Kate Hollern MP agrees that the 'country needs change'

Last Tuesday saw one of the biggest events in the parliamentary calendar: the State Opening of Parliament. Amidst a few positive notes, unfortunately, I fear that the legislation outlined in the King’s Speech will mean yet another year of the same, failed policies.

There were some promising features of the speech. These included a Bill to progress the construction of the National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens, which Labour has consistently supported, and will continue to support in its passage through parliament.

The King also announced the government’s intention to enact legislation to support creative industries and protect public interest journalism. I welcome the announcement of a long overdue Media Bill.

The last time that legislative changes were enacted for our public service broadcasters was in 2003, and since then the landscape has transformed dramatically. It is vital that up-to-date legislation is brought forward that addresses the contemporary challenges.

The speech also featured legislation to safeguard the future of football clubs for the benefit of communities.

East Lancashire is a heartland of football, with Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and Accrington Stanley amongst the most famous names in the country. Football clubs are at the heart of communities and are great sources of identity and pride in our towns.

I hope to see the full implementation of the recommendations of last year's fan-led review, and an independent regulator.

Unfortunately, there are multiple areas in which the government's proposals do not go far enough.

The speech set out the government’s intention to bring forward a Bill to support the future licensing of new oil and gas fields, purporting to help the country to transition to net zero by 2050, without adding undue burdens on households.

It is remarkable that, during the worst energy bills crisis in generations, this government’s flagship King's Speech energy policy will not take a penny off energy bills. We need a plan that will make energy cheap and secure, so that the British public never again face spiralling bills.

The speech also featured a Bill to reform the housing market by supposedly making it cheaper and easier for leaseholders to purchase their freehold and tackling the exploitation of millions of homeowners through punitive service charges.

I recognise and strongly support the need for fundamental reform of the private rented sector. Regardless of whether someone is a homeowner, a leaseholder or a tenant, everyone has the basic right to a decent, safe, secure, and affordable home.

However, given that the past year has seen the biggest rise in rents since records began, it is deeply concerning that this Bill will do nothing to address the sky-high cost of renting.

Homeowners face eye-watering mortgage rates, young people are struggling to get on the housing ladder, and the dream of homeownership has been snatched away for so many stuck paying unaffordable private rents.

I was also disappointed to see no sign of local housing targets or the reform needed to our planning system.

I was unsurprised by the absence of a much-needed, comprehensive Employment Bill to ensure that all workers are free from abuse.

We need a legislative end to unfair employment practices, including fire and rehire and exploitative zero-hours contracts.

Instead, the government intends to bring forward legislation to ensure minimum service levels during strikes.

Had Ministers not spent months refusing to negotiate with NHS staff, there might not have been more than a million operations and appointments cancelled due to strike action over the last year.

Instead of restricting workers’ democratic right to take industrial action, the government should be focusing on wiping out poor employment practices.

This week will see the continuation of parliamentary debates on the contents of the speech.

I welcome the government’s concession that the country needs change, but I fear that the policies laid out in the King's Speech will not go anywhere near far enough in delivering it.