Jeremy Corbyn attacks Theresa May over ‘threadbare’ Queen’s Speech after PM ditches dementia tax and scrapping of free school meals to focus on Brexit
PM delivered legislative timetable for next two years dominated by preparations for our EU exit as she tore up much of the Tory manifesto
JEREMY Corbyn has attacked Theresa May over her “threadbare” Queen's Speech after she was forced to tear up the Tory manifesto.
The Prime Minister ditched the hated “dementia tax”, grammar school plans and the scrapping of free school meals to focus simply on Brexit.
She delivered a legislative timetable for the next two years dominated by preparations for our exit from the bloc – with eight separate bills on the EU.
The Labour leader said of her plans: “This would be a thin legislative programme even if it was for one year but for two years it is woefully inadequate.”
Mr Corbyn said it was: “A threadbare legislative programme from a government that has lost its majority and apparently run out of ideas altogether.”
The Monarch's 64th Queen's Speech was also overshadowed by Government instability, the recent terror attacks and the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
And as it was unveiled it was reported the DUP are seeking a £2billion sweetener for Northern Ireland in exchange for the support of their 10 MPs to get the speech passed through the House of Commons.
Sources told the BBC the party wanted £1billion of investment in the health service, and another £1billion for national infrastructure.
In a ceremony stripped of much its usual pomp and ceremony, Elizabeth II arrived by car rather than carriage, and did so without her state crown - which travelled from Buckingham Palace separately.
She also appeared with her son Prince Charles, after her husband Philip was admitted to hospital last night with an infection as a “precautionary measure” after attending Royal Ascot.
But there was still plenty of pageantry on show in Parliament this morning, as well as traditions such as Black Rod knocking on the Commons chamber to summon MPs to the Lords and listen to Her Majesty.
And veteran MP Dennis Skinner, famous for making a quip every year during the Queen's Speech, didn't disappoint this year.
Referencing the fact the Queen was set to head to Royal Ascot following the event, he said: "Get your skates on, first race is half past two!"
Elizabeth II delivered her 64th Queen’s Speech this morning – these are the key points:
- Eight Brexit bills – including a Great Repeal Bill as well as new laws on trade, immigration and fisheries
- A host of flagship manifesto policies ditched in a slimmed-down legislative programme
- On social care the “dementia cap” is gone in favour of a consultation, as is the controversial energy price cap
- Grammar school and the scrapping of free school meals also gone
- But other Bills include extending the HS2 high-speed rail link to Crewe and the development of driverless cars and commercial satellites
- Bills to cut whiplash insurance claims, protect victims of domestic abuse and ban letting fees for private rented homes.
- The Speech confirmed plans for a public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower tragedy
- Mrs May will also appoint an independent advocate for all public disasters to support those affected
- There will also be a review of counter-terrorism strategy in the wake of a number of recent attacks
- Related to that a new Commission for Countering Extremism looking at online ideology
- There was no mention of any state visit by Donald Trump, fuelling speculation it is set to be ditched for at least two years
Why was the Queen’s crown not on her head?
The Imperial State Crown, the most precious of all the Crown Jewels, was transported to Parliament in its own Rolls-Royce today.
The Queen would normally wear it during the State Opening of Parliament.
But because today's event was a more informal version of the usual ceremony, she instead dressed in a simple dress with a jacket and hat.
However the crown still had to be taken into the House of Lords, as the symbol of the Queen's rule over the country.
After being taken in the luxury car, a courtier carried the crown on a cushion into the chamber for Her Majesty's speech.
The crown only appears at the coronation and the State Opening of Parliament.
The speech, and the State Opening of Parliament, was delayed by two days due to the confusion caused by the inconclusive result of the June 8 election.
After a procession in the Palace of Westminster the Queen unveiled 27 Bills and draft bills – but plenty of flagship manifesto policies found no place in the Conservative agenda.
They included the scrapping of universal free school lunches, means-testing of the winter fuel payment, an energy price cap and the reform of social care funding which opponents branded a "dementia tax".
Instead the complex process of withdrawal from the EU dominated the speech, including a Great Repeal Bill to overturn the 1972 Act which took Britain into the European Economic Community.
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There are also separate Bills on customs, trade, immigration, fisheries, agriculture, nuclear safeguards and the international sanctions regime.
