind of shooting match but both aiming slightly off from one another. Neither really hits a killer blow, but there's enough snark on both sides that the rivalry is getting plenty of press attention. Murphy probably has the slight upper hand purely for being more focused and for effectively digging at an issue.

Also a very decent PR from Tommy Dawson who pulls on a thread that Labour really could have capitalised on more effectively than it did.

+1 XP for Dawson, Murphy, and Croft.

[Ruth Murphy (LAB)]

It was a pleasure to talk to the King's Fund about Labour's proposals to tackle health inequality in line with our international and moral commitments: we need updated data, to put targets into law and to ensure the NHS is more proactive in rooting out problems before they arise. Health inequality puts a strain on taxpayers and our NHS - it's time the government finally has a strategy itself to deal with it.

I will continue to press Mr. Heseltine to outline proposals of his own.

[Tommy Dawson (LAB)]

The next Labour Government will undertake the boldest program to tackle health inequality and injustice since Nye Bevan and that wonderful Labour Government created the NHS, itself. Our Shadow Health Secretary's proposal - made in close consultation with the Kings Fund and poverty charities - constitutes a coordinated strategy to tackle public health issues where they begin: in our communities. We recognize that the profound inequality that has been the hallmark of the last 12 years of Tory Government is not only morally repugnant but also has had a disastrous impact on every facet of our society, particularly harming the health of our most vulnerable. 

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In Tory Britain, while the few are living longer than ever the many have been systematically deprived as indicated by the increased lifespans for the rich and a decline in life expectancy for many working class communities. Labour will not accept this: we will bring Family Hubs closer to our NHS, creating Family Centres that will provide support to low-income children all throughout their life, provide maternal care and support to expecting mothers, and we will recommit to a fully universal NHS, free at the point of use by scrapping prescription charges and ending the regressive Tory scheme which imposed charges on optical and dental care.  This plan is part of a commitment to dramatically reduce health inequality by 2000, as we see the potential for the next century to be one in which all enjoy the fullness of life, all are free to self-actualise, all free from the scourges of poverty and despair, and all can enjoy living in a society committed to uplifting the many, not pushing some down so that a few may rise.

[William Summer (CON)]

This just in: Labour's Deputy Leader is formally endorsing the Government's position on creating Family Hubs. In fact, he'll double down and make them even larger. Good on him, he recognizes what Mrs. Thatcher did nearly ten years ago: it's always better where the Tories are.