New government sets its agenda
Lauren Fedor previews what we can expect from today’s Queen’s Speech
PRIME Minister David Cameron has said that today’s Queen’s Speech will set out his government’s vision for a “one nation” country “of security and opportunity for everyone, at every life stage”. But what exactly does that mean? What legislative proposals can we expect the speech to include, and in turn, for parliament to debate in the weeks and months ahead?
EU REFERENDUM
Cameron has promised to renegotiate the UK’s terms of membership within the European Union and hold an in/out referendum by the end of 2017. Downing Street has already said that the government will introduce an EU referendum bill tomorrow, but expect the issue to be front-and-centre in today’s speech as those in both the “in” and “out” camps look for further detail on the timing of a referendum.
TAX LOCK
On the campaign trail, Cameron promised to write into a law a five-year “tax lock” preventing rises in income tax, VAT and National Insurance over the course of the current parliament. Today, the Prime Minister said that his government will deliver on the promise by having it in the Queen’s Speech.
TAX-FREE ALLOWANCE
Cameron said today that the speech will include proposals to not only raise the tax-free personal allowance to £12,500 by 2020, but also tie future increases in the threshold to the national minimum wage, meaning that people working 30 hours a week on the minimum wage would not pay any income tax. Downing Street claims such changes would benefit “around 30m working people.”
IMMIGRATION
The Prime Minister said last week that a “far reaching” immigration bill will be included in today’s speech, calling for the “whole of government” to clamp down on illegal immigration. Downing Street says that the bill will include a series of measures to control immigration, including creating new rules to allow police to seize the wages of illegal foreign workers.
ENTERPRISE
Business secretary Sajid Javid said earlier this month that the Queen’s Speech will include an enterprise bill intended to cut red tape and return at least £10bn to the pockets of small and medium-sized business owners. Javid said the bill would include plans for a new small business conciliation service set up to help settle payment disputes. Separately, Javid said that today’s speech would set out new plans for tougher rules on organised labour, requiring strikes affecting public services to gain the backing of 40 per cent of eligible union members before going ahead.
HOUSING
The government said yesterday that the Queen’s Speech will include a housing bill centring on the Right to Buy scheme that the Tories promised on the campaign trail. Under the scheme, housing association tenants would be able to buy the homes they live in at a discount capped at just over £102,700 in London and £77,000 for the rest of England.
SCOTLAND
During a trip to Edinburgh shortly after the General Election, the Prime Minister said that the Queen’s Speech will include a comprehensive Scotland bill bringing together the powers agreed upon by the Smith Commission following last year’s Scottish referendum. Downing Street says that the new law would make Holyrood “one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world”, but many members of the SNP remain unconvinced.
Q&A: WHY DO WE LISTEN TO THE QUEEN’S SPEECH?
Q What is the Queen’s Speech, and what does it include?
A The Queen’s Speech is an annual event setting out the government’s agenda. The Queen reads a document, prepared by the Prime Minister, outlining proposed policies and laws.
Q Where does the speech take place? Who is in the audience?
A The Queen delivers the speech from the throne in the House of Lords. According to the House of Commons library, the speech is the only regular event at which the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons meet in the same place at the same time.
Q What happens after the Queen’s Speech is finished?
A It is back to work for parliament. As soon as the Queen leaves Westminster, members of both houses begin debating the contents of the speech.