Shadow Transport Secretary Sadiq Khan MP, responding to reports of the Coalition’s plan to raise the free bus pass age earlier than planned, said:

“David Cameron owes the public an apology today.  His mock outrage during the General Election campaign has been shown up as a cynical and misleading act, and his manifesto commitment to protecting concessionary fares as a sham.

“But more importantly, this news will cause anxiety for hundreds of thousands who could be affected – having misled them during the election campaign, David Cameron owes it to them to come clean now and confirm unequivocally what his plans are for free bus passes.”

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham MP responding to the Government’s confusion over the cancer guarantee said:

"This debacle confirms what we suspected - that the Tories are making up health policy as they go along. The Government's position on the cancer guarantee is now a complete shambles.

“First David Cameron refuses to say whether the guarantee will be scrapped. Then his health minister steps in to say that there is 'no question' of it going. And now his official spokesman tells us the 'real position': it might stay or it might go, but the Government refuses to make a decision.

“They can twist and turn all they like, but they can't hide the fact that they refuse to give a clear guarantee of fast access to a specialist for people with suspected cancer."

Responding to this month’s unemployment figures, Yvette Cooper Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said:
 
“These figures show just why it is dangerous and callous to cut support for jobs and the economy.
 
“May's small fall in unemployment is welcome and reflects the extra support Labour put into the economy as it started to come out of recession.
 
“But there's still little sign of private sector job growth, with jobs in areas like construction still being heavily hit. And this is before the big spending cuts and the surge in young people leaving education this summer.
 
“Cutting 90,000 youth jobs and hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs while the private sector is still so fragile will condemn many people to a lifetime on the dole.
 
“In the 90s the Tories said unemployment was a price worth paying to cut inflation - now they clearly think it's a price worth paying to bring down the deficit.”

Shadow Justice Secretary Jack Straw MP responding to David Cameron’s admission that the Government’s sentencing review will put fewer criminals in jail said:

“Around 60,000 people a year are given a short prison sentence, typically for offences like assault, domestic violence, burglary, theft and drink driving. Victims of crime don’t consider short sentences to be ‘pretty meaningless’. If David Cameron wants to cut short sentences by 10% that means freeing thousands of people who have committed these crimes. So he needs to answer a simple question: which of the offenders currently serving a short prison sentence does he say should be let of out jail?

“Why does he not recognise now what he certainly recognised in the election campaign: that well over 90% of those who are given short prison sentences have previous convictions; they have been given fines or community punishments but have gone on to re-offend. It is an abdication to say that these people should simply be given another community punishment when it is plain – especially to the magistrates and judges – that they have not worked for those offenders.

“David Cameron justifies his soft policy by saying it is too expensive to put people in prison. But he forgets that there is a cost attached to crime – which criminals cannot commit while they are in jail.”

Alistair Darling MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer responding to reports today that the Office of Budget Responsibility revised its forecast on public sector job losses said:

“There were already serious questions about the independence of the Office of Budget Responsibility. Now its very credibility is at stake. It’s clear from the revised figures that the public sector job losses will be 175,000 greater than the Prime Minister claimed last week.

“Right from the start the Tories used the OBR not just as part of the Government but as part of the Conservative Party. They have succeeded in strangling what could have been a good idea at its birth.”

Westminster City Council has appointed a ‘Head of Government Relations’ at a salary of more than either of Westminster’s two Members of Parliament, Karen Buck and Mark Field.

The Council’s new Head of Government Relations will be paid at a rate of £5,500 per month, equivalent to an annual salary of £66,000. Karen Buck MP and Mark Field MP earn £65,737.

Last month Westminster City Council announced cuts to front line services totalling £60 million over the next three years, with a further £10 million a year of cuts expected following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s June Budget.

This month, 66 City Guardians are being made redundant to save £2.1 million a year. Yet Westminster Conservatives run one of the biggest Press and Publicity Departments in London, spending over £3 million a year.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said: “Why does the Council need a ‘Head of Government Relations’ when Westminster has two experienced and well-respected MPs in Labour’s Karen Buck and Conservative Mark Field? Both MPs are perfectly capable of arguing Westminster’s corner with Ministers and Civil Servants and they have years’ of experience of successfully lobbying for Westminster causes.

