Debate on the Address

Graham Stuart Con

Beverley and Holderness

I congratulate Keir Starmer's Labour Party for backing measures supporting Ukraine. I advise new MPs to keep campaigning, join the Whips Office if possible, and enjoy their roles rather than seeing them as stepping stones. The Queen’s Speech outlines a programme aimed at boosting economic growth, improving street safety, funding the NHS, tackling backlogs, and leading in troubled times.

Fay Jones Con

Brecon and Radnorshire

It is an honour to second the Loyal Address this afternoon, following Graham Stuart. Despite Her Majesty’s absence today, Fay acknowledges her immense devotion to duty during the platinum jubilee celebrations. She notes that compared to last year's limited audience due to COVID regulations, she has the privilege of addressing a packed Chamber this year. Fay expresses gratitude for advice from friends and colleagues, highlighting her family's long association with the Loyal Address in Wales. She reflects on her political journey, including her university days and her election as MP for Brecon and Radnorshire. Fay emphasises the importance of women in Parliament, citing numerous examples, and welcomes measures in the Gracious Speech that support farming and military interests.

Keir Starmer Lab

Holborn and St Pancras

Mr. Starmer highlighted the challenges of the cost of living crisis with inflation at 7% and rising, criticised the Government for their lack of leadership on windfall taxes, energy bills, and insulation investment. He also discussed low growth over a decade under Tory government, the need to boost public services, improve education and health systems, and combat fraud and crime.

Boris Johnson Con

Uxbridge and South Ruislip

Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked the Prince of Wales, paid tribute to deceased colleagues Sir David Amess and James Brokenshire, praised Graham Stuart for his campaigning skills, mentioned Fay Jones' advocacy for Welsh veterans, discussed UK's support for Ukraine, and outlined government efforts during the pandemic including £400 billion in economic support. He also highlighted planned initiatives such as £9.1 billion to assist with energy costs, tax cuts, increased national living wage, and job creation.

Ian Blackford SNP

Ross, Skye and Lochaber

Thanked the Duke of Rothesay for opening Parliament. Mourned those who passed away during the last session, including James Brokenshire, David Amess, and Jack Dromey. Highlighted the unity on Ukraine but criticised the Prime Minister's recent difficulties with the Metropolitan police. Emphasised the clear message from the people regarding the Prime Minister’s final days in office due to the results of the local elections in Scotland, where pro-independence parties won 62 seats out of 73 in the Scottish Parliament and the SNP achieved its best-ever result.

David Davis Con

Goole and Pocklington

Called for a point of order regarding language use, specifically concerning calling another Member 'a criminal', which is against House regulations.

Peter Bottomley Con

Worthing West

Mr. Bottomley expressed concern over people's home lives, particularly regarding park homes and leaseholds. He suggested that pitch fee increases for park homes should align with the consumer prices index rather than the retail prices index, and proposed changes to commissions so residents do not lose a significant portion of their home’s value when selling it. He also questioned the accuracy of census data in categorising leaseholders and urged the Government to prioritise legislation on this matter before the next election. Mr. Bottomley emphasised the need for justice for leaseholders by holding back exploiters while supporting ordinary people, referencing recent changes made under the Building Safety Act 2022 regarding fire safety defects. Lastly, he addressed a parliamentary petition about banning development on farmland and appealed to the Government to cancel an inspector's decision to approve building over 400 homes on Chatsmore farm, advocating for local democracy.

Meg Hillier Lab Co-op

Hackney South and Shoreditch

Critiques the lack of fiscal firepower in the Queen’s Speech, highlighting issues such as poverty with one in two children living below the poverty line after housing costs. Emphasises the need for better support for private renters, social housing tenants, and first-time buyers struggling with high house prices. Raises concerns over educational funding and tutoring schemes post-pandemic.

Theresa May Con

Walton

Congratulates the Members who proposed and seconded the Humble Address. Welcomes elements of the Government’s programme, including the modern slavery Bill to enhance provisions on supply chains in public procurement, social housing regulation Bill to empower tenants' voices and improve social housing value, renters reform Bill to provide 4.4 million households with more secure homes, and national security Bill to address threats from hostile states. Expresses disappointment over lack of draft legislation for a new mental health Act, an employment Bill on tips left for waiters, and commitment to an independent public advocate.

Edward Davey Lib Dem

Kingston and Surbiton

Called for an immediate cut in VAT to help families and businesses cope with inflation. Proposed a windfall tax on oil and gas companies' super-profits, increased warm home discount, and winter fuel payments. Advocated against trade deals that harm British farmers and urged action on NHS crises and social care reforms.

