Investment, Fairness and Renewal: My Contribution to the King’s Speech Debate

The King’s Speech outlined the legislative agenda of the Labour Government and its programme for national renewal after years of austerity, underinvestment and pressure on public services. 

The speech set out the Government's intention to pass a number of important Bills such as the Representation of the People Bill, which will extend the right to vote to 16 and 17 year olds and the Social Housing Renewal Bill which will protect our vital social housing stock, as well as the Railways and Passengers Benefits Bill, the Energy Independence Bill and the Armed Forces Bill among others. I look forward to working with this Labour Government to implement these important pieces of legislation. 

Rebuilding Communities After Austerity

Under the previous Government, many residents in parts of my constituency felt forgotten, while more affluent areas benefited from sustained investment. This was a purely political choice, just as austerity was and sadly, it is continuing under our Liberal Democrat controlled local authority. 

After the Conservative’s central government programme of austerity, backed by the Liberal Democrats in coalition, councils across Britain are still suffering. However, now, this Labour government is rebuilding stronger public services, which actively support working people and address their needs, to build a more resilient country for all.

Reddish Cannot Continue To Be Overlooked

Nowhere is the need for fair investment clearer than in Reddish. I welcome initiatives such as the Pride in Place funding being delivered in Brinnington. However, other communities, including Reddish, must not be left behind. For years, residents have raised concerns with me about ageing infrastructure and a lack of investment in the area. 

The Future of Reddish Library

One of the clearest examples is Reddish Library.

The building is in urgent need of investment and I remain deeply concerned about longstanding problems including a leaking roof, heating failures, and scaffolding that has remained in place for more than a year. This scaffolding comes at a cost to Stockport taxpayers, and I continue to urge Stockport’s Liberal Democrat run Council to fix the fundamental issues with the building rather than continue to fund costly one-off reactive repairs.

While 93% of people nationally have Essential Digital Skills, this drops to 92% in the North West, making public libraries even more vital. As we mark the National Year of Reading, I also want to recognise the outstanding work of organisations such as Read Easy Stockport, whose volunteers help adults improve their literacy and confidence. Facilities such as Reddish Library play an essential role in supporting that work.

I am disappointed that Stockport Council made a decision to make a hybrid application for the Government’s Libraries Improvement Fund which grouped together several libraries across the borough. Reddish Library was simply one of many bundled into one application, despite needing thousands of pounds to stabilise the roof in addition to other issues. In my view, this was a low-quality application overlooking the serious needs of Reddish. One may think this was a deliberate political choice so more affluent areas in the Borough of Stockport would benefit. The Liberal Democrat run council did not inform me of this application, had they done so, I would be more than happy to lobby the Government for a positive decision for this application.

I also noticed that the leader of the Council put out a one sided party-political hit piece criticising the Labour Government for not approving the LIF application, but he failed to mention that this same Labour Government allocated £1 million this year for Bramhall Hall in the neighbouring Cheadle constituency, on top of the £1.6 million already awarded last year.

I welcome investment in all parts of Stockport, not just in my constituency, but the Liberal Democrats should be honest and upfront about overlooking some parts and prioritising other areas. 

Reddish Vale Bridge Must Be Repaired

I have received lots of correspondence from residents who are concerned that the bridge near Harrison's Weir in Reddish Vale is still out of action, almost 18 months after it was severely damaged by flooding. 

The bridge served as a vital crossing for cyclists, dog walkers, and school children ​travelling between Brinnington and Reddish. Without it, the only alternative route involves a substantial detour, requiring a long and inconvenient walk to reach the nearest crossing point. Stockport Council must take urgent action to bring the bridge back into use for the community. 

Reddish and Brinnington deserve better infrastructure in key green spaces like Reddish Vale and North Reddish Park, including strong local support for an accessible, better-connected path.

Given all of this, Reddish clearly deserves attention and long-overdue investment—I urge both the Government and the local Liberal Democrat Council to act urgently.

Housing Pressures and the Local Plan

Housing is the single largest issue that constituents contact me about. Around one in five people in my constituency are private tenants, and too many families across Stockport are trapped in insecure or overcrowded housing while waiting years for a suitable family home. That is why I welcome the landmark Renters’ Rights Act, which goes a long way towards rebalancing the relationship between tenants and landlords.

But Stockport’s housing crisis also reflects years of political failure locally. For too long, the Liberal Democrat-run Council has avoided difficult but necessary decisions on housing and planning.

Since Liberal Democrat and Conservative Councillors came together to vote to pull out of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (now named Places For Everyone) in 2020, against the wishes of the then Labour-run Stockport Council, residents were promised a “better local plan”. Instead, we have seen years of delay and uncertainty.

That is why I welcomed the intervention by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning in September 2025 to get Stockport’s long-overdue Local Plan back on track. Action by the Labour Government was unavoidable after years of missed deadlines and political indecision by Stockport Council.

I welcome this Government’s promise to deliver 300,000 social and affordable homes and the Social Housing Renewal Bill which will protect the much-needed social housing stock with reforms to the Right to Buy scheme.

Data published at the end of 2025 in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation revealed that Lancashire Hill is the most deprived part of Greater Manchester, and I am often contacted by residents about poor conditions in the flats. Alongside building more affordable family homes, I also want to see Stockport Council making Lancashire Hill a priority for investment. 

You can read more about my views on Stockport’s housing crisis and Labour’s intervention in the local plan here: Stockport’s Housing Crisis and Labour’s Intervention in the Local Plan — Navendu Mishra MP 

Concerns Across Stockport

Throughout my speech, there is a recurring theme.

Many residents tell me that the Liberal Democrat run Stockport Council prioritises some parts of our borough, and is comfortable overlooking other parts.

When local athletes such as Stockport Metro swimmers, national and international medallists based in Stockport, ask about funding for the swimming pool at Grand Central, they are told there is no money. When residents ask for repairs to Reddish Library, they are told there is no money - yet month after month money is found for temporary scaffolding. When local people campaign to preserve historic community assets such as Reddish Baths, once again they are told there is no funding available.

Unfortunately, the same story can be seen elsewhere across our borough: at Stockport Central Library, which has remained closed since September 2025; at Reddish Vale Bridge, left unrepaired for months; and on roads across our communities that are in a shocking state of disrepair.

I want to place on record my thanks to the staff of Stockport Council for the work they do every day for our communities. My criticism is directed not at council staff, but at the political leadership.

A Call For Fair Investment

I strongly welcome the £20 million being invested into Brinnington through the Pride in Place scheme. However, I also want to highlight to the Government that communities such as Reddish and parts of central Stockport must not be overlooked when future funding decisions are made.

Areas with high deprivation, ageing infrastructure, and longstanding underinvestment need targeted support if we are serious about levelling up opportunity and improving quality of life across Britain. 

The King’s Speech set out a programme focused on national renewal. That renewal must reach every community including those parts of Stockport that for too long have felt left behind.