It is amazing to think that it was only a month ago when we were all preparing to go to the polls and vote in the General Election. It has been an interesting last couple of weeks to say the least as the Prime Minister prepared to form a government again, but things finally seem to be getting back to normal now – if there is such a thing as normal in politics.
The Queen’s Speech – the centre-piece of the opening of Parliament and the point when Her Majesty lists the laws that the government plans to get through Parliament in the coming year – took place two weeks ago and I’m pleased to say that it was passed by the House. It was an unusual Queen’s Speech because it set out plans for a two-year long parliamentary session, rather than the usual one year, so that the government can give MPs and peers the maximum possible time to scrutinise all of the extra legislation needed to take us out of the European Union.
I spoke during the Queen’s Speech Debate in support of the government’s plan for a clean Brexit and our positive vision for the future of our country. We want to go out in the world and form strong trading relationships with other nations. There is no reason why we cannot do that and still maintain a fantastic relationship with the European Union. The government has a clear plan: we want to take back control of our laws, our borders and our money, and that is what we have to deliver for the British people who voted clearly for this in the referendum.
Some people seem to think that the General Election result means that we should cancel the referendum result. Indeed Chuka Ummuna, a Labour MP in London, tabled an amendment to the Queen’s Speech, urging the government to negotiate to keep Britain in the single market and customs union – something which would effectively keep us in the European Union in all but name. The European Court of Justice would still be our supreme court, we could not make trade deals with countries around the world, the EU would control our borders and we would still have to pay the EU for the privilege.
Shockingly, a fifth of Labour’s MPs backed this amendment despite being elected on a Labour manifesto that called for us to leave the single market and their leader, Jeremy Corbyn, demanding that Labour MPs abstain on voting for the motion. These MPs ignored their own leader’s calls and it meant that Mr Corbyn had to sack three of his frontbenchers just days into the new Parliament. It has left the party even more divided than ever before.
If anyone thinks that Labour and Jeremy Corbyn could possible form a stable government now, they are sorely mistaken.
Labour are divided, weak and they cannot be trusted to act on the will of the British people and take our country out of the European Union. They have all the wrong priorities – we saw that when Jeremy Corbyn decided to skip Armed Forces Day to give a speech at Glastonbury the other day.
In a democracy we need a strong opposition. We need checks and balances and a good opposition party is part and parcel of that. At the moment, Labour are failing in this duty.
More locally, a planning application has been submitted which could have a huge impact on the people of Atherton and anyone who use the M61 regularly.
Peel Holdings have submitted plans for a golf course, 142-room hotel and, more importantly, 1,000 homes on the Hulton Park Estate. Although these plans have been submitted to Bolton Council, they will have a big impact of local people here in Atherton and the surrounding towns.
All these new homes will mean extra cars on our roads and more people moving to the area. I have made my own opinion on these plans very clear – I don’t think we will be able to cope – but I am urging local people to also have their own say. You can share your views by emailing [email protected]. Don’t forget to quote the planning reference, which is 00997/17.