By PM to focus on economic worries as government plans unveiled in Queen’s speech
The government has promised to tackle the cost of living crisis by boosting the economy as well as pledging support for Ukraine and outlining plans to reduce regional inequality.
The Queen’s speech, this year delivered by the Prince of Wales, is part of the highly ceremonial State Opening of Parliament that allows the government to unveil its legislative plan for the next session.
This year’s contained 38 bills and draft bills, covering subjects including energy security, carbon emissions and post-Brexit economic arrangements.
Prince Charles delivered the short address to MPs and peers, after the Queen pulled out for the first time since 1963 because of mobility problems.
The speech comes amid growing concerns over the cost of living crisis after with the Bank of England warned that inflation could hit 10% later this year.
None of the bills directly addressed the issue, but the prime minister said wider economic reforms would help households.
“We must… remember that for every pound of taxpayers’ money we spend on reducing bills now, it is a pound we are not investing in bringing down bills and prices over the longer term,” he said in an introduction to the speech.
“If anything, this moment makes clear our best remedy lies in urgently delivering on our mission to turbo-charge the economy, create jobs and spread opportunity across the country.”
However, the PM added that because of the “huge disruptions to the global economy” caused by Covid and the war in Ukraine, “people in every major country facing real pressures in the cost of living. No country is immune and no government can realistically shield everyone from the impact.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Times are tough for working people. But they are much tougher than they should be. Some 12 years of the Conservatives have meant low economic growth, high inflation, and high taxes.
“Because the Tories are not up to the challenge of growing the economy, all those tax hikes aren’t going into improving public services. Never before have people been asked to pay so much for so little.”
