This week Parliament began a new session and as is customary, the Queen’s Speech kicked off the week’s proceedings with all the pomp and ceremony that makes our country so special. And for the first time this was read by HRH Prince Charles, who stepped in for Her Majesty.
For residents here in Burnley and Padiham this speech was about getting back to focusing on the issues people have been raising with me. Dealing with the cost of living by resolving our economic constraints and opening more opportunities for families and businesses.
Because after the deepest economic shock in more than 300 years we have got to take action to turbocharge the levelling up agenda and strengthen our local economy as we build back from the pandemic. Not addressing these structural issues around schools, red tape or trade would leave us only with sticking plasters, with the underlying problems remaining.
Through the measures announced this week local businesses will be able to take advantage of the opportunities of Brexit, employment and opportunity will be driven up, Human Rights law will be changed, criminals will be punished, and schools will be empowered.
Our young people locally are brilliant, and they deserve the very best opportunities to succeed. That's why I visit our local schools every week to talk to students; why I've pushed for funding increases for our schools every year; and why I back Burnley College to the hilt. And through new legislation announced we’re giving education providers even more in funding through a new formula, and rolling out more academies, making sure every child has the very best access to learning.
But we also need security in our energy supply - something I’ve raised several times in Parliament. Energy bills are increasing at an unsustainable rate, hurting households right here, and the only way to deal with it is to remove the link between what local families pay and the global supply of fossil fuels. That’s why it’s vital we take the necessary steps as a country to move towards self-sufficiency in energy. The Energy Security Bill will achieve exactly that, delivering more homegrown energy in nuclear, wind, solar and – yes – our own oil and gas from the North Sea.
It’s a shame that all we’ve heard from Labour is that they don’t like it, without any ideas of their own. So, whilst they criticise, I’ll be working day and night to ensure we improve every area of life in Burnley, Padiham, and our surrounding village.
