QUEEN’S SPEECH WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

WEDNESDAY’S Queen’s Speech was yet another missed opportunity, by this out-of-touch zombie government, to announce measures that would address the real issues affecting people up and down the country.

One or two laudable bills like action on modern slavery were included, but it’s clear that this government has run out of ideas and is marking time up to the next election. It is more than half a century since so few bills were contained in a Queen's Speech.

By contrast, in response to the government’s pathetic programme for the year ahead, Labour leader, Ed Miliband set out what would be in a Labour Queen’s Speech.

We would have a bill to make work pay for all workers. That would include an increase in the National Minimum Wage and then linking it to a higher proportion of average earnings. It would outlaw exploitative zero-hour contracts and guarantee a regular contract to people working regular hours month after month. It would encourage businesses to pay the living wage and it would support working parents by offering 25 hours free childcare for three and found year olds.

We would have a Banking bill to establish a British Investment Bank as well as regional banks to support small businesses. And we would create at least two new sizeable and competitive banks to challenge the current domination of retail banking by the existing high street banks.

We would have a community bill to devolve power to local communities, enabling local councils to stop the spread of pay day lenders on their high streets. Local authorities like Derby City and Derbyshire County Councils would be given real powers over things like transport and skills policy to drive economic growth and create well-paid local jobs.

We would have an Immigration bill to stop ruthless employers and rogue employment agencies using migrant workers to undercut wages. This would be achieved by strengthening minimum wage enforcement, increasing the maximum fine to £50,0000 and banning the recruitment of workers exclusively from abroad.

We would have a Consumers' Bill that would include a commitment to freeze energy bills, reform the energy market and embark on a home insulation programme to secure lower longterm prices.

We would have a Housing bill to tackle the housing crisis and commit to building a million new homes by 2020. We would give councils powers to force developers sitting on land holdings with planning permission to build on it or lose it. Three year tenancies with predictable rents would become the norm in the private rented sector and letting agents would be prevented from imposing fees on tenants.

And we would have an NHS Bill to make it easier to see your GP, guaranteeing appointments within 48 hours. The Bill would include measures to repeal the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to stop in its tracks the creeping privatisation of our NHS that this government has been championing.
Other priorities that wouldn't necessarily need primary legislation, but would be mentioned in a Labour Queen’s Speech would include: the abolition of the bedroom tax, a jobs guarantee for unemployed kids and the return of the 50p tax rate on earnings above £150,000 per annum.

In just 334 days this optimistic progressive vision for Britain can become a reality when the British people get a chance to decide who governs Britain at the general election.