Prime Minister David Cameron has carried through with his election manifesto promises for an in/out European Union referendum, an income tax lock and more devolution powers for cities and regional assemblies.
The pledges were part of the 21 new major laws laid out in the first Tory Queen’s Speech since 1996.
Cameron said the speech set out a clear vision for what the country could be for everyone.
However, opposition leader Harriet Harman claimed the reality would be different from the rhetoric and former coalition Lib-Dem partner Nick Clegg said the Tories would leave the liberalism of the last government behind.
Draft bills announced
The Queen’s Speech signalled the state opening of the new Parliament and the contents are a road map of legislation the new government wants to enact during the next year.
Measures announced in more than 100 pages of guidance notes published alongside the speech included:
- A European Union referendum bill to give a definitive yes or no vote on whether Britain should stay in Europe
- A vote for expats bill scrapping the 15-year cap on voting in the UK from overseas – but not in time for the EU referendum
- An income tax lock promising not to raise income tax, VAT or national insurance contribution rates for five years
- New checks on the rights of immigrants to live and work in the UK, including a law limiting social security claims and rolling out right to rent checks later this year
- More powers for English cities and national assemblies in Scotland and Wales – but a law limiting the powers of Scottish and Welsh MPs to vote on matters specific to England
- Reinforcing the triple lock which determines the annual rise in the State pension
Missing from the speech was confirmation of Cameron’s statement last week signalling a national landlord register in England.
Mini-Budget 2015
Some of the tax measures announced by the Queen will be fleshed out in Chancellor George Osborne’s mini Budget on July 8, 2015.
The Queen’s Speech was carried off without incident in the House of Lords.
Among the pomp and ceremony was the traditional call from the Black Rod summoning MPs from the Commons to the upper house. In past years, MPs often commented on his call to attend, but this year he was met with silence.
The Prime Minister walked to the Lords with Labour stand-in leader Harriet Harman. Barely a word was exchanged between the pair.
