Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on the government’s announcement about support for victims of domestic abuse, said:

“We welcome the fact that the Home Secretary has taken some steps today. Labour will be supporting the #YouAreNotAlone campaign and a specific helpline is a positive development as is the technology support.

“However, these government measures do not go anywhere near far enough to provide the emergency support necessary to sustain these vital services, as Labour has called for.

“There needs to be real cross government collaboration to support this sector and this should include ring-fencing some of the Chancellor’s recently announced charity funding to support domestic abuse services and the wider violence against women and girls sector.

“Labour will be speaking with organisations from across the sector next week and work with them to see what more is required to keep some of the most at risk people in our communities safe throughout this crisis.

“The Home Secretary did nothing to reassure frontline staff that the Government is listening to their concerns about shortages of PPE.”