What was and wasn’t in the King’s Speech today
What wasn’t in the King’s Speech today? Not Colin Firth anyway. The real King’s Speech!
1. Social Care. No mention of helping carers. A cross-party review on reform options is taking place though seemingly, so that will involve us Liberal Democrats.
2. Cleaning up our water. OK, banning bonuses and and making bosses liable, but what has really changed to stop sewage?
3. The two child benefit cap that’s been there 8 years. This is really a big one. Not scrapped. That’s the number one thing that could have stopped poverty in families. Reform of universal credit generally would have been good to see.
4. More on NHS reform and reducing queues.
5. Nothing on compensation for the Postal Workers or WASPI women.
What was good to see?
1. Banning conversion therapy. The state should not tell people who they can or cannot be.
2. Employment rights. End to zero hour contracts.
3. Investing in renewable energy. The power of countries like Russia comes from their oil, we have to break that.
4. Halving violence against women and girls.
5. Mental Health Act reforms.
6. Devolution. More power to local government means more democracy.
7. The football regulator is good news for Southend United.
I think people are hungry for change: if they don’t see the cost of living improving and availability of doctors and dentists getting better, all these other good things will not convince them they’re much better off.