I thought long and hard about what key things I would want included in the Queen’s speech if Labour were in government now.  The majority of the residents in the ward that I represent in Brixton Hill will probably not take much notice of the Queen’s speech as evidence suggests that people continue to feel alienated from the formal political process.  The challenge for us as progressives is about how we reconnect with voters and maximise citizen participation.

My five alternative bills for the Queen’s speech would include:

One – a ‘national apprenticeship scheme’ bill – to ensure that young people gain the qualifications and workplace experience that some of them so desperately need to secure long term employment and to help adults who may be seeking a new career.  This bill would review the current national minimum wage for apprentices with the aim of increasing the £2.60 an hour wage.   All major private and public organisations with a turnover of £10 million would have to join the scheme.  In addition to funding the training for young people, the government should contribute towards the training for older apprentices.

Two – a ‘votes at 16’ bill – schemes like the youth mayor demonstrate that when given the opportunity young people will participate in the political process.  We need to start treating our 16-year-olds like the young responsible adults we want them to be; this includes giving them the opportunity to vote in local and national elections.

Three – a ‘community empowerment bill’ – this will go further than the current proposed extension of community sentences.  Instead of the proposed punitive elements like electronic tagging, this bill would focus resources on the communities that are most affected by the crimes to help them deal with the root cause of the crimes and give them the power to find the right answers, with support from the council, police and other statutory agencies.  This bill will help local communities work with people at risk of falling into the criminal justice system by creating more local opportunities, mentoring, youth activities, and access to long term employment.

Four – a ‘safer, secure neighbourhoods bill’ – One of the first policies that Boris axed after winning in May 2008 was the 50 per cent affordable housing target set by Ken.  The majority of local councillors and MPs across the country will confirm that the number one enquiry that residents come to visit them about is with regards to the lack of good, affordable social housing.  This bill would reverse the  coalition’s decision to scrap the decent home funding to deal with the backlog of maintenance in substandard homes, address the weak regulations across the private rented sector, strengthen the powers, enforcement and timescales for local authorities to bring empty unoccupied properties back into use, and develop co-operative housing models to help create security for first time buyers and communities for families.

Five – a ‘national credit union bill’ –  to truly give people a greater say in their communities and services, they need to be able to have financial control and freedom instead of the current irresponsible lending that has trapped so many people into long-term debt and in some cases bankruptcy.  We need a cap on the cost of credit and an end to legal loan sharks.  This bill would promote alternative affordable credit including local credit unions, mutuals and cooperatives.

—————————————————————————————

Alternative Queen’s Speeches on Progress

Progress editorial: The first Queen’s speech in two years is imminent. Labour should seize on the event to set out its own stall

We asked Labour people to devise what would be in Labour’s Alternative Queen’s Speech to show how Britain would be better under Labour

It should be fiscal responsibility first in Labour’s Alternative Queen’s Speech argues Jacqui Smith

The UK needs a radical tax overhaul. Fabian general secretary Andrew Harrop sets out what this would involve

Strengthening sure start comes first writes David Talbot

Richard Darlington, Tony Dolphin and Graeme Cooke from IPPR present their Alternative Queen’s Speech for jobs and growth

We need an Alternative Queen’s Speech for community empowerment argues Florence Nosegbe

Patrick Diamond wants Labour to create an efficient, muscular state through a ‘too big to fail’ bill and a ‘mutual home-ownership bill’

Jeremy Miles would introduce a ‘transparency in equal pay bill’ and introduce compulsory so that all politicians have to listen to all sections of society

In Steve Van Riel‘s Alternative Queen’s Speech business should be required to publish the salary of its lowest-paid worker, and the OBR should be mandated to work with the opposition on costings

LabourList editor Mark Ferguson would put an end to Crown dependency tax havens, and finally introduce a National Care Service

Former Labour party general secretary Peter Watt would introduce a safety in care bill for all adults in care, and a rule to remove a set number of pieces of legislation from the statute book every year

We must overhaul our taxation system and introduce regional transport authorities argues Gus Baker

Anthony Parker presents his poetic contribution to the series

—————————————————————————————

Florence Nosegbe is a Labour councillor in the London borough of Lambeth, representing Brixton Hill ward and is a candidate in the upcoming NEC elections.

—————————————————————————————

Photo: Gary Knight