Warlord
Member
- Joined
- May 2, 2013
- Messages
- 11,694

The Queen has set out the Conservative government's agenda for the year ahead, following last week's decisive election win.
Legislation to take the UK out of the EU on 31 January was among more than 30 bills being announced during Thursday's State Opening of Parliament.
Other measures included guarantees on extra health service funding and longer sentences for violent criminals.
PM Boris Johnson says he wants to unite the UK and "level up" opportunity.
But Labour said the government would be judged on how far it made up for "years of underfunding" of the health service and, so far, its proposals fell short of what was needed to deal with rising waiting times and staff vacancies.
Thursday's State Opening - the second in about two months - had less pageantry than usual, as was the case the last time a snap election was held in 2017.
The Queen travelled by car from Buckingham Palace to Parliament, rather than by horse-drawn carriage, and she did not wear ceremonial dress.
In the Queen's Speech, which is written by the government, it was announced a commitment on the health service's funding will be enshrined in law, with an extra £33.9bn per year provided by 2023/24.
A Royal Commission will be established to improve the "efficiency and effectiveness" of the criminal justice process and there are bills that will ensure the most serious violent offenders serve longer prison terms.
Of the bills included in Mr Johnson's second Queen's Speech in less than three months, seven were devoted to Brexit - with legislation on trade, agriculture, fisheries, immigration, financial services and private international law.
Addressing Parliament, the Queen said the "priority" for her government was to deliver Brexit on 31 January, but ministers also had an "ambitious programme of domestic reform that delivers on the people's priorities".
The Queen's Speech also included:
-Plans for an Australian-style points-based immigration system from 1 January 2021
-New visa to "ensure qualified doctors, nurses and health professionals have fast-track entry to the United Kingdom"
-Hospital car parking charges "will be removed for those in greatest need"
-A plan for "long-term reform" of social care
-Ministers will continue work to reform the Mental Health Act
-New sentencing laws to "ensure the most serious violent offenders, including terrorists, serve longer in custody"
-Those charged with knife possession will face "swift justice"
-New laws to "accelerate the delivery of gigabit capable broadband"
-The government will continue to take steps to meet net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
-Work will be taken forward to repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act - which would enable the prime minister to call an election without the consent of MPs
-Plans for a 50% business rate discount for small firms, including independent cinemas, music venues and pubs
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50842124