“What do I want to see in the Kings Speech? Cost of living relief and a commitment to thriving local economies.”

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough has laid
out a list of policies he would like to see ahead of this week’s Kings Speech,
prioritising cost of living and local economies. The speech, which is due to take place
on Wednesday, is written by the Government and indicates their agenda for the next
parliamentary session.

Appearing on ITV’s Last Orders, the political show covering Yorkshire and
Lincolnshire, the MP called for a reversal of the employer National Insurance
Contribution increase as well as a scrapping of the family farm and business tax
which the government implemented earlier this year.

Mr Gordon has also called on the government to tackle cost of living, with a
particular emphasis on transport. In a recent social media post, he asked for the
implementation his longstanding campaign to let disabled people use their bus
passes all day, rather than just in off-peak hours and reduce the cost of transport.
He’s also called for a raft of measures to reduce transport costs. The Liberal
Democrats set out their comprehensive transport plan to “keep Britain moving” last
month, including a £1 cap on all bus tickets, a 10% reduction in train fares and 10p
off every litre of fuel.
 

Tom said:
 

“What do I want to see in the Kings Speech? Cost of living relief and a commitment
to thriving local economies.
 

As the Government sets out its agenda ahead of the state opening of Parliament, we
need to see a scrapping of the family farm and business tax and reversal of the
National Insurance Contribution hike.
 

As I return top to the Chamber, I will be prioritising measures that will help residents’
pay packets go further. The Government should back the Liberal Democrat plans to
get Britain moving by reducing fuel duty, capping bus fares at a pound and reducing
rail fares by 10%.
 

They also need to get serious about scrapping silly restrictions on disabled bus
passes”.