Queens Speech starts parliamentary year
27/05/2015
The Conservative-only Queens Speech marked the start of the parliamentary year today, and set out the governments agenda for the upcoming five years, announcing proposed polices and legislation.
Included in the proposals were; a cut to the total amount a household can claim in benefits from £26,000 to £23,000, more devolution for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, 30 hours free childcare a week for three and four-year-olds by 2017 and a ban on income tax, VAT and national insurance increases for five years. The Right to Buy scheme will also be extended to include housing association tenants.
A Trade Unions Bill was also announced, imposing a 50% turnout threshold on strike ballots, with a further requirement in essential public services for strikes to be supported by 40% of those entitled to vote.
Prime Minister David Cameron has claimed the speech contains “a program for working people” and will help create to full employment and “bring our country together”.
Cameron will now be able to impose plans previously blocked by the Liberal Democrats after winning an overall majority on 7 May, including a Investigatory Powers Bill which gives the government more powers to target internet data, nicknamed the “snoopers charter”.
David Cameron said:
"We have a golden opportunity to renew the idea that working people are backed in this country; to renew the promise to those least fortunate that they will have the opportunity for a brighter future; and to renew the ties that bind every part of our United Kingdom.
"We now have the mandate to deliver that renewal. And it starts with this Queen's Speech."
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