HARRIS - Response to the Queen's speech

9.50.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 7th Nov 2007

Commenting on the Queen's speech delivered this morning, local Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris said:

"Despite having no lack of practice on such occasions, with this Queen's speech being the 11th of the Blair/Brown government, Brown has once again failed to impress/inspire with any new or visionary proposals. Mr Brown may have provided the country with a different style of leadership but he has failed to provide a change in direction"

"In many policy areas, Brown has simply copied the Tory stance - with both parties now courting the anti-immigration vote, supporting environmentally damaging airport expansion and continuing to uphold a position of subservience to the Bush administration. Oxfordshire people deserve better than this, they deserve real choice. Only the Liberal Democrats now offer that choice with our truly distinctive stance on issues"

"Environmental issues are a central concern for local people in Oxford and Abingdon, but far from ensuring the environment is placed at the heart of policy making, Brown had downgraded the key government committee on the environment and is trying to backtrack on renewable energy targets"