The Queen said: "My government’s priority is to secure the best possible deal as the country leaves the European Union.
"My ministers are committed to working with Parliament, the devolved administrations, business and others to build the widest possible consensus on the country’s future outside the European Union."
In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire and a string of terror attacks, the Prime Minister also announced plans for a Civil Disaster Reaction Taskforce and a new Commission for Countering Extremism.
There is also a review of Britain’s counter-terror strategy and the creation of an independent public advocate to act on behalf of bereaved families.
The eight Brexit bills unveiled today:
- Great Repeal Bill: to ensure a smooth and orderly transition from the European Union by replicating Brussels law into domestic law, maximising certainty for people and businesses.
- Customs Bill: to ensure the UK has a standalone UK customs regime on leaving the EU, including the flexibility to accommodate future trade agreements.
- Trade Bill: to put in place a legal framework to allow Britain to strike free trade deals with countries around the world while ensuring domestic businesses are protected from unfair trading practices.
- Immigration Bill: to allow the UK to end the free movement of EU citizens into the UK but still allow the country to attract "the brightest and the best". EU nationals and family members will be "subject to relevant UK law" after Brexit.
- Fisheries Bill: to enable the UK to "exercise responsibility" for access to fisheries and management of its waters.
- Agriculture Bill: to deliver on the Tory manifesto pledge to provide stability to farmers as the UK leaves the EU, protect the natural environment.
- Nuclear Safeguards Bill: to give the Office for Nuclear Regulation powers to take on the role and responsibilities to meet international safeguards and nuclear non-proliferation obligations as the UK leaves the EU and Euratom.
- International Sanctions Bill: to establish a sovereign UK framework to impose international sanctions on a multilateral or unilateral basis, returning decision-making on non-UN sanctions to Britain and ensuring compliance with international law.
But The Queen also made no mention of any state visit by Donald Trump, fuelling speculation the planned trip is set to be ditched for at least two years.
This comes after the US President reportedly said he did not want to come to the UK if there was a risk of being greeted by protests.
Her Majesty also said: "My government will ensure fairer markets for consumers, this will include bringing forward measures to help tackle unfair practices in the energy market to help reduce energy bills.
"A priority will be to build a more united country, strengthening the social, economic and cultural bonds between England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
"My government will work in cooperation with the devolved administrations, and it will work with all of the parties in Northern Ireland to support the return of devolved government.
"A new law will ensure that the United Kingdom retains its world-class regime protecting personal data, and proposals for a new digital charter will be brought forward to ensure that the United Kingdom is the safest place to be online.
Legislation will also be introduced to modernise the courts system and to help reduce motor insurance premiums."
Skinner gets his moment in the sun
Labour veteran Dennis Skinner joked about Her Majesty's love of racing in his now-traditional Queen's Speech quip.
As Black Rod arrived in the House of Commons to summon MPs,writes Hugo Gye, the 85-year-old shouted: "Get your skates on, the first race is half past two."
The joke was a reference to Royal Ascot, where the Queen headed immediately after delivering her speech in the House of Lords.
Mr Skinner then stayed in the Commons, refusing to watch the Queen's Speech as an anti-monarchy protest.
Every year, he makes a joke to Black Rod, proclaiming a hard-left or republican message.
Last year, in reference to a white paper on the future of the BBC, he shouted: "Hands off the BBC!"
Following her failure to reach agreement with the DUP on a deal to shore up her minority administration, Mrs May is the first PM in decades to be faced by doubts over whether she can get her legislative programme through Parliament.
Conservative sources said talks were "ongoing" after the Northern Irish party warned its support cannot be "taken for granted".
But First Secretary of State Damian Green acknowledged that it may not be possible to reach a deal in time for the Commons vote on the Queen's Speech package on June 29.
However it is still thought the DUP will support the Queen's Speech when it is voted on next week, as failure to do so could allow Jeremy Corbyn to try and form a Government of his own – something they are very much against.
Having called a snap election in the hope of securing an increased majority to deliver Brexit in a "strong and stable" way, Mrs May acknowledged that the outcome was "not the one I hoped for".
"This Government will respond with humility and resolve to the message the electorate sent," she promised.
"We will work hard every day to gain the trust and confidence of the British people, making their priorities our priorities.";