“At a time when Council services are being cut and when hundreds of loyal Council staff have already been made redundant and with hundreds more sure to follow, how on earth can it be a priority for the Council to appoint a Head of Government Relations at £66,000 a year when Westminster already has two MPs doing the job?”

Labour MP John Denham has hit out at Southampton’s Tory councillors for giving up on Southampton’s secondary schools when they should be leading the campaign.

Mr Denham said: “During the General Election campaign David Cameron was quoted in the Echo as saying there was “no doubt” Southampton’s BSF programme would go ahead. Southampton’s Tories should be making their party leader keep the promise he made rather than simply throwing in the towel. They have given up before the fight’s even started.

“Two months ago the Conservative Council was going to go ahead with BSF; spending £2.4million preparing plans for eight schools. If our children needed the schools two months ago they need them today.

“The council is now trying to tell schools that a lick of paint will do instead of new buildings, IT and classrooms. Any new investment is welcome, but our children deserves better than this.”

Southampton’s Labour MPs have written to Liberal Democrats councillors across Hampshire urging them to oppose the Coalition Government’s plan to raise VAT to 20%. The letter criticises the Lib Dem leadership for u-turning on their support of the Tories’ plan to increase VAT and invites local Liberal Democrats to join Labour’s campaign against the VAT rise, and, if they feel strongly, join the Labour Party.

John Denham said: “Lots of Liberal Democrat voters are disappointed that Nick Clegg chose to put power before principles and join the Tories in coalition, and I’m sure many Liberal Democrat councillors feel the same ? it can’t be much fun for them taking the flack from their constituents over their leaders’ decision to prop up the Tories.”

Alan Whitehead said: “When offered the choice between standing up for what he, and his party, believed in, or becoming Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg shamelessly sold out. We’re offering local Liberal Democrats the chance to take a stand and oppose the unfair VAT rise.”

The text of the letter reads: “During the General Election, your party rightly campaigned against the reckless and regressive measures in this budget, specifically the raising of VAT. Your party Leader was photographed in front of a poster opposing a VAT increase.

During the election Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh (and now Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change), said, “We will not have to raise VAT to deliver our promises. Let me repeat that: Our plans do not require a rise in VAT.”

I am sure you will be as dismayed as I am that Liberal Democrat MPs are now going back on the promises they made to the voters. Nothing that has happened since the election justifies the u-turn in Liberal Democrat policy.

Everyone will be hit by the VAT rise, with pensioners in particular left without any new measures to help them meet increased costs.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies confirms that as a result of the VAT rise, the less you have, the harder you will be hit, with the poorest 10% seeing their income fall by twice as much as the richest 10%.

Your party has always wanted to be regarded as a progressive party that stands for fairness. You will know that if the VAT increase is implemented it will no longer be possible to claim that the Liberal Democrats are either progressive or fair.

I do urge you to do everything possible to prevent VAT being increased as the coalition plans by persuading fellow Liberal Democrats to oppose it.

By the time you receive this letter, the VAT rise may have been confirmed by Parliament, but there will still be time to prevent its implementation in January 2011.

If, however you recognise that Liberal Democrats MPs have mislead and let down voters then please do join the Labour Party where you can continue the fight for fairness and progressive values.”

Angela Smith MP has been honoured for her commitment to tackling cruelty to animals. The Protecting Animals in Democracy (PAD) project has presented Angela with a Certificate in recognition of her full support for their VOTE4ANIMALS 2010 manifesto in the run-up to the May General Election.

The manifesto included policies such as support for the hunting ban, the abolition of battery cages and reducing the number of animals that suffer in experiments.

Angela Smith said: “I am very pleased to be awarded the Protecting Animals in Democracy Certificate. Cruelty to animals is a shame on our society and our political system needs to do more to protect animals from abuse. I am dedicated to representing the many constituents who write to me about animal welfare problems. Many animals suffer because of political decisions, so I believe it is vital to speak up for these voiceless victims.”

PAD?s Dr Dan Lyons said: “The way we treat animals is a fundamental indication of the state of our society. Angela?s support for compassionate politics is, therefore, a sign that they have the character and ethics much needed to stand in Parliament and help enhance the integrity of our political system.

“We look forward to working with Angela and other conscientious representatives to build a truly fair society where our fellow animals are treated as individual beings worthy of respect.”

