Published: Wednesday, 18th November, 2009 12:45pm

First reaction to Queen's Speech in Reading

by Adam Hewitt

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TODAY'S Queen's Speech is a "self-serving charade" according to Reading's Lib Dems.

The Labour Government this morning announced its legislative agenda for the year, including free care for needy pensioners, pledges on bonus clampdowns and giving councils more flood-prevention powers.

The Queen read the speech at the state opening of Parliament.

Business secretary Lord Mandelson called the plans "affordable and achievable".

But the Lib Dem candidate in Reading East, Cllr Gareth Epps, said in a statement: "The Queen's Speech has been shamelessly turned by Labour into a self-serving political charade. At a time when Parliament has lost its authority following the expenses scandal, all it can do is give its successor a fresh start."

He repeated party leader Nick Clegg's call to abandon the legislation, little of which is likely to be enacted before the general election, and instead concentrate on an "emergency programme of political reform" to deal with the fall-out from the expenses scandal.

Reading West's Labour MP Martin Salter and Reading East's Tory MP Rob Wilson were both praised by the Daily Telegraph, which exposed the scandal, for keeping their hands clean and for commuting to London rather than charging the taxpayer for second homes.

Mr Salter especially welcomed the flood prevention measures in the speech.

He said: "Despite the forthcoming election, I am pleased that the Government has found time and space to tackle issues such as sewerage and flooding, which have caused so much concern here in Reading and West Berkshire. I promised my constituents on the Haddocks Estate in Tilehurst that I would do everything I could to end the crazy anomaly whereby householders could find themselves facing huge bills to repair a sewer collapse in the middle of a public road. I am really pleased that it looks like this will be finally achieved before I leave Parliament next year.

"There are many other worthwhile measures in this Queen's Speech and I am particularly pleased that at long last there will be proper regulation of bankers' pay and bonuses - and quite right too, since the taxpayer has bailed many of the banks out in recent months. I also welcome the plans for NHS patients to be guaranteed their treatment within 18 weeks, and for the most vulnerable of our old folk to receive free personal care in their own homes."

But Cllr Epps outlined the alternative Lib Dem plan:

1. Recall power for MPs suspended for misconduct

2. Code of conduct for election candidates in the next election, including declaration of financial interests

3. An elected House of Lords

4. Party funding reform

5. Fixed term Parliaments

6. A 100-person Citizens' Assembly to agree a new voting system for Parliamentary elections

7. Reduced executive power and a tougher House of Commons

- WHAT did you think of the Queen's Speech? Leave any reaction below.