Ely & East Cambridgeshire MP responds to King's Speech: Fixing local health services must be at the heart of the government agenda

Responding to the King’s Speech, Liberal Democrat MP for Ely & East Cambridgeshire, Charlotte Cane said:

“Laws to start tackling the crisis in our mental health services and stop filthy sewage entering our rivers are welcome.

“However, we need to see more action to tackle the immense challenges facing our community after years of Conservative chaos, especially on health, social care and child poverty.

“The Conservative Party completely neglected local health services in Ely & East Cambridgeshire for years, leaving people with long waits to see a GP, have hospital tests and operations, or get the social care they need. There aren’t even any dentists in Ely & East Cambridgeshire taking on NHS patients.

“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.

“We must see action to bring NHS dentists back to Ely & East Cambridgeshire following the King’s Speech. People in Ely & East Cambridgeshire simply cannot wait any longer.

“One glaring omission from the King’s Speech was action to end the two-child benefit cap. I welcome the setting up of a child poverty task force, but children in poverty cannot wait for their conclusions. We know that ending the two-child benefit cap will instantly lift at least 300,000 children out of poverty. Labour should lift that cruel cap immediately.”