This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/queens-speech-the-tories-commitments-10275003.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Queen's Speech 2015: Scrapping the human rights act, right to buy, and an EU referendum – what you can expect | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| The Queen's Speech marks the start of this session of parliament. The address, written by government ministers, is delivered by the Queen and lays out the Government's agenda for the next year. | |
| Here's what you can expect to hear on Wednesday: | |
| A Bill will be announced in the Queen’s Speech to legislate for a permanent tax-free minimum wage. This will raise the earnings threshold at which working people begin paying income tax to £12,500, up from the current level of £10,600. | A Bill will be announced in the Queen’s Speech to legislate for a permanent tax-free minimum wage. This will raise the earnings threshold at which working people begin paying income tax to £12,500, up from the current level of £10,600. |
| The effect of this will be that anyone working 30 hours per week on the minimum wage will pay no income tax. David Cameron says the reform is about changing the “values of this country”. | The effect of this will be that anyone working 30 hours per week on the minimum wage will pay no income tax. David Cameron says the reform is about changing the “values of this country”. |
| The plan will benefit 26 million people and will be fully implemented by 2020, he says. Further tax cuts have also been promised for professionals earning more than £42,000. | The plan will benefit 26 million people and will be fully implemented by 2020, he says. Further tax cuts have also been promised for professionals earning more than £42,000. |
| A new Enterprise Bill will cut red tape for small businesses as part of what the Conservatives say will be a drive to remove £10bn worth of regulations from enterprise over the next five years. | A new Enterprise Bill will cut red tape for small businesses as part of what the Conservatives say will be a drive to remove £10bn worth of regulations from enterprise over the next five years. |
| Mr Cameron says he wants the laws to make “Britain the best place in Europe to do business by 2020” and to help create two million more jobs over the next five years. | Mr Cameron says he wants the laws to make “Britain the best place in Europe to do business by 2020” and to help create two million more jobs over the next five years. |
| A new law will create three million more apprenticeships, which will be paid for by reducing the benefit cap to £23,000. | A new law will create three million more apprenticeships, which will be paid for by reducing the benefit cap to £23,000. |
| The Bill will also introduce “day-one work requirements” for unemployed young people with no experience of work. This means they will have to contribute to their communities from their first day on welfare. | The Bill will also introduce “day-one work requirements” for unemployed young people with no experience of work. This means they will have to contribute to their communities from their first day on welfare. |
| New laws will be brought in under plans to force “coasting” schools – in addition to failing schools – to accept new leadership. This will be the focus of the next stage of Tory state education reforms. | New laws will be brought in under plans to force “coasting” schools – in addition to failing schools – to accept new leadership. This will be the focus of the next stage of Tory state education reforms. |
| Mr Cameron promises “radical measures” to ensure pupils leave school with the skills they need for work or further study. | Mr Cameron promises “radical measures” to ensure pupils leave school with the skills they need for work or further study. |
| The plan is likely to see more state schools become academies. | The plan is likely to see more state schools become academies. |
| From 2017, working parents of three- and four-year-olds will be offered free childcare for 30 hours a week – up from 15 now – a promise worth £5,000 a year. | From 2017, working parents of three- and four-year-olds will be offered free childcare for 30 hours a week – up from 15 now – a promise worth £5,000 a year. |
| Cash in: hedge your bets when buying euros Mr Cameron promises to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s membership of the EU, before putting the new deal to the public in an in/out referendum by the end of 2017. A vote could take place earlier than planned, if the Prime Minister can strike a deal with other European leaders. He says his focus in the negotiations will be to cut the entitlement of European migrants to claim benefits in Britain to stop immigrants travelling to the UK as welfare tourists from elsewhere in the EU. | |
| A Housing Bill will extend the Right to Buy to 1.3 million housing association tenants so more people have the security of owning their home to raise their family. The plan is a flagship policy in the Tory manifesto. | A Housing Bill will extend the Right to Buy to 1.3 million housing association tenants so more people have the security of owning their home to raise their family. The plan is a flagship policy in the Tory manifesto. |
| Mr Cameron says: “Whatever the armchair critics say – usually from the comfort of a home they themselves own – this is about giving thousands more families the security of their own four walls, and I can’t wait to make it happen.” | Mr Cameron says: “Whatever the armchair critics say – usually from the comfort of a home they themselves own – this is about giving thousands more families the security of their own four walls, and I can’t wait to make it happen.” |
| The Conservatives will scrap the Human Rights Act and legislate for a new British Bill of Rights. | The Conservatives will scrap the Human Rights Act and legislate for a new British Bill of Rights. |
| The Tories say this will break the “formal link” between British courts and the European Court of Human Rights, and make our own Supreme Court “the ultimate arbiter of human rights matters in the UK”. | The Tories say this will break the “formal link” between British courts and the European Court of Human Rights, and make our own Supreme Court “the ultimate arbiter of human rights matters in the UK”. |
| The plan is intended to end the ability of foreign criminals and terrorists to use human rights laws to avoid being thrown out of Britain. | The plan is intended to end the ability of foreign criminals and terrorists to use human rights laws to avoid being thrown out of Britain. |
| In the Coalition, Nick Clegg blocked plans which would have required phone companies and internet providers to keep records of emails, text messages, web browsing and voice calls. | In the Coalition, Nick Clegg blocked plans which would have required phone companies and internet providers to keep records of emails, text messages, web browsing and voice calls. |
| But security services say such measures are essential to allow them to monitor terrorist threats and catch paedophiles and other organised criminals plotting online. Mr Cameron has promised to bring in a new Communications Data Bill – nicknamed the “Snooper’s charter” – as soon as possible to plug what he sees as a gaping hole in Britain’s defences. | But security services say such measures are essential to allow them to monitor terrorist threats and catch paedophiles and other organised criminals plotting online. Mr Cameron has promised to bring in a new Communications Data Bill – nicknamed the “Snooper’s charter” – as soon as possible to plug what he sees as a gaping hole in Britain’s defences. |