May 10, 2022
10:59 am
Prime Ministers Questions
Catch-up
Queen’s Speech 2022 LIVE – Watch the live stream here
Queen’s Speech 2022 ends
In this year of the 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.
Her Majesty’s 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.
Her Majesty’s Government will ensure the constitution is defended. Her Majesty’s 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.
Northern Ireland
The continued success and integrity of the whole of the United Kingdom is of paramount importance to Her Majesty’s Government, including the internal economic bonds between all of its parts. Her Majesty’s Government will prioritise support for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its institutions, including through legislation to address the legacy of the past.
Her Majesty’s 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.
Economic crime bill, and the national security bill
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.
Her Majesty’s 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.
Genetic technology (precision breeding) bill
Her Majesty’s 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.
Trade
Her Majesty’s 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.
Brexit
Her Majesty’s 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 [Brexit Freedoms Bill]. Public sector procurement will be simplified to provide new opportunities for small businesses.
Education and mental health act reform bill
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.
UK infrastructure bank bill
Her Majesty’s Government will establish the UK Infrastructure Bank in legislation, with objectives to support economic growth and the delivery of net zero.
Energy Bill
Her Majesty’s 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.
Transport bill
Her Majesty’s 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.
Queen’s Speech 2022 LIVE – Watch the live stream here
Charles turns to levelling up.
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.
This is a reference to the levelling up bill.
He turns to the economy.
Her Majesty’s 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. Her Majesty’s Ministers will support the Bank of England to return inflation to its target.
The Prince of Wales is speaking.
Her Majesty’s Government’s priority is to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families.
Her Majesty’s 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, her Majesty’s Government will play a leading role in defending democracy and freedom across the world, including continuing to support the people of Ukraine.
Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer are leading MPs into the Lords. From the TV feed, we can see them talking to each other, and smiling. It may not have been particularly sincere, but it did look amicable. Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May used to process together in virtual silence. – The Guardian
Boris asks Sir Keir with a smile “Did you have a good weekend?”#cheeky. #StateOpeningofParliament
— Greg Hands (@GregHands) May 10, 2022
Labour says abandoning Northern Ireland protocol would trigger trade war with EU – (Guardian)
Labour says abandoning parts of the Northern Ireland protocol (see 11.20am) would start a trade war with Europe. This is from Jenny Chapman, Labour’s Brexit spokesperson.
The government’s threat to tear up the protocol risks a trade war during a cost of living crisis.
Instead of negotiating practical fixes that would benefit businesses and communities, the government plans to break the agreement they themselves negotiated and sold to the British public. Tensions are high in Northern Ireland while families across the country face rising prices and higher bills. There is no consensus to scrap the protocol in cabinet, let alone in Northern Ireland.
The last thing the country needs is more instability and a damaging trade dispute with our nearest trading partners. – The Guardian
What is levelling up? – (BBC)
It’s been reported that the Queen’s Speech today could feature a Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which would reform planning and force landlords to let out empty shops.
Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that “on a wide variety of measures, regional disparities in the UK are greater than in most comparable countries”.
But, once housing costs have been adjusted for, living standards across the UK are not particularly unequal.
The government has said it will start investing in more areas around the UK, rather than just in London. Some civil servants are planned to be based in Darlington, for example, rather than Whitehall.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said yesterday that rising prices in shops were making the government’s plans for the country tougher – Read on BBC News