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Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
UK News

Christian MPs response following Queen's speech

by Tola Mbakwe

The legislative agenda for the next two years was dominated by preparations for Brexit.

Eight of the 27 Bills and draft bills are purposed for leaving the European Union. One includes a Repeal Bill to overturn the 1972 Act which took Britain into the European Economic Community.

The Labour Party has criticised the move, saying it shows the government is in a 'shaky' position.

Christian and Labour MP, Rachael Maskell, told Premier she doesn't think the plans were substantial.

She said: "The Queen's speech was incredibly light on legislation - just a few mentions of new laws going to be introduced. Therefore most were aspirational and talking more about things the government wanted to do but not actually place into law."

The speech has confirmed plans for a public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower tragedy. A Civil Disaster Reaction Taskforce would help at times of emergency, and an independent advocate will support those affected and help them at inquests.

Also, in the wake of Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge terror attacks, the speech announced a Commission for Countering Extremism to support the government in "stamping out extremist ideology in all its forms".

Expanding grammar schools, changes to social care funding, and a free vote on fox hunting were scrapped from the plans.

Christian and Conservative MP, Jeremy Lefroy, told Premier he backs what's outlined in the speech and believes Brexit needs to be high on the list of priorities.

He said: "People may have personal wishes they'd like to see in the manifesto, but far more important is that we have an exit from the European Union that focuses very much on people's jobs, the economy, and the ability to pay for the kind of public services that we need."

Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party have yet to form a pact to create a minority government.

Conservative sources said talks with the DUP were "ongoing" after the Northern Irish party warned its support cannot be "taken for granted".

Maskell explained that it shows a very unstable government ahead.

She told Premier: "To run a country without the support of the country behind you does make the very narrow majority quite unworkable, because it won't just be on the issue of the queen's speech but every single vote that follows. ...That's not really a good place for our nation to be. "

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he's prepared to propose his own Queen's Speech if this one fails.

LeFroy admitted that there's a difficult road ahead, but is confident that the Queen's speech will be passed next week, hopefully with the support of the DUP.

He said: "I think on other matters it's going to be a question of going though things bit by bit and Parliament on all sides being convinced of the merit of the legislation.

"I think legalisation will come under fairly intense scrutiny."

Other Bills include legislation on customs, trade, immigration, fisheries, agriculture, nuclear safeguards and the international sanctions regime.

Listen to Labour MP, Rachael Maskell speaking to Premier's Marcus Jones:

Listen to Conservative MP, Jeremy Lefroy, speaking to Premier's Marcus Jones:

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