The state opening of the new Parliament took place for the first time under a Labour government in 15 years.
The King’s Speech is when His Majesty attends Parliament to outline the priorities that the Government have for the upcoming Parliamentary session.
This King’s Speech contained a number of ambitious aims.
We know economic stability is crucial, many are struggling with the cost of living, with rising energy and food prices. We have committed to tackling the underlying causes of the high cost of living.
This week, the Chancellor outlined the stark financial situation that the government have inherited after 14 years of Conservative government.
We knew that we would be inheriting the worst economic situation since the second world war, however, Treasury officials have discovered that the state of public finances were left in an even worse condition than we knew, with a total overspend of £22bn this year.
Whilst there will be tough decisions for us to make, we have pledged to be economically responsible with public finances.
I know how tough life has been for families across Barnsley, especially public servants working in the NHS and education, so I was pleased that a fair pay deal has been put in place by the Chancellor.
There was a commitment to delivering on the Employment Rights Bill. This will legislate for a new deal for working people, banning exploitative practices, and enhancing employment rights.
We want to change our broken transport system, and will introduce the Better Buses Bill to give local leaders control over bus routes to ensure that they work for local people. Last summer I organised a bus tour of Barnsley to highlight the challenges local bus services face with our now Transport Secretary, Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP.
We will establish Great British Railways to reform rail franchising and bring train operators into public ownership, a process which began this week.
Another issue that has been raised with me time and again in Barnsley is crime and antisocial behaviour. I am pleased that the King’s Speech outlined measures to make our streets safer by strengthening community policing, giving the police greater powers to deal with antisocial behaviour, and strengthening support for victims.
We will also introduce the Hillsborough Law, something I have called for in Parliament a number of times. This would seek to secure a duty of candour for public servants if they are called upon during an inquiry.
As Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth I will be leading on our Football Governance Bill, setting out how the government will give fans a greater say, ensuring the financial sustainability of the game through an independent regulator.
This is something I spoke about when I gave my first speech as a Minister to the Football Supporters’ Association.
Since I have become Minister for Sport, I have also taken part in the Daily Mile at Elsecar School, and the Parkrun at Locke Park. I have visited the Football Foundation’s state of the art Grass Roots Hub, and the Barnsley ReallyNeet Project in which supports young people.
The new government has already introduced a number of measures that do not need legislation to pass through Parliament to be enforced, meaning that change can happen quickly.
To name just a few of these changes, we have committed to a strategic defence review following the NATO summit; begun work to recruit 6,500 new teachers whilst restructuring the Department of Education to improve SEND provision; and committed to putting failing water companies under tough special measures to clean up our waterways.
Another of those changes is of course our commitment to action on the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme. I am pleased that, having met the newly appointed Minister responsible for this, Labour will deliver on our promise to finally deliver justice.
As the Prime Minister said, under this government, it is country first, party second.
Change doesn’t happen overnight but this is a programme for the government to improve our economy and hopefully make lasting change for working people.