Sammy Wilson DUP

East Antrim

Asked whether the reported increase in Treasury receipts would justify a VAT reduction, noting it could not apply to Northern Ireland due to the Northern Ireland protocol.

Jeremy Corbyn Ind

Islington North

Suggested that solving sewage pollution and water issues required taking water companies back into public ownership to prevent profit extraction by private entities.

Anna Firth Con

Southend West

Made her maiden speech, honouring the memory of Sir David Amess and discussing Southend's rich history, culture, and people. She highlighted the importance of education, healthcare, and championed local initiatives such as Prost8 for prostate cancer screening.

Tony Lloyd Lab

Manchester Central

The Queen’s Speech is seen as a tale of two countries. The Prime Minister's vision does not reflect the reality faced by many constituents who are struggling with high energy costs, long waiting lists for healthcare, underfunded education systems, and unaffordable housing. He calls out companies like Centrica, BP, and Shell for record profits while individuals face significant financial strain. Constituents across various economic groups express fear about their ability to make ends meet due to rising costs. The speech does not address critical issues such as the climate crisis or propose measures like home insulation programmes that could alleviate both energy costs and environmental concerns. He also discusses the importance of devolution in Northern Ireland, urging for constructive dialogue on the protocol despite disagreements over its impact.

Ian Paisley Jnr DUP

North Antrim

Intervenes to highlight that his party strongly supports devolution and has contributed significantly to making it work. He emphasises that the cost of living crisis in Northern Ireland is exacerbated by a 27% to 34% increase in costs due to the Irish Sea border, which he attributes to the Northern Ireland protocol.

Sammy Wilson DUP

East Antrim

Intervenes to argue that the Northern Ireland protocol not only adds significantly to the cost of living crisis and hinders economic recovery but also undermines democratic principles by preventing Unionist Members from having a say on 60% of laws. He notes that implementing this protocol goes against the consent principle as no Unionist Member supports it.

David Davis Con

Goole and Pocklington

Davis acknowledges the substantial contributions of departed colleagues, praises a colleague's maiden speech, welcomes several Bills in the Queen’s Speech while calling for careful handling of others such as the Online Safety Bill and the national security Bill. He emphasises the need for low taxes to spur economic growth, criticising current tax policies. Davis advocates for immediate fiscal measures rather than waiting until before an election. He highlights the urgent need for addressing housing shortages through innovative approaches like garden towns, stressing the importance of social mobility facilitated by a robust education system, and suggests looking at other countries' healthcare models for improvement.

Sammy Wilson DUP

East Antrim

Wilson asks Davis whether he is concerned that using fiscal measures closer to an election might be seen as cynical rather than addressing the current issues faced by constituents.

John Redwood

Redwood points out the record tax collections this year due to fiscal drag and other factors, suggesting that money should be returned to people now instead of being used before an election.

Debbie Abrahams Lab

Oldham East and Saddleworth

Abrahams highlights the issue of child poverty impacting educational attainment.

Jeffrey M. Donaldson DUP

Lagan Valley

Expresses concerns about the impact of the protocol on trade costs, mentions VAT issues, highlights delays and additional paperwork for businesses, cites an example of a small business losing £100,000 due to the protocol in its first year. Discusses the constitutional status and economic bonds within the UK.

John Redwood Con

Wokingham

Intervenes to highlight the inconsistency of VAT reduction policies between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, questioning how the EU is honouring internal market arrangements.

Matt Western Lab

Warwick and Leamington

Acknowledges the frustration in Northern Ireland over the protocol's impact on businesses like Marks and Spencer, asks what the Prime Minister promised during his address to the DUP party conference in 2019.

David Davis Con

Haltemprice and Howden

Recalls his resignation as Brexit Secretary due to promises of 'full alignment' between Northern Ireland and the Republic, questions whether this makes Northern Ireland less stable. Asks if the current situation undermines legislative power in Northern Ireland.

Carla Lockhart DUP

Upper Bann

Supports Donaldson's stance on remaining in Westminster to push for protocol reform, emphasises his role as a leader of Unionism and adherence to the mandate given by voters.

Eleanor Laing

Order. Just before the right hon. Gentleman responds, I did not want to interrupt what the hon. Lady was saying because it was very powerful, but she really must not call the right hon. Gentleman “you” three times in the Chamber. He is “he”. Perhaps she would just like to give her last line again, saying “he”.

