The Government's new agenda has drawn a mixed reaction from Cumbrians after it was outlined in the Queen's Speech.

The speech revealed plans to offer more opportunities for people in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with some focused on supporting the nation’s recovery, backing the NHS, levelling up and spreading opportunity.

The speech set out new laws as part of the prime minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, which aims to give people the skills, they need for well-paid jobs and opportunities to train throughout their lifetime, as well as new laws on a variety of issues such as internet safety, animal welfare and the environment.

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison joined Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the Commons chamber for the ceremonial State Opening of Parliament when the Government’s proposed policies and legislation for the year ahead were revealed to the country.

She said: “The Queen’s Speech today emphasises the unleashing of potential – as yet untapped talent and pent-up opportunity. Releasing land for homes and creativity for self-builds with planning changes. Developing minds and training trades with the prime minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee at our local colleges.

“That sums up today’s future plan and my plan for Copeland. As we recover, cautiously and irreversibly, out of lockdown I’m eager to deliver what I promised over four years ago and will work alongside everyone who will join me.”

One of the key plans was that a consultation would start to ban gay conversion therapy in England and Wales. Conversion therapy means trying to stop or suppress someone from being gay, or from living as a different gender to their sex recorded at birth.

However, the way in which the ban is to go before consultation before being implemented has angered many in the LGBTQ+ community.

Stevie Westgarth, 39, a project worker at Pride in Cumbria, said: “I am glad it’s moving towards being banned, but it should have happened a long, long, long time ago.

"There’s a lot of talk about mental health; there’s a lot of young people who we work with whose mental health is being affected by the Government.

"Gay conversion therapy tells people that the way they were born isn’t right. I think the word therapy is a misuse of language.”