Writing for the Mirror, the Commons leader highlighted new protections for renters and workers as evidence Labour is working to put “ordinary people at the front of the queue”
Labour has made a start in “turning the tables towards ordinary people”, Commons Leader Lucy Powell has told the Mirror.
Looking back on the first months of the new government, the Commons leader highlighted new protections for renters and workers as evidence Labour is working to put “ordinary people at the front of the queue”.
Some 30 bills were introduced into Parliament since the Summer, with two thirds of those listed in the King’s speech already progressing through Parliament.
And the new year will see more bills brought forward on planning reform, criminal justice and border security.
Ms Powell said: “After an era dogged by Tory sleaze and scandal, and politics engaged in an ongoing soap opera about itself, it’s no wonder that most people have so little faith and belief in politics.
“We’ve got to change that.
“Actually getting on with improving everyday lives is part of that. So too is how politics operates.”
She added: “we can’t do everything everyone wants by the first Christmas after an election, but we’ve begun the work of change that people voted for.”
We’re turning the tables to put ordinary people at the front of the queue
By LUCY POWELL, Leader of the House of Commons
It’s easy to feel festive in the Houses of Parliament. It’s next door to Westminster Abbey, the patterned carpet looks like wrapping paper, even the seats in the Commons and the Lords are green and red.
This Christmas is a bit different, though, because it is the first one in 15 years that, as Labour MPs, we’ve been in government.
It’s been a whirlwind of a six months.
Putting parliament to work quickly after such a big change of government, with over 300 new MPs, is not that easy. As Leader of the House it’s my job to make sure we’ve got good, effective and ready legislation to bring in. And that what we are doing will really change people’s lives.
Being in government has at times been more difficult than we’d have wanted. Thanks to the inheritance from 14 years of Tory failure, the country faces some unprecedented challenges – stagnant growth, high costs of living and public services on their knees.
However, we have got to work with some major new laws and legislation which rebalance how the country works – in favour of working people, not vested interests.
In other words, turning the tables to put ordinary people at the front of the queue.
We’re cracking through – with 30 Bills now progressing through parliament – the most ambitious legislative agenda of any new Government.
The Great British Energy Bill, nearly through parliament, will help us achieve home-grown energy security and bring down bills. High bills and us being so exposed to global energy prices is what drove the cost of living crisis.
The Passenger Railway Services Act – which is already a law – begins to put rail in the interests of passengers, not profits. Alongside resetting relationships with the unions and establishing Shadow Great British Railways, it’s one of the first big steps we have taken towards improving the reliability of trains – which let’s face it is much-needed.
The Water Bill will begin to clean up our waterways and stop water bosses taking excessive bonuses, especially when they continue to pollute our rivers and seas. Water companies need to operate in the interests of consumers rather than shareholders. The bill will soon become law.
The Renters’ Rights Bill, on its final passage in the Commons next month, will shift power into renters’ hands, so that people have a secure and decent place to live.
And the Employment Rights Bill will see the biggest uplift in a generation in workers rights, ending exploitative zero hours contracts, giving people proper access to sick pay and ensuring workers get their fair pay.
This is just some of what we’ve been doing.
We’ve got more coming next year as we deliver our plan for change on house-building, making our borders more secure and tough action on retail and knife crime.
But if we are to change people’s lives, we also need to change the way that politics works and is seen.
After an era dogged by Tory sleaze and scandal, and politics engaged in an ongoing soap opera about itself, it’s no wonder that most people have so little faith and belief in politics.
We’ve got to change that.
Actually getting on with improving everyday lives is part of that. So too is how politics operates.
In a matter of weeks into the job, I tightened the rules on MPs “second jobs”. And I’m going further.
I’m also modernising how parliament works to tackle bad culture and behaviour, and make sure we are as effective as we can be.
As the Prime Minister said this week, we can’t do everything everyone wants by the first Christmas after an election, but we’ve begun the work of change that people voted for.
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