MORE time was spent in the House of Commons in a “sycophantic” discussion of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee than the cost-of-living crisis on Thursday, The National can reveal.
In a general debate noting the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s time on the throne, MPs took just over two hours to recount occasions they had met the monarch and what they viewed as their relationship with the 96-year-old.
Few MPs stayed for the full length of the debate, which was kicked off by Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer - including the Prime Minister and the Labour leader, who left during the proceedings.
This is in contrast to the hour and 40 minutes spent discussing a new package of measures introduced to ease the cost-of-living crisis.
Among those to give accounts of interactions with the Queen over the years were former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, who now sits as an independent, the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader Kirsten Oswald (below), former Prime Minister Theresa May and the father of the House Peter Bottomley.
No MPs referenced the dwindling support for the monarchy, the cash for honours scandal circling Prince Charles, the allegations of racism pointed at the Royal household by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle or Prince Andrew paying money to a woman who has accused him of sexual assault.
No mention was made of what will happen to the monarchy or the public support it currently enjoys in England and Wales in the event of the Queen’s death, given the gap in popularity between her and her successor.
David Linden, the SNP MP for Glasgow East, did not attend the debate and branded the monarchy as an “outdated relic that has no place in the 21st century”.
He told The National: “I don’t think anybody would think that answer to the cost of living crisis is a bloated royal family that most people in Scotland would struggle to identify with.
“The toyal gamily in particular would struggle to understand the challenges that many of my constituents are facing.
“Democratically, it’s an embarrassment to the UK and I don’t get involved in these debates which are, at best, sycophantic.
“If the British hovernment put half as much effort into tackling the cost-of-living crisis as they do with the pomp and ceremony, then we’d all be in a better place.”
Johnson said his meetings with the Queen were “always immensely comforting”.
He added: “No monarch, by her efforts and dedication and achievement, better deserves the attribute of greatness. And for me, she is already Elizabeth The Great.”
Parliament took around an hour and 40 minutes to discuss the measures introduced by the Chancellor – including his statement outlining the package – which included windfall tax on oil and gas giants and doubling the energy bill support payment to all households while changing it from a repayable loan to a grant.
Labour and the SNP have said the measures still do not go far enough, highlighting a lack of action on tackling tax dodgers and pointing out many measures did not deal with the potential for the crisis to last into next year.
