Crown treated better than public
The state opening of the UK Parliament took place recently, with all the usual pomp and ceremony, including the Queen’s crown – valued at anywhere between £3bn and £5bn - which was driven to the parliament in its own limousine.
Apparently, this is one of the symbols of the sovereign’s authority and must be present in order for the state opening to take place.
The key part of this process is the Queen’s Speech, which sets out the UK Government’s legislative agenda for the next parliamentary year.
While the SNP was calling for an emergency budget to provide immediate assistance for people suffering from the Tory made cost of living crisis, the Tories yet again simply ignored these calls.
Instead of providing emergency support for those suffering from the massive 54 per cent increase in the energy price cap or the escalating cost of food, the Tories simply rehashed their failed policies.
This included more legislation to deal with the fallout from Brexit, pushing ahead with the privatisation of Channel 4 and replacing the Human Rights Act with a UK Bill of Rights.
To top it off we even had a Tory MP complaining that people only use foodbanks because they don’t know how to cook or budget.
There was nothing for those who are struggling and facing further challenges as every bill increases while incomes stagnate.
There was nothing about cutting VAT on fuel bills, nothing to increase benefits to reflect the increase in the cost of living and absolutely nothing about taxing big companies – including energy companies – on their excess profits.
The Tories are so detached from the reality facing ordinary people that even the boss of Scottish Power has called for families to receive £1000 to help with growing energy bills before further increases of around £900 or so hit everyone in October.
The cost of living crisis will only get worse as more and more families and individuals start to fall behind in their energy bills, falling further into fuel poverty.
It’s a scandal that anyone living in an energy rich country like Scotland can struggle to pay to heat their home.
As regards the Tory MP – on a salary of over £81,000 – complaining that those who use foodbanks only do so because they don’t know how to cook or budget, this is beyond contempt.
How dare he criticise those who have fallen victim to the years of Tory imposed austerity which has seen the value of benefits fall out of line with the rise in the cost of living.
How can families budget better when the meagre rise in pensions and benefits fail to match inflation?
The contrast between a crown getting preferential treatment on a trip to Parliament and those queuing up for support from a foodbank being subjected to the sneers of Tory MPs sums up the heartlessness of this Tory Government.