King’s Speech fails to tick all the boxes

While certain campaign groups have been delighted with some of the content of the King’s speech, not everyone heard what they were hoping to hear.

Jane Burston, CEO, Clean Air Fund, was one of the first to respond: ‘The Government has rightly recognised the urgency of the global climate challenge but, given the Labour party made a promise to take bold action on air pollution, the omission of a Clean Air Act from today’s legislative agenda is disappointing. Air pollution can and should be tackled alongside the Government’s clean energy and climate ambitions.

‘With strong leadership on clean air at home, the Government can also play its part as a champion of health, climate change mitigation and sustainable economic development abroad.

‘Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to our health. It is associated with up to 40,000 early deaths per year in the UK, costing the NHS up to £20 billion annually. Reaching World Health Organization interim targets for air quality could boost the UK economy by £1.6bn annually.
We are at a critical point in the fight for clean air, yet action is not progressing at the scale and speed necessary. Ramping up action on clean air is critical to saving lives, supporting economic growth, reducing the NHS bill and tackling inequalities.

‘This Government must now seize the opportunity and legislate for a future which prioritises clean air. On the world stage, the UK also has the chance to demonstrate its leadership and champion clean air as it advances global health, climate change mitigation and sustainable economic development.’

Similarly unenthused was Richard Dilks, chief executive of Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), who noted that while the speech contained three transport-related bills including policies such as improving local bus services and nationalising the railways, it did not mention shared transport or e-scooters.

‘It is disappointing that after its comprehensive victory at the election earlier this month, Labour has not seized the chance to be as bold as it could have been in the King’s Speech,’ he said.

‘We welcome the government’s intention to improve services for bus and rail passengers, but there is a clear policy gap when it comes to shared transport, which has the potential to work alongside these other reforms in decarbonising the way we travel.

‘Giving e-scooters and other similar vehicles legal status is a common sense move that would bring the UK into line with most other European countries and give people a flexible and green way to get around.

‘In the meantime, we would like England’s e-scooter trials to be expanded, with more vehicles covering wider areas in response to local demand. New schemes should also be approved in council areas that could benefit.

‘Today’s announcement of plans to give more powers to local councils in England should also include the ability to expand the use of shared transport, whether that is through new bike schemes or on-demand buses following flexible routes.

‘Any shake-up to the planning system should also ensure that bike share schemes, car clubs and other similar initiatives are put front and centre.

‘Ministers have a huge opportunity to push ahead with the expansion of shared transport, which our research has shown carries numerous benefits, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions and improving people’s health. They need to seize the day.