BREXIT continues to dominate the political agenda - and to divide the county’s MPs.

Cumbrian politicians weighed in with their thoughts following the Queen’s Speech yesterday. Pomp and pageantry were on full show in Westminster for the state opening of Parliament.

Peers, foreign dignitaries and invited guests watched on as Queen Elizabeth II delivered her 10-minute speech.

A raft of anti-crime Bills dominated the state opening of Parliament, as well as proposed legislation on immigration and the environment.

Reacting to the speech, Carlisle MP John Stevenson told the News & Star: “We have a new agenda, and I have a keen interest in two critical areas: the NHS; and education.

“This agenda is a positive one, which also focuses on tackling issues such as the environment, social care, as well as building a strong and stable economy.

“The environment and education are two factors needed to drive a modern economy - including in Carlisle.”

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “The Queen’s Speech set out our ambitious domestic agenda, focusing on our core priorities of getting Brexit done, investing in our NHS, tackling violent crime and dealing with the cost of living.

“By getting Brexit done, we will end the uncertainty and get on with an ambitious programme to build a brighter future for everyone in this country. We remain committed to securing a deal with the EU and negotiating an ambitious future relationship – The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill will ratify that deal once secured.”

However, Workington’s Labour MP Sue Hayman pulled no punches in her response: “Today, the Government set out a legislative agenda that it has no intention and no means of delivering.

“In a cynical stunt, Boris Johnson forced the Queen to deliver a party political broadcast for the Tories.

“The Tories have no workable plan for Brexit - we are two weeks from Brexit day and there’s still no sign of a negotiated deal.

“Their paltry plans to fund public services don’t even begin to undo the austerity cuts that they have inflicted upon Cumbria since 2010.

“They can’t tell us what they’ll do to tackle climate change or rising poverty. The economy is shrinking and productivity is falling, while wages are lower than they were 10 years ago.

“Only Labour is putting forward a radical, hopeful programme for government to rebuild and transform our country. We will let the people decide on Britain, build an economy that works for communities like ours in West Cumbria, and restore our vital public services by giving them the resources they desperately need.”

A spokesman from Rory Stewart’s office said the Penrith and Border MP wouldn’t comment on the Queen’s Speech.

n The Queen's Speech came the day after a leaked report, covered by The Sunday Times newspaper, revealed Carlisle was among a list of places across the country predicted to suffer the worst job losses in the event of a no deal Brexit.

The document, published by the Government as part of Operation Kingfisher, highlighted that 29 of the 33 worst hit places also voted to leave.

In addition to Carlisle, the entries included Sunderland, York, and Harrogate in the north, right down to Oxford, Cheltenham and Yeovil in the south.

The report follows a warning from Nissan’s European Chairman this week that their plant in Sunderland would be ‘unsustainable’ and a letter from leading manufacturing bodies condemning Boris Johnson proposal as ‘a serious risk to manufacturing competitiveness’ that would result in ‘huge new costs and disruption to UK firms’.

Mr Stevenson dismissed the report however, claiming: “We’ve got to be careful with speculation and take this report with a pinch of salt.

“Carlisle has a very resilient economy and is doing remarkably well. One such example of a business that won’t be affected by a no deal Brexit is Nestle near Carlisle, which exports to South America.”