Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Millions who can’t afford social care ...just nine words from the Tories
Johnson accused of ‘insult to the nation’
BORIS Johnson yesterday broke his promises on social care and workers’ rights in a Queen’s Speech blasted as being full of “gimmicks and distant promises”.
The Prime Minister was accused of dragging his feet on his flagship vow to “level-up” the UK after a dedicated bill was left out.
Angry unions instead said he instead risked “levelling down” on jobs as the long-awaited Employment Bill failed to materialise.
Yet Mr Johnson prompted most fury by delaying plans to tackle the social care crisis – despite saying almost two years ago he already had a plan to fix it.
The Queen, unveiling the Government’s programme in her first major public duty since the death of Prince Philip, devoted just nine words to the crippled sector saying: “Proposals on social care reform will be brought forward.” Mr Johnson claimed the package of measures would unleash “the UK economy”.
But Keir Starmer said he was failing to deliver on the promises made to “Red Wall” voters to repair the damage caused by a decade of Tory rule.
The Labour leader said: “This speech papers over the cracks, it’s packed with short-term gimmicks and distant promises. It misses the urgency and scale of the transformation needed.”
Failing to fix social care after a horrific year was “an insult to the whole nation,” Mr Starmer added, while care groups branded it “a betrayal” of millions of families.
Prof Martin Green, of Care England, added: “Without the
much-needed, not to mention heralded, reform it is questionable how much longer the sector can limp on.”
One carer, who is unable to afford her dying husband’s funeral said the speech left her “absolutely heartbroken”.
Elaine Yates, of Northamptonshire, said: “It’s insulting and devastating that we are only worth nine words.”
The 71-year-old added: “We want people in our position to be understood. We are treated as second class citizens... they are not interested in people struggling 24 hours a day.
“They should live my life for a day and find out what it’s like in the real world.”
Mr Johnson also did nothing for workers after leaving out reforms to the gig economy and zero hours contracts.
One in eight are in poverty with many suffering more due to the pandemic, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says.
No10 said legislation will come “when the time is right”. But TUC chief Frances O’grady said: “We need action now to deal with the scourge of insecure work – not more dithering.”
On housing there was no Renters’ Reform Bill to end “no-fault” evictions, but a Building Safety Bill will bring in a new regulator post-grenfell.
A national infrastructure plan, rail and bus reform, planning reforms and a Skills Bill to offer student loans to all adults were among other proposals.
The PM will also give himself power to call elections, restrict legal challenges on policies and make voters show ID.
In a Culture Wars move, far-right speakers “cancelled” by universities could seek compensation, and refugees who pass through France will be banned from claiming asylum.
Ominously, after the Supreme Court blocked his prorogation of Parliament in 2019, the Queen said Mr Johnson will “restore the balance of power between the executive, legislature and courts”.