Paul Blomfield MP has reacted to today’s announcement by Vince Cable that the coalition government will explore the option of a graduate tax to reform higher education funding. Mr Blomfield has long been a supporter of a graduate tax to replace tuition fees. But commenting on whether Vince Cable’s proposals would create a fairer university funding system, Mr Blomfield said that the devil will be in the details of the proposals.

Paul Blomfield said: “I have consistently argued for graduate tax because it offers a fairer funding system, but really the devil is going to be in the detail in what the government are proposing. For me there are three tests for any new funding system. Will it enable all students who can benefit to go to university? Will students be able to choose their university on the basis of ability, not cost? Will it provide our universities with the funding that they need to maintain the quality of teaching and research, and to compete internationally?

“Behind the graduate tax headlines, there are worrying signs of the Government’s real intentions. They are targeting universities for some of the deepest cuts, they are reducing places when demand is growing, and they are encouraging the development of private universities. As I outlined in my maiden speech, university funding will be one of the key issues for this Parliament and I will argue strongly for the role our universities play in transforming the opportunities for young people and contributing to our economic success.”

The decision to cut millions of pounds from Labour’s schools building programme will have knock on effects for Surrey. Schools in the Spelthorne area had begun the process of getting bids into the Building Schools for the Future now will probably have to wait many years before the current unsatisfactory buildings they use can be replaced. Specifically Mathew Arnold, St Pauls, Bishop Wand, Thamesmead, Sunbury Manor, and Thomas Knyvett, were getting ready to join the programme.

All across Surrey the demand for additional building to meet an anticipated increase in pupil numbers will not now be able to be adequately met. At the moment many classes are conducted in unsuitable prefabs often with graffiti and holes in the walls and windows. Very often in winter pupils have to sit in these classrooms with their coats on because there is no adequate heating.

Despite Education Minister Michael Gove’s claims that there is no link between poor accommodation and academic failure, recent research indicates a clear relationship exists. It is notable that for all the hundreds of schools about to lose their desperately needed building programme there is no apparent cut in money for his proposed academy schools. Clearly Mr Gove intended to use the money cut from the school building programme to pay for his academies and free schools. As a result in parts of Surrey we will see academies in bright new buildings, selecting only the brightest students, while the present Surrey schools soldier on in unsatisfactory buildings. So much for the Cameron/Clegg coalition claim to be promoting equal opportunities for all.

Surrey County Council saluted Labour’s Building Schools for The Future saying that it “provided a basis for the transformation of education and learning” in the County. It must now demand from the Con/Lib Government adequate funding to upgrade Surrey’s schools and adequately provide for a growing school population.

Angela Smith MP has today voted against cuts of £125 million which will impact on policing in South Yorkshire.

Today MPs debated Tory Lib Dem proposals to cut £125 million of the Government’s core police funding. These cuts were proposed despite both the Tories and the Lib Dems supporting the current police grant, which was passed without a vote back in February.

In South Yorkshire it means South Yorkshire Police will see their budget cut from £110.2 million to £107.4 million, a £2.8 million cut, equivalent to a 4.5% cut in police officer numbers.

Commenting Angela, said: “At the last election we were committed to giving the police the resources to maintain front line police numbers. This Government has made no such commitment, and in opposition the Lib Dems called for 3,000 more police officers.

Unfortunately, one of the first acts of the new coalition is to slash the police budget for this year. This was a budget which they supported in the run up to the General Election.

“This is clearly unfair as local police forces like South Yorkshire Police, have already set their precepts and will now have to make savings which will have an impact on police numbers and the services they can provide the people of Barnsley and Sheffield.

“I opposed this new funding package today as it does not protect the interests of the people of in north Sheffield and Barnsley.”

Shadow Policing Minister David Hanson MP said: “The decision to cut the Home Office Police Grant, the Capital Grant and the Counter Terrorism Budget is part of a sustained attack by the new Government on neighbourhood policing.

“The funding allocation was supported by both the Tories and the Lib Dems whilst in opposition but opposed now they are in Government.

“We already know the Tory Lib Dem Government intend to take 25 per cent out of the Home Office budget and this will undoubtedly have an impact on frontline policing.

