• Luke describes speech as “Party political stunt by Boris Johnson”
• Most bills will not receive Parliamentary support as Government has a negative majority of 45
• Ministers back Luke’s call to reform parole to stop release of offenders like Vanessa George who refuse to name their victims.

Commenting on today’s Queen’s Speech, Luke Pollard MP said:

“Today’s Queen’s Speech is nothing more than a party political stunt by the Prime Minister. Forcing the Queen to preview the Conservative Party manifesto is precisely the behaviour we have come to expect from a Prime Minister who unlawfully shut down Parliament only a few months ago.

 

“This government is now 45 MPs short of a majority in the House of Commons. So very little of the new laws announced today is likely to pass. But there are a few areas where there is cross-party support – one of those is about fixing the broken justice system.

 

“I have been calling for reform of parole that allows criminals like Vanessa George to be released when she still refuses to name her victims. I have met with Ministers and made clear my view that the law needs to change to tighten the law and stop people like Vanessa George being released. I’m pleased to see the government backing my campaign on this. This necessary and cross-party supported measure needs to be brought forward and not wrapped in controversial proposals that would risk this measure becoming law.

 

“Britain faces continuing uncertainty over our departure from the EU. The Brexit crisis shows no sign of ending any time soon. I believe the best thing to resolve this stage of Brexit is to put the deal on the table to the British people in a public vote and give the power to settle this mess over to the people.”