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Queen's Speech: Monarch outlines PM's Brexit and NHS agenda Queen's Speech: Brexit and NHS dominate government agenda
(about 2 hours later)
The Queen has set out the Conservative government's agenda for the year ahead, following last week's decisive election win. Brexit and the NHS have dominated the Conservative government's agenda set out in the Queen's Speech.
Legislation to take the UK out of the EU on 31 January was among more than 30 bills being announced during Thursday's State Opening of Parliament. The government's "priority" is the UK's exit from the EU on 31 January, and a commitment that extra NHS funding will be enshrined in law was announced.
Other measures included guarantees on extra health service funding and longer sentences for violent criminals. Of the more than 30 bills announced in the Queen's Speech, seven were on Brexit.
PM Boris Johnson says he wants to unite the UK and "level up" opportunity. It comes as the government says it will close its Department for Exiting the European Union on 31 January.
But Labour said the government would be judged on how far it made up for "years of underfunding" of the health service and, so far, its proposals fell short of what was needed to deal with rising waiting times and staff vacancies. "Staff have been spoken to today," a statement said. "We are very grateful for all their work and we will help everyone to find new roles."
Thursday's State Opening - the second in about two months - had less pageantry than usual, as was the case the last time a snap election was held in 2017. Reacting to the government's plans, Labour said the government would be judged on how far it made up for "years of underfunding" of the health service and, so far, its proposals fell short of what was needed to deal with rising waiting times and staff vacancies.
The Queen travelled by car from Buckingham Palace to Parliament, rather than by horse-drawn carriage, and she did not wear ceremonial dress. Addressing Parliament for the second time in less than three months, the Queen said the priority for her government was to deliver Brexit on 31 January, but ministers also had an "ambitious programme of domestic reform that delivers on the people's priorities".
In the Queen's Speech, which is written by the government, it was announced a commitment on the health service's funding will be enshrined in law, with an extra £33.9bn per year provided by 2023/24. The seven bills announced that were devoted to Brexit cover legislation on trade, agriculture, fisheries, immigration, financial services and private international law.
A Royal Commission will be established to improve the "efficiency and effectiveness" of the criminal justice process and there are bills that will ensure the most serious violent offenders serve longer prison terms. The first to be put to Parliament will be the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the legislation that enables the UK to leave the EU - on Friday before the Christmas recess.
Of the bills included in Mr Johnson's second Queen's Speech in less than three months, seven were devoted to Brexit - with legislation on trade, agriculture, fisheries, immigration, financial services and private international law. Following last week's general election, the prime minister has a Commons majority of 80 - the largest enjoyed by a Conservative leader since Margaret Thatcher in 1987.
Addressing Parliament, the Queen said the "priority" for her government was to deliver Brexit on 31 January, but ministers also had an "ambitious programme of domestic reform that delivers on the people's priorities". The prime minister's increased parliamentary authority and command of his party means it is likely to pass without major changes in the New Year in time to meet the 31 January deadline.
The Queen's Speech also included:
During his election campaign, Mr Johnson promised a welter of new legislation within the first 100 days if the Tories won. Much of this was carried over from the last Queen's Speech, which took place on 14 October.
Little or no progress was made on any of its contents before MPs agreed to an early election.
The prime minister now has a Commons majority of 80 - the largest enjoyed by a Conservative leader since Margaret Thatcher in 1987.
When the pageantry is over, Parliament will be asked to immediately begin ratifying the agreement the PM negotiated in October.
The first debate and vote on an updated EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill is expected on Friday before MPs leave for the Christmas recess.
The PM's increased parliamentary authority and command of his party means it is likely to pass without major changes in the New Year in time to meet the 31 January deadline.
No 10 signalled earlier this week that it would rule out any extension to the 11-month post-Brexit transition period, in which the UK will continue to follow EU rules but without any representation in EU institutions.
Ministers have said they are confident of concluding a new trade deal by 31 December 2020 although many EU officials are sceptical this can be done in such a short amount of time.
In another move welcomed by Tory MPs, the bill will also enable more British judges to depart from previous rulings of the EU's top court.In another move welcomed by Tory MPs, the bill will also enable more British judges to depart from previous rulings of the EU's top court.
NHS funding pledge
On the NHS, the government says it will enshrine in law a commitment on the health service's funding, with an extra £33.9bn per year provided by 2023/24.
The PM's commitment on the NHS amounts to a 3.4% year-on-year increase in expenditure, a significant increase on what the NHS received during the five year Tory-Lib Dem coalition government as well as under his predecessors David Cameron and Theresa May.The PM's commitment on the NHS amounts to a 3.4% year-on-year increase in expenditure, a significant increase on what the NHS received during the five year Tory-Lib Dem coalition government as well as under his predecessors David Cameron and Theresa May.
But it is significantly lower than the 6% average annual increases seen under Labour leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. And when adjusted for inflation, and factoring in the increased cost of equipment, medicines and staff pay, it could actually be worth £20.5bn by 2023-4.But it is significantly lower than the 6% average annual increases seen under Labour leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. And when adjusted for inflation, and factoring in the increased cost of equipment, medicines and staff pay, it could actually be worth £20.5bn by 2023-4.
"If the Conservatives' plans to put funding increases into law is to be anything other than an empty gimmick, we would urge them to pledge the extra £6bn a year which experts say is needed to start to make up the cuts they've imposed for a decade," said the party's health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth. Labour's health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth said: "If the Conservatives' plans to put funding increases into law is to be anything other than an empty gimmick, we would urge them to pledge the extra £6bn a year which experts say is needed to start to make up the cuts they've imposed for a decade."
There was also a commitment announced for ministers to seek cross-party consensus for long-term reform of the social care system and the government will continue work to reform the Mental Health Act.
I can't see any surprises, no rabbits leaping out of hats, which is maybe obvious because it is only 10 weeks since the last Queen's Speech.
It would be extraordinary if that was ripped up and they came back with something entirely new.
It's pretty predictable. One of the things that jumps out at me is that there is an awful lot of stuff in it.
What that tells me is that Team Johnson want to send out a message to people that the great parliamentary gridlock is over - we are moving on.
So the sort of stasis, the inactivity, the stuck in the mud syndrome that we've had for the past three years is over. There are now things that can be done, change is coming.
That is one part of the Queen's Speech message. The other is Boris Johnson and - if you've listened to Boris Johnson since he was reelected - every time he opens his mouth he basically says 'we've got to move quickly to reassure those voters who lent us their support'.
This is to demonstrate to voters in areas where they wouldn't normally touch the Tories with a barge pole that he, Boris Johnson, is going to be different, he is going to deliver on commitments, for example to the NHS.
Which is why we have this entirely symbolic gesture of enshrining in law the increased funding to the NHS. Totally unnecessary, you don't need to do that. But it is saying to voters, look no ifs no buts, this really is happening, it's the law.
Plans for longer sentences for violent criminals, were also unveiled, as well as the establishment of a Royal Commission to improve the "efficiency and effectiveness" of the criminal justice process and there are bills that will ensure the most serious violent offenders serve longer prison terms.
And those charged with knife possession will face "swift justice".
Other announcements in the Queen's Speech included:
Thursday's State Opening of Parliament was the 66th time the Queen has opened Parliament - and has come only weeks after the last one on 14 October.
There was less pageantry than usual, as was the case the last time a snap election was held in 2017.
The Queen travelled by car from Buckingham Palace to Parliament, rather than by horse-drawn carriage, and she did not wear ceremonial dress.