King’s Speech

Lord Smith of Finsbury Excerpts

Tuesday 19th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Smith of Finsbury (Lab)]

My Lords, it is an honour to speak in the debate which saw such wonderful maiden speeches from the noble Lords, Lord Hobby and Lord Blackwater. There is much in the gracious Speech that I welcome. I particularly welcome the proposal for an overnight visitor levy Bill, and I hope that the proceeds of such a levy can be directed half to local cultural activities and organisations and half to the place-making which will enhance the experience of both visitors and citizens.

I want to focus, though, on two other things. The first is the consultation under way by the DCMS to explore the possibility of charging overseas visitors for entry to national museums and galleries, on which I cannot disagree more strongly with the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Swire. Such a proposal would undermine one of the very best achievements of the new Labour Government—and I was pleased to play a small part in ensuring that it came about. First, there are huge practical difficulties. How on earth can you tell who is a British citizen and who is not? We have no national identity card system as yet in this country. There is also the need to install turnstiles, barriers, ticket desks and to employ supervisory staff. This will undermine any savings that come from charging visitors. Secondly, fewer visitors means less spend in the café, the shop and the restaurant. Thirdly, having barriers in place effectively puts up a sign saying, “You’re not welcome here”, and that will have an impact on British visitors as well as overseas ones. Fourthly, this is an important part of Britain’s soft power. Free museums for all has a major reputational benefit for the UK and means enhanced tourism income for the country. Fifthly, imagine the opprobrium if we are charging visitors from Greece to see the Parthenon marbles and visitors from Nigeria to see the Benin bronzes. Sixthly, the overnight visitor levy is a far better way of ensuring that foreign tourists contribute to the life of this country. Do not, for heaven’s sake, I plead with the Government, go down the road of changing free entry for all to our museums.

The other issue I want to raise briefly—and I remind the House I am the chancellor of Cambridge University—is the complete failure of the student loans system. The system is broken. It is causing enormous harm to young people and beginning to be a deterrent to going to university. I regret there is nothing in the gracious Speech to reform this system. Young people’s university experience ought to be full of excitement, aspiration and hope. It is a passage to adulthood, an experience that teaches them how to explore, discuss, learn and discover. Yet because of the student finance system in place at the moment, the experience is darkly overshadowed. I plead with the Government to bring the light back in.