Bethnal Green & Bow Labour MP Rushanara Ali on an alternative Queen’s speech
- Credit: Archant
The Queen’s Speech – which was delivered to Parliament this week – set out the government’s agenda for the coming year.
Yet, as with the Chancellor’s Budget in March the government had nothing to say about people’s living standards or the challenges facing businesses.
This Tory-led government has now had three years in office in which it has shown it is out of touch with the British people, run out of ideas on how to turn our country around, and carried on regardless with a failed economic plan which offers only more of the same.
Families and businesses across the East End have made it clear that their biggest concerns are around jobs, housing, living standards and boosting the economy.
That is why Labour has set out an alternative Queen’s Speech which would have been delivered were we in government right now.
With thousands of people looking for work across the East End and long-term unemployment continuing to rise in my constituency, Labour’s top priority for the Queen’s Speech would have been to put in place a Compulsory Jobs Guarantee for people who are long-term unemployed.
We would legislate for a Finance Bill to kick-start our economy and help make work pay with a 10p rate of tax, funded by a Mansion Tax on properties worth over £2million.
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To help consumers we would be taking action to tackle rip-off energy bills and train fares.
A quarter of households across Tower Hamlets are on the housing waiting list, private rents are soaring and local residents are fed up with unscrupulous practices by private landlords, such as excessive charges.
That is why Labour would pass a Housing Bill that would take action against rogue landlords and extortionate fees in the private rented sector.
Working together
Labour would act to support businesses with a real British Investment Bank and new regional banks and we would be putting an end to workers having their wages undercut illegally by employers exploiting migrant labour.
These are all measures we need so we can work together for a recovery made by the many.
Britain needs new ideas, a recognition that the real wealth creators are all the people who put in the hours and do the shifts – not just a few at the top.
