Earlier today, Prince Charles delivered the Queen's speech at the opening of Parliament, with special permission granted by her Majesty.
This is the first time the Queen has missed this speech since 1963, due to her experiencing what Buckingham Palace described as “episodic mobility problems”.
Instead, the Prince of Wales stood in for the major constitutional duty.
The speech is basically a list of goals set out for the Parliamentary year.
As reported by Wales Online, Boris Johnson billed his legislative agenda as a blueprint to get the country “back on track” after the coronavirus pandemic, and will hope it can bolster his troubled premiership.
But attention will quickly turn to what the Queen’s Speech lacks, with the Prime Minister saying he cannot “completely shield” everyone from the cost-of-living crisis.
Essentially there are 38 Bills in the programme, 27 of which apply to Scotland, but nothing to alleviate consumers’ soaring household expenses right now.
Here is a look at what was in the Speech and what was absent.
What is the Queen's Speech?
Written entirely by the Government, the Queen, as head of state, reads the outline of policies and laws proposed for the new parliamentary session.
But this Tuesday’s State Opening of Parliament had a striking difference: the 96-year-old Queen was not speaking at all, and was not present for the first time in 59 years.
What is in it?
Mr Johnson will hope that eye-catching policies will help shore up his leadership which has been rocked by partygate and heavy losses in the local elections.
Ministers will try to force through a crackdown on “guerrilla protests”, with jail sentences and unlimited fines for those who disrupt key national infrastructure.
A series of measures will seek to take advantage of Brexit, including tearing up EU regulations and implementing free trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.
A Bill of Rights to reform human rights laws will be introduced, the sell-off of Channel 4 will be enabled, and plans will be introduced to deal with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Amid the drawn-out invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the security services will get extra powers to tackle foreign spies and efforts to influence British democracy, with a reference to Chinese interference.
A Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will seek to drive local growth and regenerate towns and cities across England, including by enshrining the Government’s levelling up “missions”.
Ministers will try to deter companies repeating P&O’s mass firing of staff by giving ports powers to refuse access to ferries not paying the UK minimum wage.
An Energy Security Bill seeks to transition to cheaper and greener energy while aiming to minimise fluctuating bills, including by extending the price cap beyond 2023.
And a UK Infrastructure Bank with £22 billion of financial capacity is among the plans to grow the economy and get it “back on track” after the pandemic, as Mr Johnson put it.
What does it lack?
Labour critics and possibly those on the Conservative backbenches too are bound to seize on the absence of any measures to immediately alleviate the pain of spiralling prices.
This is despite inflation being forecast to hit a 40-year high later in 2022 at 10%.
There is no windfall tax on the soaring profits of energy giants, which has been demanded by opposition parties and others campaigning to ease the cost-of-living crisis.
Instead, ministers highlighted a £22 billion package already announced while hinting at further support in the future.
Referring to the Russian invasion and the “aftershocks” of Covid-19, Mr Johnson said: “No country is immune and no government can realistically shield everyone from the impact.”
Also absent was legislation to implement the Government’s threat to tear up the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements.
But it is understood that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss could take further action in the coming weeks if negotiations with the EU continue to stall.
What happens next?
The new parliamentary session begins when Charles leaves and MPs and peers get back to work, starting with around six days of debate on the Speech.
A vote will be held in the Commons to approve the agenda, but is likely to pass with Mr Johnson’s Conservatives holding a large majority.
Full text of the Queen's Speech
Here is the full text of the Queen’s Speech, delivered by the Prince of Wales.
“My lords and members of the House of Commons.
“My Government’s priority is to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families.
“My Government will level up opportunity in all parts of the country and support more people into work.
“My ministers will continue to support the police to make the streets safer, and fund the National Health Service to reduce the Covid backlogs.
“In these challenging times, my Government will play a leading role
in defending democracy and freedom across the world, including continuing to
support the people of Ukraine.
“My Government will drive economic growth to improve living standards and fund sustainable investment in public services.
“This will be underpinned by a responsible approach to the public finances, reducing debt while reforming and cutting taxes.
“My ministers will support the Bank of England to return inflation to its target.
“A bill will be brought forward to drive local growth, empowering local leaders to regenerate their areas, and ensuring everyone can share in the United Kingdom’s success.
“The planning system will be reformed to give residents more involvement in local development.
“My Government will improve transport across the United Kingdom, delivering safer, cleaner services and enabling more innovations. Legislation will be introduced to modernise rail services and improve reliability for passengers.
“My ministers will bring forward an Energy Bill to deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy. This will build on the success of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow last year.
“Draft legislation to promote competition, strengthen consumer rights and protect households and businesses will be published.
“Measures will also be published to create new competition rules for
digital markets and the largest digital firms.
“My Government will establish the UK Infrastructure Bank in legislation, with
objectives to support economic growth and the delivery of net zero.
“Reforms to education will help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education.
“My ministers will publish draft legislation to reform the Mental Health Act.
“My Government will continue to seize the opportunities of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, to support economic growth. Regulations on businesses will be repealed and reformed.
“A bill will enable law inherited from the European Union to be more easily amended.
“Public sector procurement will be simplified to provide new opportunities for small businesses.
“New legislation will strengthen the United Kingdom’s financial services industry, ensuring that it continues to act in the interest of all people and communities.
“The United Kingdom’s data protection regime will be reformed.
“My Government will continue to champion international trade, delivering jobs across the country and growing the economy.
“Legislation will be introduced to enable the implementation of the United Kingdom’s first new Free Trade Agreements since leaving the European Union.
“My Ministers will encourage agricultural and scientific innovation at home.
“Legislation will unlock the potential of new technologies to promote sustainable and efficient farming and food production.
“My Government will protect the integrity of the United Kingdom’s borders and ensure the safety of its people.
“My ministers will take action to prevent dangerous and illegal Channel crossings and tackle the criminal gangs who profit from facilitating them.
“Legislation will be introduced to ensure the police have the powers to make the streets safer.
“A bill will be brought forward to further strengthen powers to tackle illicit finance, reduce economic crime and help businesses grow.
“Measures will be introduced to support the security services and help them protect the United Kingdom.
“My Government will lead the way in championing security around the world. It will continue to invest in our gallant Armed Forces.
“My ministers will work closely with international partners to maintain a united NATO and address the most pressing global security challenges.
“The continued success and integrity of the whole of the United Kingdom is of
paramount importance to my Government, including the internal economic bonds between all of its parts.
“My Government will prioritise support for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its institutions, including through legislation to address the legacy of the past.
“My Government will ensure the constitution is defended. My ministers will restore the balance of power between the legislature and the courts by introducing a Bill of Rights.
“Legislation will prevent public bodies engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion.
“My Government will introduce legislation to improve the regulation of social housing to strengthen the rights of tenants and ensure better quality, safer homes.
“Legislation will also be introduced to ban conversion therapy.
“Proposals will be published to establish an independent regulator of English football.
“In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, I look forward to the celebrations taking place across the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth, and to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.
“Members of the House of Commons. Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.
“My lords and members of the House of Commons. Other measures will be laid before you.
“I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.”
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