Scottish Party Leader Brands Queen’s Yearly Speech 'Wasted Opportunity'

This year’s speech by UK Queen Elizabeth II, in which she defined the government’s priorities for the next 12 months, was a “wasted opportunity,” the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Angus Robertson said Wednesday.

EDINBURGH (Sputnik) –  Earlier on Wednesday, the Queen in her speech outlined major reforms to prisons, universities, adoption and the care system as well as many other bills that are set to be adopted during the upcoming 12 month-period.

“The reality of today’s Queen’s speech is that this is — as predicted — a wasted opportunity for 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 to be done,” Robertson said in a statement.

The Queen’s speech included some changes to the laws on pensions, such as the creation of special advisory services for the retired, although no major reforms on the issue were listed. No significant UK-wide changes to the economic and social security legislation has been mentioned by the Queen.

“Over the last 6 years, we have seen time and time again that the Tories are ideologically wedded to their programme of austerity and this Queen’s Speech will deliver more of the same,” the parliament member added.

The State Opening of Parliament, during which the head of state delivers her yearly speech, is a predominantly ceremonial event since the text of the Queen's speech is written by the country's government and the most significant bills are known before the ceremony.