Andrea Leadsom Con

South Northamptonshire

Paid tribute to the Queen, supported the Government's optimistic outlook on opportunities for levelling up. Focused on specific measures in her constituency: bus routes improvements, resistance against inappropriate warehousing development, and demographic growth funding needs. Emphasised green technology job opportunities and energy security Bill. Supported Unionism, proposing shared healthcare systems, school exchanges, and freeports across the UK to strengthen unity. Advocated for early childhood support policies as a critical levelling-up measure.

Jim Shannon DUP

Strangford

Agreed with Leadsom on Northern Ireland's inclusion in levelling up initiatives and the potential of hydrogen energy. Reiterated the importance of addressing the Northern Ireland protocol for full participation within the UK.

Paul Girvan

Suggested promoting passive housing technology to reduce carbon emissions, proposing the use of building regulations for new developments to drive forward this agenda and significantly lower the UK's carbon footprint.

Patricia Gibson

Questioned Leadsom about the implications of Bills in the Queen’s Speech on the Scottish Parliament's legislative consent, expressing concern over how imposing these Bills without proper consultation could affect the Union.

Jon Trickett Lab

Normanton and Hemsworth

He argues against the Government's claims of increased NHS funding, stating that medical professionals and patients feel the money is not reaching them adequately. He highlights income inequality in his constituency compared to the Prime Minister’s, criticising the lack of social mobility. Trickett also stresses the need for active state intervention rather than marketisation and austerity policies, suggesting a Marshall aid plan as necessary. He emphasises the urgent need for addressing wealth disparity through fiscal reforms like a wealth tax.

John Redwood Con

Wokingham

Welcomes the emphasis on growth in the Queen's Speech and argues for a new framework for economic policy focusing on inflation control and promoting growth. He discusses the importance of achieving a balance between controlling debt and deficit while encouraging business investment and personal development to 'level up' regions. Emphasises the need for energy self-sufficiency and greater food production, suggesting that developing more domestic oil and gas could help both economically and environmentally. Proposes changes in planning rules to spread private sector housing investment more broadly across regions.

Michael Fabricant

Intervenes by echoing the Mayor of the West Midlands's view that Governments should provide opportunities for businesses and individuals to create wealth rather than creating it themselves.

Jeremy Corbyn Ind

Islington North

Intervenes, questioning the suggestion to leave fracking decisions to individual landowners and local authorities due to potential environmental impacts beyond these areas. Suggests looking at conservation and sustainable energy methods instead of pursuing onshore gas production.

Andrea Leadsom

Suggests that community support for deep geothermal projects could offer new renewable heating solutions, which could be another avenue to explore in the context of energy self-sufficiency and addressing environmental concerns.

Amy Callaghan SNP

East Dunbartonshire

The Queen’s Speech failed to address the cost of living crisis and did not propose any bold actions or progressive policies. The Scottish Government is forced to spend £11.8 million yearly to mitigate Westminster's impact on East Dunbartonshire. Disabled people struggle with the welfare provided by this Government.

Roger Gale Con

Herne Bay and Sandwich

Welcomes the planning Bill, sustainable farming and food production Bill, and mentions of cost of living issues in the Queen’s Speech. Expresses hope for urgent action on fuel price rises affecting families in North Thanet. Calls for animal welfare legislation to be addressed, including banning trophy imports and using faux fur for guardsmen caps. Supports the gallant Armed Forces’ contributions to Ukraine's war effort.

Alison McGovern Lab

Birkenhead

Ms. McGovern criticises the current government for ignoring burning injustices such as child poverty and families struggling to make ends meet, questioning why there is no emergency budget or employment bill proposed despite previous promises. She advocates for a windfall tax on oil and gas companies to help with energy bills, highlighting issues with zero-hour contracts and insufficient childcare support. McGovern also addresses the inadequacy of the government’s levelling up agenda in her constituency of New Ferry, where promised regeneration efforts following a 2017 gas explosion have been inadequate. She expresses anger at unfulfilled promises regarding support for Ukrainian refugees and emphasises the importance of justice in matters like the Hillsborough law.

Robert Jenrick Reform

Newark

The Queen’s Speech includes Bills for social housing regulation reform, leasehold reform completion, and levelling up and regeneration. Social housing tenants often feel ignored by providers; this Bill will improve the regulatory environment. The leasehold system needs to end in favour of commonhold. Devolution should be enhanced, recognising local government's success during the pandemic.

Matt Western Lab

Warwick and Leamington

Applauded Robert Jenrick for acknowledging the terrific work of local government throughout the pandemic but pointed out that many local authorities are now struggling due to a lack of promised financial support during the crisis.

