BORIS PROMISES NEW GOLDEN AGE
PM outlines 25 key Bills in bold 10-year blueprint
BORIS Johnson last night promised a new “golden age” after unveiling his 10-year blueprint for Britain.
The Queen announced the Government’s programme at the State Opening of Parliament yesterday, focused on getting the UK out of the EU next month and transforming public services.
In a hint of the scale of his ambition following his landslide election win, the Prime Minister insisted he had a vision for the next decade – with 25 key Bills lined up.
He told MPs: “This is not a programme for one year, or one Parliament, it is a blueprint for the future of Britain. Just imagine where this country could be in 10 years’ time. A new golden age for this United Kingdom is now within reach.”
His “blue army” of Tory MPs cheered in
delight as the flagship measure in his programme, his EU Withdrawal Bill, was formally introduced into the Commons yesterday.
The measure, which will rubber stamp his EU exit deal with Brussels, is set to win the backing of MPs today.
At a slimmed-down State Opening of Parliament shorn of much of its usual pomp and ceremony, the Queen announced a raft of Government Bills including key Brexit measures and proposals to boost NHS funding, strengthen law and order, border controls, increase home ownership and modernise infrastructure.
Her speech said: “My Government’s priority is to deliver the UK’s departure from the EU on January 31.
“My ministers will bring forward legislation to ensure the UK’s exit on that date and make the most of the opportunities that this brings for all the people of the UK.”
Most of the measures – including setting up a new points-based immigration system, toughening sentences for violent offenders and increasing NHS funding by nearly £34billion a year by 2023/24 – were the same as those announced in October. New measures included an Employment Bill to enhance workplace rights after the country leaves the EU and espionage legislation to crack down on spies from Russia and other hostile foreign powers.
In Commons exchanges after the Queen’s Speech, the Prime Minister indicated he would use his majority to help the millions of voters who backed the Tories at the election.
He said: “This is the moment to repay the trust of those who sent us here by delivering on the people’s priorities with the most radical Queen’s Speech for a generation.”
Mr Johnson added that his 10-year blueprint would bring trade deals around the world to boost UK jobs, 40 new hospitals, excellent schools in every community and “the biggest transformation of our infrastructure since theVictorian age.”
Taunting the depleted opposition benches, he said: “And in spite of the negativity you will hear from the other side we will work flat out to deliver it.”
He added: “As we engage full tilt now in this mission of change I am filled with invincible confidence in the ability of this nation, our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to renew itself in this generation as we have done so many times in the past.
“And after the dither after the delay, after the deadlock, after the paralysis and the platitudes, the time has come for change and the time has come for action.”
In his Commons response Jeremy Corbyn claimed the programme was full of “gimmicks” and insisted the NHS was “on its knees”.
In an angry rant, the outgoing Labour leader rubbished the pro
gramme as “miserably weak”. But he triggered laughter from the Tory benches by claiming the election, in which his party scored its worst result for more than 70 years, had “forced the terrain to shift”.
Former prime minister Theresa May used the debate to pay a generous tribute to her successor on his “overwhelming win”.
She said: “I have been in this House for over 22 years and this is the largest number of Conservative MPs I have seen in this House.”
The Queen’s Speech confirmed plans for the “deepest review” of Britain’s security, defence and foreign policy since the end of the Cold War.
Led by the Prime Minister, it will cover the Armed Forces, the intelligence agencies and counter-terrorism as well as the future development of foreign policy.
Other pledges include a plan to change business rates, with a retail discount upped from one-third to 50 per cent, and measures will be developed to provide for minimum levels of service during transport strikes. Mr Johnson last night also moved to complete a series of ministerial appointments since his poll triumph by bringing former Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, who was defeated at the election, back into the Government as a peer.
The Environment Minister lost his Richmond Park seat to Lib Dem Sarah Olney last week but will retain his ministerial post and right to attend Cabinet meetings as a member of the Lords.