Thursday’s Queen’s speech is Boris Johnson’s second in just over two months. The more than 30 pieces of legislation will be the basis of his political agenda for the year. Described as “radical” by the prime minister, it leads on his law to formally take the UK out of the EU. There are also plans to overhaul immigration and put into law investment in the NHS.

Brexit

The European Union (withdrawal agreement) bill will ratify the deal the prime minister struck with EU leaders in the autumn and which was voted down by parliament repeatedly. He is set to put this bill to MPs on Friday and hopes to have this passed by 31 January. This legislation also includes an implementation period where the UK remains aligned with the EU until 31 December 2020. An agriculture bill will result in Britain leaving the EU’s common agricultural policy. Direct payments to farmers will be phased out. The fisheries bill removes the UK from the common fisheries policy and means foreign fishing boats will not be able to have automatic access UK waters.

Immigration

The immigration and social security co-ordination (EU withdrawal) bill proposes an Australian-style points based system that would end free movement in UK law. Also, from 2021, EU citizens arriving in the UK will be subject to the same immigration controls as non-EU citizens.

NHS

This is the first time a government has enshrined in law its spending on the NHS, which is £33.9bn in cash terms by 2023-24. Their NHS long-term plan also includes delivering 50,000 more nurses, which was a controversial part of Johnson’s manifesto messaging. There is no specific social care bill, but a section of the speech was dedicated to reform and how they want to find a “cross-party” consensus on devising a strategy. They pledge to modernise the Mental Health Act and improve processes for detention. And there is a pledge to remove hospital parking charges.

Crime

The sentencing bill includes tougher sentences for those who commit violent and sexual offences and terrorism. The automatic release point for prisoners will be moved from half of their sentence up to two-thirds. Johnson said he would bring in legislation on this in November following the London Bridge terror attack, where the killer, Usman Khan, had been automatically released after serving half of his 16-year term. The most serious terrorist offenders will receive a 14-year minimum sentence. The speech also reaffirms the earlier commitment to recruiting an additional 20,000 police officers.

Workers and renters

An employment bill is promised that will protect and enhance workers’ rights when the UK leaves the EU. The government will create a new single enforcement body that gives workers being treated unfairly the right to redress. A renters’ reform bill is also set out with the promise of giving tenants more security by removing “no-fault” evictions and reforming the grounds for possession. A lifetime deposit scheme that can be moved between properties is intended to stop tenants having to save up every time they move house. .

The government says it plans to expand the national living wage to those aged between 21 and 25 over a five-year period but does not set out legislation to do so.

A pensions scheme bill includes a “pensions dashboard” so people can access information on schemes online and there will be protection of the triple lock. There is no provision for Waspi women set out in the speech.

Climate and environment

The science, space and research bill sets out plans to boost funding for research to tackle the UK’s contribution to climate change. An environment bill will set legally binding targets, including a commitment to improving air quality and banning the export of plastic to countries outside the OECD. There will be tougher sentences for animal cruelty of up to five years. It will also be enshrined in law that animals are sentient beings and the government has a duty to protect them from harm.

Tax

The government will not raise rates of VAT, income tax or national insurance, which they claim will help working families.

Divorce

A new no-fault divorce category will end one spouse having to make an allegation about the other’s behaviour to end the marriage.

Boycotts

The government will stop public institutions, including councils and universities, from imposing their own views on international relations with boycotts and sanctions. The prime minister said he wants to end institutions developing their own “pseudo-foreign policy” against countries that, “with nauseating frequency, turn out to be Israel”.

Spying

There are proposals to significantly beef up existing espionage laws in the aftermath of the novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury. One plan under consideration is to adopt a form of registration for foreign agents, updating the Official Secrets Act and treason laws. This is to make it tougher for adversaries operating in the UK.

Domestic abuse bill

This bill is a legacy from the Theresa May era as it was constantly beset by delays. It makes it easier for the courts to prosecute for domestic abuse by creating a statutory definition that means harm caused is not just physical or sexual, but can also involve emotional, and economic abuse, and controlling behaviour.