“Under the previous government crime fell by 36 per cent and there were record numbers of police on the beat. This cut will mean less police on the beat, working to make our communities safer.”

Angela Smith has condemned the Liberal Democrats and Tories for voting against a plan to protect local pensioners from the VAT hike.

The Commons’ vote came as new research showed Britain’s pensioners will be stung by an £8 billion VAT bill over the course of this Parliament.

There are many thousands of pensioners in Barnsley and Sheffield, all of whom will be affected by the rise in VAT from January 2011.

Worse still, figures hidden in the Budget show that local pensioners will be hit every year by changes that hit them in the pocket:

* From January, pensioners will face a £400 million VAT tax bill which they will have to start paying months before any increase in the Basic State Pension. Pensioners face paying nearly £8 billion in VAT over the parliament.

* In 2011, weekly pension increases fall behind VAT-fuelled price rises.

* In 2012, pension rises fall behind price rises again, after the Treasury quietly changed the way the so-called ‘triple lock’ up-rates pensions in practice.

* By 2013, pensioners face cuts to Disability Living Allowance benefits, which may total £350 million a year by the end of the Parliament, alongside cuts to Housing Benefit and the lower uprating of public service pensions and benefits.

On Tuesday night Angela Smith MP sought to protect local pensioners by supporting an amendment to the Finance Bill which would have delayed the VAT increase until a proper plan for shielding pensioners was in place.

But Liberal Democrat and Tory MPs ganged up to block the move.

Pensioners in South Yorkshire will now start paying £33 million extra in VAT a month starting in January.

Angela Smith MP said: “This is a betrayal of our local pensioners by the Tory-Liberal government. Our retired community has paid in for a lifetime and is now being hit hard in the pocket.

“I wanted a plan in place to protect local pensioners from the £8 billion VAT bill but the Liberal Democrats refused to help.

“I can’t believe the Tories and Liberals are trying to disguise the tax bill with a few promises which on closer inspection just don’t add up. The Budget small print says pensioners keep on getting hit every year with a host of Treasury tricks.”

Clive Betts MP (Sheffield South East) today announced that, together with local Labour Councillors Isobel Bowler and David Barker, he has launched a full public consultation with local people on TESCO’s application to build a new store at Halfway.

Clive Betts said: “As local elected representatives, we were surprised when Tesco announced their planning application to build a superstore at Halfway. We are determined to ensure that local people have the maximum opportunity to have their views heard.

We have already met Tesco’s representatives and, separately, met senior Sheffield City Council planners. There are many complex issues raised by the proposal.”

Councillor Isobel Bowler said: “Local people are entitled to have as much information as possible about the planning issues for this site and the whole area, so that they can make an informed and influential response. We are writing to every local resident providing a detailed briefing and advising them how they can best make their views known.”

Councillor David Barker said: “As Chair of the local Community Assembly, I will ensure that there is a public meeting about this planning application by TESCO to enable local people to ask questions and get full answers about the complex issues which need to be considered.”

Clive Betts added: “Any elected representative who just says that they’re for or against this proposal ? without having considered all the issues, or by not ensuring that local people have all the relevant information ? is simply irresponsible.”

Paul Blomfield MP paid a visit to Abbeydale Grange School to meet the school’s budding student politicians who were candidates in their Mock Election. Abbeydale Grange’s mock election coincided with the General Election on 7 May. Five students contested the election and stood for the Labour Party, the Green Party, the Conservative Party, Respect and the Pirate Party.

Dahood Gaffar who stood for Labour was the successful candidate. As a winning prize Paul Blomfield has invited Dahood to cut the ribbon at the official opening of his new constituency office on Friday 16th July.

Paul Blomfield MP said: “Having a school mock election is a great way of making politics exciting and creating interest. Politics isn’t just what happens in Westminster, it’s about working together to make a difference. But first you need people to come forward and stand for election. These students did and so I wanted to come here and congratulate them. It’s brilliant that they’re so interested in politics. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll see them in the Town Hall or the House of Commons!”

“Abbeydale Grange has a great as a great tradition of organising mock elections. In my first few weeks as a pupil at the school, I went to the hustings for the October 1964 General Election, and I’m glad to see the tradition is still alive. The turnout was more than 90% which was so much better than the actual election and a great tribute to the community spirit in the school.”