Queen's Speech in summary By ModelMonolith

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27 Sep, 2017

Repeal and liberalisation agenda dominates

The Queen’s Speech outlining the government’s legislative agenda sets out a range of bills, of which seven are dedicated entirely to measures to liberalise the UK economy.



Prime Minister DrCaeserMD has said that this term would be used to not only pave the way for the best possible Brexit deal, but also repealing many bills that passed through Parliament during the Broad-Left government.



That means bills on privatisation of the rail and energy sector, alongside bills that will repeal the Company Act and the Fair and Humane Trading Act — will go into the statue book. This will take a large portion of Parliamentary time.



However, DrCaeserMD has insisted that the term will not be spent just repealing bills. He promises tax and welfare reform, with a view to end what he insists will build a "high wage, low welfare economy, that rewards hard work and promotes opportunity for all ."



Sweeping reform to Negative Income Tax " with a view to abolition and a transition to a system that provides based on real need" highlights the ambitions of the Prime Minister. This is alongside a pledge to cut health spending, cut international aid, and have a surplus by the end of 2018 indicates that he and the Chancellor have a clear agenda for the term.



There are, however, telling insertions and absences in the Queen's Speech, reflecting DrCaeserMD's lack of majority and the coalition of the National Unionist Party.



Bills to repeal the Secularisation Act, r eforming the Bank of England's targeting mandate, moving from inflation targeting and instead pursuing Nominal Income Growth targeting, and no pledge to withdraw from the Single Market without a referendum are likely National Unionist demands and Classical Liberal concessions.



Repeal bills

International aid bill

This bill will end the UK's mandatory spending of 1% of GDP on international aid, instead reducing it to 0.7% of GDP. This is still above the UN target, however, and has already provoked large backlash amongst the Traffic-Light opposition. The Classical Liberals supported cuts to international aid in their manifesto at the last election, so it's likely that this bill will pass the Commons with ease.

Railways bill

Since 2014, Britain's railways have been nationalised, with the first bill of the first term setting in motion a long process over multiple terms in which the railways have been brought under public ownership. So far, no bill repealing this nationalisation process has gone far through the Commons. This bill will privatise the railways, although by how much and the specifics of how are unclear.

Energy bill

Nationalised last year, this bill will introduce seek to promote further investment and drive down prices through greater competition, introducing greater market access to all areas of the energy sector.

International trade bill

This bill will repeal the Fair and Humane Trading Bill, a bill which restricts the trade based on how well established that countries worker's rights are.

Secularisation bill

This bill would repeal the Secularisation bill, which separated the church from the state alongside abolishing temporal lords and curtailing the monarch's role in the church. Although this is tabled by the government, it is unlikely to pass the Commons, with the entire opposition opposing the measure alongside the Classical Liberals.

Prisoner voting bill

This bill would repeal the Representation of the People Act to prevent prisoners from voting and standing in elections.

Companies bill

This bill would repeal the Companies Act, which saw workers put onto company boards. The government claims that this has harmed the economy and has resulted in less investment, making the country poorer.

Non-repeal bills

Economy

NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY INVESTMENT BILL



This bill would e stablish a National Productivity Investment fund, which will target expenditure to boost economic and productivity growth across the United Kingdom and helping to bridge regional divides in economic performance.



BANK OF ENGLAND BILL



This bill would reform the Bank of England's targeting mandate, moving from inflation targeting and instead pursuing Nominal Income Growth targeting.



HIGH SPEED RAIL 3 BILL



This bill would make long term and necessary investments into projects such as High Speed 3, and the extension of High Speed rail to Scotland. This shall be combined with investment across the whole of the United Kingdom into transport infrastructure in the aid of developing a strong economy that works for the many. Further plans will be brought forwards to connect Wales to the very heart of Britain through investment in rail and other key infrastructure.



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