General Election
Debate between Ben Coleman and John Whittingdale(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Ben Coleman
I am not here to say what should happen to the free breakfast clubs in secondary schools—we can have that debate another time. I am here to respond to anybody in this Chamber who says that the Labour party is not keeping its promises; I am reading out those promises word by word.
I will talk about sewage, of which there is plenty. The manifesto says:
“Britain’s coasts, rivers, and lakes are being polluted by illegal sewage dumping… Labour will put failing water companies under special measures to clean up our water.”
We have brought in the Water (Special Measures) Bill, which has had its Second Reading and will strengthen regulation. Water companies and bosses can be fined; we can ban bonuses; and there will be new environmental standards. It is all there in our manifesto and in what we have done.
Sir John Whittingdale
I want to give the hon. Gentleman a little more time. He is very keen to quote from the Labour manifesto. Will he comment on the third paragraph of the page introducing that manifesto, which states:
“It contains a tax lock for working people—a pledge not to raise rates of income tax, national insurance or VAT.”?
Ben Coleman
This is where—[Interruption.] I’m sorry; does the right hon. Gentleman want me to answer the question? [Interruption.]