Richard Foord MP responds to King’s Speech

Responding to the King’s Speech, Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton & Sidmouth, Richard Foord said:

“Today’s King’s Speech set out a whole range of new measures, as always, the proof will be in the pudding.

“New laws to address the crisis facing our mental health services and to crack down on rogue water companies are welcome progress, after years of inaction from the previous Conservative government.

“However, we need to see more action to tackle the immense challenges facing our community after years of Conservative chaos, especially when it comes to dentistry.

“I am deeply concerned that NHS dentistry didn't get a single mention in the speech today. This is despite the rapidly expanding dental desert across Devon.

“We’ve seen this first-hand in Axminster where, just days after the election, Axminster Dental Practice announced they will stop treating NHS patients from October due to the flawed dental contract.

“Labour said in the election that they would ‘make sure everyone who needs a dentist can get one’. I am going to hold them to it and keep pushing for action before it’s too late.”