A slimmed-down Queen’s speech, with a focus on Brexit

Yesterday’s Queen's speech set out the priorities of the UK Government over the course of the coming parliament, one which will run for two years, rather than the typical single-year term.

The first Queen’s speech since the 2016 European Union (EU) referendum and the recent snap general election, the government’s slimmed-down legislative programme focuses on a number of  key areas, including the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, an industrial strategy, and anti-terrorism and anti-extremism measures.  

Signalling the government’s desire to secure the “best possible [Brexit] deal” for the UK, the Queen stated that her ministers were “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.”

The Queen referred to eight separate pieces of proposed legislation that will effect the UK’s withdrawal from the EU:

• A repeal bill: overturns the European Communities Act 1972 and transposes current EU laws into UK law, and ensures legal continuity when the UK leaves the EU;
• A customs bill: replaces EU customs rules and implementation of the UK’s own post-Brexit tariffs;
• A trade bill: allows the UK to operate its own trade policy after Brexit;
• An immigration bill: grants the UK power over its immigration policy;
• A fisheries bill: allows the UK to control its fishing waters and quotas after Brexit;
• An agriculture bill: establishes a system to support farmers when the UK exits the common agriculture policy;
• A nuclear safeguards bill: Sets up a nuclear safeguards regime to compensate for the fact that the UK will leave Euratom, a separate treaty governing safety in the civil nuclear power industry;
• An international sanctions bill: enables the UK to continue applying international sanctions.

As for Northern Ireland, the Queen referenced intended efforts by the government to strengthen bonds between the four nations of the UK, as well as its continuing support for local parties in their efforts to re-establish the power-sharing arrangements at Stormont.

It is being reported that, as part of the ongoing negotiations with the government to forge a ‘supply and confidence’ agreement, the DUP has requested an extra £2 billion to be invested evenly in Northern Ireland’s health service and infrastructure. Today’s speech, however, made no mention of specific financial arrangements in this regard.

Also absent were any references to the Conservatives’ manifesto promises around the abolition of the triple lock on pensions, means-testing for winter fuel payments, an energy price cap and the ending of free school meals. Similarly, the party’s controversial proposals for social care – the ‘dementia tax’ – did not feature. Instead, there was a commitment to improving such arrangements and consulting on prospective changes.

Beyond Brexit, other prospective measures were outlined. Most of these apply to England and Wales alone, though reserved matters, such as an Armed Forces Bill and data protection initiatives, will extend across the UK.

Bills of note are:

• A new industrial strategy to include an Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill and a High Speed 2 Phase 2A Bill (this will support the next stage of the High Speed Rail (HS2) in central England);
• A Smart Meter Bill to help households monitor their energy use better;
• A National Insurance Contributions Bill to legislate on changes announced in the Budget 2016 and Autumn Statement 2016;
• A Travel Protection Bill to update the UK’s financial protection scheme for holiday-makers;
• A Tenants’ Fees Bill to ban letting fees and minimise deposits;
• A Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill to tackle domestic violence by establishing a commissioner and grant greater sentencing powers in cases of child abuse;
• A Good Mortgages Bill to increase protections for borrowers;
• A Patient Safety Bill to improve patient safety in the NHS and improve confidence in the NHS service in England via a Health Service Safety Investigation Body;
• An Armed Forces Bill to enable part-time and limited geographic employment within the Armed Forces;
• A Data Protection Bill to ensure individuals have control over their personal data, establish a new data protection scheme for non-law enforcement data processing, and modernise the scheme used by law enforcement agencies.

In addition, the Queen spoke of plans to form a commission for countering extremism, both in society and on the internet, along with a pledge to review custodial sentences for terrorist convictions.

On the subject of the recent tower block fire in London, the Queen said: “My government will initiate a full public inquiry into the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower to ascertain the causes, and ensure that the appropriate lessons are learnt.

"To support victims, my government will take forward measures to introduce an independent public advocate, who will act for bereaved families after a public disaster and support them at public inquests.”

In response to the announcement, Sinn Féin's Elisha McCallion said that the "Tory government has placed self interest above their obligations to the agreements and the institutions in the North." The Foyle MP added: "Theresa May set out her priorities in the Queen’s speech today and, unsurprisingly, protecting the North from Brexit and austerity cuts didn't feature."

Elsewhere, UUP peer Sir Reg Empey stressed the need for Brexit to be "well managed". The final agreement with the bloc, he said, should be one that ensures "no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and that also does not create internal borders within the United Kingdom."

The DUP, meanwhile, stated that its focus would be on strengthening the union, combating terrorism, keeping Northern Ireland "moving forward" and fostering prosperity. Nigel Dodds MP, the party's deputy leader, told the House of Commons: "It is in the furtherance of those objectives that we will act and vote in this parliament over the next five years."