Jeremy Corbyn Ind

Islington North

Mr. Corbyn discussed the state of poverty in the UK, highlighting that there are 4.2 million children and 1.3 million babies living in desperate poverty, often relying on food banks to survive. He criticised the government's lack of action on energy costs, noting that 6.3 million people live in fuel poverty due to unaffordable energy bills. Mr. Corbyn also addressed housing issues, particularly the poor management and high rents within the private rented sector, which force tenants to move away from their communities or supplement the rent themselves. He emphasised the need for regulations within the private rented sector and stressed the importance of addressing social inequality through wage rises and increased public expenditure. Furthermore, he highlighted environmental crises and advocated for welcoming refugees while condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ben Bradley Con

Mansfield

Welcomes elements of the Queen’s Speech, particularly on levelling up and economic growth. Supports measures for school autonomy and teacher empowerment. Urges caution regarding the Online Safety Bill to avoid overregulation. Criticises government interference in areas like obesity strategy. Emphasises the importance of private sector growth for regional development.

Karin Smyth Lab

Bristol South

Responds to Ben Bradley, highlighting achievements under the previous Labour Government including school rebuilding and hospital investment in her constituency.

Lilian Greenwood Lab

Nottingham South

Expresses concerns about constituents’ immediate financial struggles and calls for more support from the government at a time when people are struggling with bills.

Jessica Morden Lab

Newport East

The Queen's Speech fails to deliver meaningful help for people facing the cost of living crisis. Households are skipping meals and burning wood due to unaffordable energy bills, with food prices continuing to rise. There is no emergency Budget or extra help announced. Steel workers also face a lack of support from the Government, which has not referenced steel or the industrial strategy since 2019. The speech ignores rail infrastructure underfunding in Wales and the need for better cross-border transport connections.

Peter Aldous Con

Waveney

Mr Aldous highlighted the need for a clear statement of intent and a decisive direction in addressing the challenges brought by the war in Europe and the ongoing pandemic, including soaring energy and food prices, rising interest rates, and slowing economic growth. He emphasised the necessity to focus on issues like cost of living, debt prevention, job security with career progression opportunities, education funding inequalities, renewable energy investment, nuclear power projects such as Sizewell C, hydrogen development, home energy-saving initiatives, NHS concerns including dental care deserts and operation backlogs.

Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op

Harrow West

The cost of living crisis is a pressing issue, with more than two million adults having gone without food for an entire day in the past month and 2.5 million children regularly missing meals or having smaller portions due to financial constraints. The Government should implement an emergency Budget to address these issues immediately.

Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op

Harrow West

The absence of the promised employment Bill in the Gracious Speech is disappointing as it would have provided necessary protections for workers against unfair practices such as 'fire and rehire'. Furthermore, the lack of support for businesses entering European markets post-Brexit undermines economic growth and exacerbates challenges faced by exporters.

Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op

Harrow West

The failure to address export performance over the past decade has resulted in significant underperformance compared to other G7 nations. The UK needs a strategic approach to boost exports, support businesses, and improve relationships with key allies to enhance economic stability and growth.

Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op

Harrow West

Consumers lack sufficient power in markets such as water services and energy. Water companies should be held accountable by their customers, who currently have inadequate representation on company boards and insufficient influence over executive pay and investment plans.

Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op

Harrow West

The financial services sector is dominated by large banks that provide 70% of current accounts, limiting competition. Mutual and co-operative financial institutions need legislative reform to enable them to raise capital for new products and markets, addressing the challenges they face in a uniquely difficult regulatory environment.

Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op

Harrow West

There is a pressing need for consumer protection through enhanced regulation and potentially a separate consumer ombudsman to ensure that bodies like the Financial Conduct Authority adequately represent consumer interests, particularly in light of recent scandals.

Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op

Harrow West

The local Labour Party's loss of control at Harrow Council highlights the need for better service provision despite significant funding cuts. The council’s handling of recent fraud allegations and its response to these issues will be critical in restoring public trust.

Paul Maynard Con

Wythenshawe and Sale East

Welcomes the financial services Bill, particularly provisions on access to cash and regulation of buy now, pay later products. Urges faster action on no-interest loans and interim provisions for funeral plan providers. Criticises lack of Bills addressing House of Lords abolition, compulsory introduction of optional preferential vote, and annual review of ministerial competence.

