The King's Speech - Parliament's Agenda

Each session usually lasts one to two years. When a session ends, any bills that have not completed the stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords normally fall, not becoming law.

That is where we are now. Having returned from Easter, MPs are spending long days - and often late evenings - debating and voting on final amendments to remaining Bills. These include legislation on policing, children's welfare, English devolution, pensions and the courts.

Some laws will be formally carried over into the next session if there hasn't been time to complete them. Others will fall away entirely. One Bill that seems unlikely to make it through is the Assisted Dying Bill, which I have long supported. I will continue to work with MPs from other political parties to find ways to bring this back next time.

On 13th May, Parliament will witness a new King's Speech anda fresh list of Bills. This gives backbench MPs like me the chance to apply for Private Member's Bills and to secure debates on issues that matter to our communities.

Once the King's Speech is published, I plan to hold drop-in sessions around Mid Dorset and North Poole to hear your views on the Government's plans. This will help me understand the range of opinion locally so I can raise questions and suggest improvements as Bills progress through Parliament.

Alongside this national work, my time has been dominated locally by the Save Upton Heath campaign. I have raised this in Parliament, through a Prime Ministers Question and a Petition, and worked closely with Dorset Wildlife

Trust and our councils to help raise the funds needed to secure the land at risk of mineral extraction.

I have also supported families affected by staffing and subject cuts at Initio schools, and those worried about the merger of other Multi Academy Trusts. I have met with Ministers and Ofsted to raise these issues and will continue to challenge Trust leaders to protect classroom budgets wherever possible.

Other local casework has included supporting residents in Canford Heath with noise issues from industrial sites, addressing odour problems linked to a landfill site in Wareham, housing and SEND concerns across the constituency, and road safety issues on the A350.

If I can help with an issue affecting your family, or if you want to share your views on local or national matters, I am always keen to hear from residents - by email, at a surgery appointment, or at local drop-ins. You can also register for updates at: www.vikkislade.uk/newsletter or follow me on social media to stay informed.

In her latest "News From Westminster" update, Vikki Slade, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, provides a comprehensive overview of her current work in Parliament and her ongoing commitment to local issues.

The Parliamentary Cycle and the King’s Speech

The article opens with an explanation of the State Opening of Parliament. Slade explains that each new session begins with the King’s Speech, which outlines the government's legislative plans for the upcoming year. As one session concludes and another begins on May 13th, she highlights that any bills not completed through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords usually fall away.

Currently, MPs are working late into the evening to debate and vote on final amendments to remaining legislation, covering critical areas such as:

• Policing and children’s welfare

• English devolution

• Pensions and the courts

Slade expresses her disappointment that the Assisted Dying Bill, which she supports, is unlikely to pass this session but vows to continue working with colleagues to bring it back in the future.

Advocating for Mid Dorset and North Poole

While busy in Westminster, Slade remains deeply focused on constituency matters. Key local initiatives include:

• Save Upton Heath Campaign: Working with Dorset Wildlife Trust and local councils to protect the land from mineral extraction.

• Education Advocacy: Challenging staffing and subject cuts at Initio schools and addressing concerns regarding Multi Academy Trust mergers to protect classroom budgets.

• Local Casework: Addressing noise issues from industrial sites in Canford Heath, odor problems from a Wareham landfill, housing and SEND concerns, and road safety on the A350.