• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
MPWMost Powerful Women

Why Mental Health Deserves a Mention in the Queen’s Speech

Claire Zillman
By
Claire Zillman
Claire Zillman
Editor, Leadership
Down Arrow Button Icon
Claire Zillman
By
Claire Zillman
Claire Zillman
Editor, Leadership
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 12, 2017, 10:08 PM ET
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Peter Dench for Fortune Magazine.

Nicky Morgan, a Conservative member of the U.K. Parliament, appeared on stage at the Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in London on Monday, four days after her party nearly lost its majority in the House of Commons in the snap election called by Prime Minister Theresa May.

Morgan, who herself won reelection on Thursday, made perhaps the understatement of the evening, calling the outcome “unexpected.”

The MP attended a meeting May held with her Conservative colleagues earlier on Monday in which the prime minister reportedly apologized for her political miscalculation. Shortly after stepping out of the meeting, Morgan told the Fortune audience that what voters want from the government right now is “certainty.”

“There’s no appetite for another election,” she said.

Subscribe to The World’s Most Powerful Women, Fortune’s daily must-read for global businesswomen.

The impending Brexit negotiations may be one factor fueling voters’ need for assuredness. The U.K.’s unprecedented talks with the European Union are scheduled to start next week. May called the snap election seven weeks ago in an effort to secure a stronger majority in Parliament and bolster her negotiating stance with the EU. Instead, the vote weakened her grip on power, making her more vulnerable to factions of MPs that oppose her preference for a clean or “hard” split from the EU.

Morgan provided few hints of how last week’s vote may alter May’s stance. “We have our demands and Brussels has theirs,” she said. “We’ll see where we end up.”

As luck would have it, the so-called Queen’s Speech, an annual event at which Queen Elizabeth reads aloud remarks (prepared by the government) about the legislature’s agenda, is also scheduled for next Monday. Morgan said she hopes mental health will get a mention in the address, since it’s an issue that could garner cross-party support.

Morgan’s reference to mental health is notable as one of May’s biggest campaign blunders came when she released a Conservative Party proposal for elder care. The policy was immediately dubbed a “dementia tax” since it seemed to disadvantage those suffering from longer-term illnesses and their families. The backlash was so harsh that May had to walk back the proposal, which ignited claims of flip-flopping.

Despite her own party leanings, Morgan did lob an assessment that gained universal approval Monday evening: “Politics in this country,” she said, “seem to get more and more interesting.”

About the Author
Claire Zillman
By Claire ZillmanEditor, Leadership
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Claire Zillman is a senior editor at Fortune, overseeing leadership stories. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.