Response to Queen’s Speech: Government plans fail on every count

Responding to the Queen's Speech, Zöe Franklin, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Guildford and Cranleigh commented:

"It's been clear from residents during the recent local election campaign that people want a more green, caring, competent and community-focused country in the aftermath of Covid. So it is crushingly disappointing that the Government's plans announced in the Queen's Speech fail to deliver on every account.

"Plans announced today still fail to address the urgent need of small businesses and the self-employed for support or the urgent action needed to truly tackle the climate challenge we face. They also provide no commitment to the long-delayed social care overhaul so desperately needed and promised by Boris Johnson on the steps of Downing Street when he was elected as Prime Minister.

"Where they have committed to plans, they include planning reforms that will rip powers away from local people and communities in favour of wealthy property developers, thereby threatening our environment and treasured green spaces. They also include changes to the voting process and judicial reviews that threaten our ability to hold the Government to account - something that should concern anyone who cares about our democracy.

"In short, Boris Johnson and the Conservatives have utterly failed to deliver the ambitious programme needed to respond to the real challenges people are facing after this terribly difficult year."

11th May 2021