Ranil Jayawardena was pleased to have the opportunity to see Her Majesty The Queen formally open Parliament and deliver the Queen’s Speech earlier today. This historic speech is the first of a Conservative Government since 1996 and sets out the Governments vision of a safe and secure country rich in opportunities for all, no matter what their stage of life.
The Government’s ambition is to build a country where, regardless of who you are and where you live, every individual can have a good education, a decent job, a home of their own and the ability to raise a family and enjoy a secure retirement.
Ranil commented: ‘I’m delighted that the Conservatives are already delivering on our promise to help hardworking people at every stage of their lives. Increasing the tax-free allowance for people working 30 hours a week on the minimum wage and delivering a five-year tax lock, which will mean no income tax, VAT or National Insurance rises in this Parliament, ensures people who work hard for their money get to keep it. Measures to secure the real value of the basic state pension will mean more people can have the security they deserve when they retire. I’m also pleased to see the announcement that there will be efforts made to increase the rights of victims of crime, something I have supported before which I feel very passionate about.’