Time to see results

OPPOSITION leaders generally characterise the contents of Queen’s Speeches as thin gruel.

In fact, there was plenty to go at in a number of areas, as well as debate over what was missing.

There was little direct action, for example, on the cost of living, which is the single biggest issue for so many people.

For us in the North East, it was satisfying to see the unveiling of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. This remains a key issue in our region and the Government must be held to its promises. Last week’s local election results, where the Conservatives suffered much more in the South and London than they did in the North, means there is a danger that the Government might go cool on levelling up. That must not happen.

The Bill requires ministers to produce an annual report on the delivery of the levelling up mission. Those reports should tell us if laudable aims are being translated into concrete results.