News from The Labour Party

Mandelson: Government can be a force for good

Lord Mandelson, Labour’s Business Secretary, today chaired a press briefing with key ministers to chart progress since the last Queen’s Speech and preview Labour’s Party Political Broadcast.

Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, and John Healey set out the action the Government has been taking on employment, housing and social care.

Labour’s Party Political Broadcast, ‘Fighters and Believers’ will air tonight on BBC One and ITV at 1855 and on BBC Two at 1755 hrs.

Lord Mandelson said:

“Government can be a force for good – to secure economic prosperity and build a fairer society. Not small government or big government, but smarter – reformed and responsive – government.

“We’ve shown since the last Queen’s Speech what we can achieve together. When the global recession began, there were stark predictions on the likely levels of unemployment, repossessions and company insolvencies.

“But we chose action – investing £5bn to help people back to work; and helping 300,000 people to stay in their homes by providing help and advice with paying their mortgage.

“Compared with the recession of the 1990s, the fall in employment is lower, the repossession rate is lower, and the company insolvency rate is lower.

“Our timely action to tackle the global financial crisis is working.”

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