PARLIAMENTARIAN Martin Docherty-Hughes has called the Queen’s Speech a “wasted opportunity”.

The monarch gave her speech outlining the UK Government’s priorities for the year last Wednesday, May 19.

Mr Docherty-Hughes slammed the lack of progressive policies and said it was “utterly weak when there is so much that needs to be done”.

He told the Post: “The SNP predicted that the Queen’s Speech would be a wasted opportunity and a wasted opportunity it was; With no progressive action on pensions, social security and the economy, it is business as usual from the Tories, and utterly weak when there is so much needs to be done.

“While a few measures are to be welcomed, such as the likely delivery of a universal service obligation on broadband, this Queen’s Speech delivers nothing on pension reform for the Waspi women, on the simplification of the tax system, on social security, or on major action on the economy to boost exports and productivity and lift people out of poverty.

“Over the last six years, we’ve seen time and time again that the Tories are ideologically committed to their ongoing austerity project and this Queen’s Speech confirms they plan to simply deliver more of the same.

“With Labour found wanting, their leader’s speech generating ridicule and the SNP putting forward the only credible, progressive alternative to this Queen’s Speech, my colleagues and I have proven yet again that the SNP is the only real opposition to Tory Government in the UK Parliament.”