Patricia Gibson SNP

North Ayrshire and Arran

The Queen’s Speech offers little comfort to constituents due to the Tory vote collapse in Scotland, the Labour Party's poor performance, and a leadership crisis for both the Tories in London and Edinburgh. The speech missed an opportunity to address the cost of living crisis, which is worsening due to rising food, energy, and goods prices. Gibson welcomes measures to protect access to cash but criticises the Government’s silence on Brexit's impact and its failure to introduce meaningful support measures. She calls for a range of actions such as converting the £200 energy loan into a grant, scrapping national insurance tax hikes, reversing cuts to universal credit, and other measures to tackle poverty. Gibson also highlights the Tory strategy to undermine devolution in Scotland through Bills that require legislative consent from the Scottish Parliament.

Tim Farron Lib Dem

Westmorland and Lonsdale

This Queen's Speech lacks a comprehensive plan to address the cost of living crisis and fails to support rural communities, farmers, and housing needs. The Government could implement immediate actions such as reducing VAT or implementing a windfall tax on energy companies. Farron criticises the transition from EU agricultural policies, highlighting that farmers in his constituency are facing severe financial losses due to botched payment schemes. He also calls for cultural landscape payments to support upland communities and condemns the current farm payment system for its negative impact on food security and biodiversity. Regarding housing, he notes a significant increase in second-home ownership and holiday lets, leading to community hollowing out. He proposes changing planning laws to address these issues but criticises the Government's lack of meaningful action.

Debbie Abrahams Lab

Oldham East and Saddleworth

Debbie Abrahams criticised the context of the Queen’s Speech, highlighting increasing poverty with over 14 million people in poverty, including 8 million workers. She also mentioned an increase in pensioner and disabled poverty. The autumn Budget and spring statement are expected to result in 1.3 million more people living in absolute poverty, including 500,000 children. Abrahams cited Professor Sir Michael Marmot’s findings that the UK has lower life expectancy and healthy life expectancy compared to other advanced economies due to structural inequalities exacerbated by the government. She emphasised the need for a windfall tax on energy companies to mitigate rising costs but noted the government's refusal to act, leading to further economic hardship for citizens.

Patrick Grady SNP

Glasgow North

Grady criticises the Queen's Speech for its anti-refugee stance and lack of action on social issues such as cost of living, climate change, and human rights. He highlights examples like the Home Office's failure to manage the Homes for Ukraine scheme efficiently and contrasts this with Scotland's progressive policies. Grady also emphasises the importance of respecting devolution and calls for a referendum on Scottish independence due to perceived breaches in promises made to Scotland in 2014.

Matt Western Lab

Warwick and Leamington

The hon. Member Matt Western criticised the UK Government's lack of response to the cost-of-living crisis, highlighting issues such as food insecurity and energy poverty. He called for an emergency budget and a windfall tax on energy companies earning excessive profits due to high energy prices. Additionally, he emphasised the need for addressing the global supply chain issues affecting automotive industries, transitioning to electric vehicles, promoting onshore wind turbines in Warwickshire, and improving housing standards. Matt Western also highlighted the importance of police funding, community support officers, food security, business reforms, and proposed football measures dropped from the Queen's Speech.

Rachael Maskell Lab Co-op

York Central

The current Queen's Speech should address the housing crisis and poverty. She highlights statistics such as 4.3 million children, 2.1 million pensioners, and 11 million people in poverty overall across the UK. The speech should focus on measures to tackle the housing crisis by reforming the planning system, ensuring local involvement, addressing affordable housing shortages, regulating short-term lets like Airbnbs, and improving standards in the private rented sector. She calls for rent controls, a register of landlords, and an end to leasehold properties. Labour would prioritise these issues if they were in power.

Catherine West Lab

Hornsey and Friern Barnet

Ms West welcomed the Queen's Speech but noted that it lacked detail and urgency. She praised local government initiatives during the pandemic, criticised the failure of green energy schemes, and emphasised the need for an emergency Budget to address economic challenges. She highlighted issues such as food poverty, industrial innovation, productivity challenges in further education, NHS waiting lists, classroom sizes, and support for victims of crime. Ms West also mentioned the missed opportunities on housing, employment, and environmental measures.

Toby Perkins Lab

Chesterfield

The Government's Queen’s Speech is packed with initiatives but fails to address the critical issues. They claim to support the police, yet there are fewer officers and longer court delays. A constituent's brother was murdered due to inadequate probation services and lack of police monitoring. The speech also mentions funding the NHS but ignores pre-covid backlogs caused by their austerity measures.

Catherine West Lab

Hornsey and Wood Green

Expressed condolences for Toby Perkins' constituent Jane Allen who lost her brother to crime. Emphasised that repeated failures in bringing charges against criminals exacerbate the situation, leading to more victims.

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