The Queen's speech shows up a struggling government offering next to nothing
Posted by Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston, at 09:27, Fri 10 May 2013:
Wednesday was a sad day for many people in Trafford, as Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement. He has been a phenomenal manager of Manchester United, which, despite its worldwide reputation, we know in Old Trafford as our local team. Even though ManU enjoys global name recognition, the club retains a relaxed, family, I'd even say cosy, atmosphere, with many staff having worked there for years. Both the many football successes, and the warm local welcome to fans and visitors, owe much to Alex Ferguson's leadership.
There was rather less leadership on display in parliament on Wednesday. The Queen's speech, in which the government sets out its programme for the forthcoming parliamentary session, was also a sad event for my constituents, with nearly nothing to offer families struggling with the rising cost of living, young people desperately seeking employment, health campaigners or our public services.
A bill on regulating banking won't prevent excessive bonuses, or get lending to small business up. In our alternative Queen's speech, Labour proposed a new British Investment Bank, and regional banks to support regional businesses, but the government simply isn't doing enough.
A bill to give employers a national insurance break for employing new workers is welcome - it was a Labour idea.
And a bill to pay compensation to sufferers of asbestos-related illness where a former employer or insurer can't be traced is well overdue, and welcome too.
But Labour would have introduced a jobs guarantee for adults out of work for more than 2 years, or for young people after a year. The government had nothing to say on this.
We'd have introduced a tough Consumers Bill to crack down on excessive energy costs, and rising rail fares. The government missed this trick too.
They ducked away from introducing plain packaging for cigarettes, and minimum prices for alcohol sales. They put their rich cronies in the alcohol and tobacco industries before public health.
And the announcement that noone will have to pay over £72000 towards care costs in old age is set way too high for most people in Trafford - and completely ignores the huge cuts in local services, which are leaving people without the care they need, creating huge strain on the NHS.
So Wednesday was a disappointing day in more ways than one. But this is a government that's really struggling, two parties that can't agree with each other on almost anything, rising public borrowing to pay for failed policies, the economy stagnant - I despair of two more years of this.
Back home in Trafford, meanwhile, don't forget my Road Safety Day at Stretford Fire Station, on Saturday 11 May between 11am and 4 pm. Everyone's welcome, and it should be a great day. We'll have demonstrations from the ambulance service, police, and the fire brigade, showing what they do if you have an accident and what happens to you if you crash at speed. We'll be offering tips on checking your car or bike for roadworthiness, and demonstrating what happens to your driving if you're distracted or have had a drink. There will be competitions for children and face painting - I really hope to see you there.
Kate Green Member of Parliament for Stretford and Urmston Shadow Spokesperson for Equality
Tel: 0161 749 9120 (constituency); 020 7219 7162 (Westminster) www.kategreen.org @kategreensu
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