Labour's record on social exclusion can only get better - Teather

12.00.00am GMT Fri 24th Feb 2006

Responding to the Prime Minister's announcement that a new Cabinet position with responsibility for tackling social exclusion will be created, Liberal Democrat Shadow Local Government Minister, Sarah Teather MP said "If this post signals a real commitment to take issues of exclusion seriously, it must be welcomed.

"Sadly, Labour's record so far has been one of increasing exclusion.

"Ministers spend their time chasing headlines that involve new and ever more creative ways of excluding people.

"If they want to tackle these problems they need to focus on the basics that have been set out by their own Social Exclusion Unit, but widely ignored. That's decent housing for the 1.5m families on council waiting lists, investment in council services, a fairer tax system, and a proper focus on the education and rehabilitation of prisoners."