A CUMBRIAN MP had a mixed reaction to the King’s Speech which set out the Labour government’s priorities over the coming months.

Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron spoke after King Charles outlined over 35 bills the new government is set to implement.

Among the bills outlined in the King’s Speech included a new Water (Special Measures) Bill to strengthen regulation.

The bill will give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met and increase accountability for water executives.

Mr Farron said: “There were some positive and welcome measures announced in the King’s Speech including a new bill to take action against water companies who pollute our precious rivers and lakes.”

Other bills outlined in the King’s Speech include a planning and infrastructure bill designed to streamline the planning process and accelerate the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

A Passenger Railway Services Bill will also allow the government to renationalise most passenger rail services when current contracts expire and a tobacco and vapes bill will make it an offence to sell tobacco products to those born after January 1, 2009.

Mr Farron added: “We need to see more action to tackle the huge problem local people are facing with health and care.

“The Conservative Party completely neglected local health services in Cumbria for years, leaving people struggling to see an NHS dentist when they need to, and waiting months to start vital cancer treatment.”

“This crisis has to be addressed and I will be pressing ministers every step of the way to put our NHS and care at the heart of their agenda.”

The King’s Speech read out by the monarch said: “My Government will improve the National Health Service as a service for all, providing care on the basis of need regardless of the ability to pay.

“It will seek to reduce the waiting times, focus on prevention and improve mental health provision for young people. It will ensure mental health is given the same attention and focus as physical health.”

Other bills set out in the speech include a renters’ rights bill which will ban no fault evictions and an employments rights bill to ban ‘exploitative practices’.

The Liberal Democrat MP added he was ‘deeply disappointed’ to see no mention of farming in the King’s Speech.

He said: “The damaging actions taken by the previous Conservative Government have left many local farmers in real hardship, struggling to keep their farm going.

“If this new government really cares about our food security and our environment then they need to urgently bring forward funding so that our farmers are able to carry on farming.”