CHELTENHAM MP Martin Horwood has welcomed today Queen's Speech which has promised swift implementation of many of the key policies agreed by the new Lib Dem/Tory coalition government. Her Majesty delivered the speech from the throne in the House of Lords shortly after 11.30am this morning. The first priority was identified as the need to cut the huge public sector deficit but the speech also included many policy commitments advocated by Liberal Democrats including:
• Return of powers over housing to local communities
• The abolition of Labour's compulsory ID card scheme
• Fixed term parliaments of five years, taking the calling of elections out of the personal gift of the Prime Minister
• Reform of the House of Lords, turning it into a democratic second chamber elected by proportional representation
• A clear commitment to multilateral nuclear disarmament
• A timetabled commitment to achieve the thirty year old target to devote 0.7% of Gross National Income to overseas development aid by 2013
Martin also welcomed two key foreign policy commitments: a new 'special relationship' with India and a commitment to support the establishment of a peaceful, viable Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel.
Martin: 'This is a truly radical Queen's Speech. Obviously the need to cut our huge national overdraft looms over everything else but we shouldn't miss the really sharp contrast with Labour's last years of increasingly centralised control. On the way out is centralised control of housing targets, which has blighted the countryside around Cheltenham. The compulsory ID cards scheme, which threatened our traditional civil liberties, is to be scrapped. And the way has been opened to real constitutional reform, restraining the power of the party in power to do as they please.'
'I'm also pleased by the internationalist flavour of the Queen's Speech. It includes a clear commitment to pursue multilateral nuclear disarmament through the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty process, and some important policy commitments on aid for the poorest people in the world, a new relationship with India and a strong commitment to support the peaceful establishment of a Palestinian state. This is a very positive and outward-looking approach.'
ENDS
Queen's Speech marks new era
- Tuesday 25th of May 2010 12:54
Martin Horwood is your
Liberal Democrat
Member of Parliament for Cheltenham
working for a fairer,
greener, safer community
Member of Parliament for Cheltenham
working for a fairer,
greener, safer community