MP: Queen’s speech is lost opportunity

The Queen’s Speech, which sets out the UK Government’s priorities for the year ahead has been blasted as a “lost opportunity” by one Renfrewshire politician.

It has also come under fire from poverty campaigners and union leaders left disgruntled by the content.

A total of 38 bills were announced as part of the much-anticipated Queen’s Speech, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged would get the country “back on track”.

It comes as the nation is pitched into a chronic cost of living crisis which has seen Renfrewshire households struggle to make ends meet.

The Queen’s Speech, enables the Government to outline its proposed policies and legislation for the coming session.

Written by ministers, it comes as part of the State opening of Parliament, which marks the formal beginning of the Parliamentary year.

The occasion had already hit the headlines after the ageing Monarch, who is said to be suffering from mobility issues, pulled out of attending for only the second time in her 70 year reign.

Setting out the government’s priorities for the year ahead, action on measures to ease the cost of living and boost economic growth were expected.

But the letdown event was slammed as “an insult” by Nats MP Gavin Newlands.

The Paisley and Renfrewshire North politician slammed the occasion as a “lost opportunity” to help hardpressed households like those in Renfrewshire.

He dismissed the flagship speech as instead focussing on plans to “privatise government assets” and “repeal human rights legislation”.

The SNP man said: “This Queen’s Speech was a lost opportunity for the UK Government and quite frankly an insult to the millions of households who are doing their best to deal with the worst cost of living crisis in five decades.

“With the Bank of England now forecasting inflation hitting over 10 per cent later year, the price of everything from food to fuel is skyrocketing, yet the focus of Boris Johnson and his cabal seems to be selling off Channel 4 to their pals in the City of London and stripping us all of our basic human rights.

“Energy bills are due to soar yet again in October, yet the main energy proposals are about heat pumps.”

He added: “That simply isn’t good enough and is certain to plunge even more families and households into fuel poverty and put an even greater stranglehold on our economy and our society.

“Meanwhile the cruel and inhumane social security system run by the UK Government remains untouched, our sick and disabled people treated appallingly by the Department of Work and Pensions who are more interested in saving pennies rather than supporting those who need our help.

“No wonder the UK is seen as the sick man of Europe by our overseas allies, a mixture of pity and despair as they watch the country sink further into the mess created by the Prime Minister and his chums.

“It’s time we had a government in Edinburgh with the full powers of independence, ready to meet the challenges of the coming decades with real action, not more pomp, ceremony and hot air at the heart of Westminster.”

Even energy bosses have waded into the current cost of living row which has seen household budgets crippled.

Scottish Power boss Keith Anderson has gone on record to call on the government to help households with rising energy costs.

He said he feared the situation would be “horrific” when further hikes hit the price of electricity and gas in October.

Inflation, currently at a 30 year high, could also hit double figures later this year, the Bank of England has warned.

Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, warned: “People want a UK Government that believes in compassion and justice, and in making sure everyone can live a dignified life.

“People in poverty are struggling to keep their heads above water, and more and more of us are being drawn into a current of poverty by the cost of living crisis.

“The UK Government needs to deliver urgent help with rising bills to keep households afloat.”

The speech included provision for a Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to enshrine the Government’s flagship “levelling up” plans into law.