'A disappointing string of announcements with no vision' - that's the verdict of John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington and Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson on transport, as local residents digest the contents of the Queen's Speech, the government's plans for the coming year.
'This year alone has seen natural disasters all over the world in the headlines; this summer's flooding across Britain being a prime example. The government's response is to bring in a weak Climate Change Bill that lacks targets and the real action needed to tackle the problem.
'Thousands of people in South Manchester are on the Council's rehousing list, unable to live in a home of their own because the government has failed completely over the past decade to ensure there is enough affordable housing. Yet the measures in the Queen's Speech on housing will only scratch the surface of the problem.
'The Government is forcing councils into road pricing pilots, even where these are not the best option locally. This means that it is even more likely that congestion charging will be imposed on Greater Manchester without a taking proper account of local people's views. We want a referendum on the congestion charge for Great Manchester and a move to national pricing for lorries, as is already up and running in Germany and the Czech Republic.
'The announcement on powers to re-regulate buses is long overdue, but these powers must be accountable to local people. Unregulated bus services have not served Manchester well, causing havoc in the City Centre and on routes such as Wilmslow Road, while leaving other routes under served. However, bus regulation in local areas must remain locally accountable. Local authorities must have full freedom to choose how they manage bus services.
'Much of the Queen's speech is a collection of knee jerk reactions, rather than a picture of where Labour wants to take the country. And much of the rest is about grabbing headlines by trying to look as if problems that Labour have failed to tackle over the past decade are now being taken seriously.
'Many people in Manchester Withington will be disappointed by this Queen's Speech from the government. What could have been a great stride forward for both South Manchester and the country has turned out to be a timid mishmash that will get us nowhere.'
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Previous news story: Government continues to fail our children - John Leech MP (Thu 8th Nov 2007).
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