posted on 21 June 2017, updated on 29 June 2017
The speech marks the state opening of Parliament and the new parliamentary term following the 8 June general election.
It outlined plans for 27 bills and draft bills, of which eight are Brexit focused, including a bill to repeal the European Communities Act, a customs bill, a trade bill and an immigration bill.
Other bills focus on domestic violence and abuse, banning fees for tenants in the private rented sector and flexible service in the armed forces. A bill to authorise the second leg of the High Speed 2 rail link between Birmingham and Crewe was also included.
Several public sector issues were conspicuous in their absence, such as public sector pay, grammar school extensions, scrapping free school meals, means-testing pensioner benefits, and the 'dementia tax'. However, the speech did include pledges to:
- deliver fairer funding for schools through the National Funding Formula
- improve social care and bring forward proposals for consultation.
CIPFA Chief Executive Rob Whiteman in particular highlighted the absence of devolution from the speech:
The election of English city mayors is a significant step towards that devolution, but leaving out all mention of local government from the Queen’s Speech raises concerns that certain initiatives, such as the local retention of business rates agenda, have already been kicked into the long grass.
Click the link below to read the Queen's Speech.
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