Theresa May’s Queen’s Speech
Today we finally get to hear in the form of the Queen’s Speech what Theresa May and her government plan for the future, it will reveal which laws they plan to introduce or change.
The centre of the speech is expected to be dominated by Brexit, one of a number of bills will be the Great Repeat Bill to put existing EU regulations into UK law. The government will set out plans for the next two years, rather than just one year as usual, this will give more time for ministers to consider the complex laws they need to navigate to enable the UK to leave the EU.
Following the General Election Theresa May’s hand has been significantly weakend, she no longer has a majority in the house and at this moment of time she still has not tied up a deal with the DUP to give her the majority required in parliament to get the Queen’s Speech agreed.
Some manifesto pledges blamed for costing the conservatives a majority will be scrapped, this will include plans to scrap the winter fuel allowance and the pension triple lock, a vote to repeal the foxhunting ban and the scrapping of free school dinners for infants. Action to tackle the crisis in social care has been pledged, the controversial manifesto proposal dubbed the ‘dementia tax” which caused such constenation in the run up to the election and probably caused a number of core supporters to withdraw their support will also be dropped.
A Draft Tenant’s Fees Bill to ban landlords from charging tenants “letting fees” is expected to be included.
Speaking ahead of todays Queen’s Speech Theresa May said: “The election result was not the one I hoped for, but this Government will respond with humility and resolve to the message the electorate sent. We will work hard every day to gain the trust and confidence of the British people, making their priorities our priorities,”