Billions for the NHS and Brexit at last – what Queen will tell UK
IN HIS triumphant Sedgefield speech, Mr Johnson expressed his glee at the prospect of having a Commons majority at the Tory party’s disposal for the first time in more than two years.
The Queen’s Speech on Thursday, setting out the Government’s agenda for the new Parliament, will give legislative force to the policy priorities which secured Mr Johnson’s landslide win – delivering Brexit and pumping billions of extra pounds into the NHS.
When the new batch of MPs assemble to listen to Her Majesty, they will hear her announce the plan to bring back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill on Brexit before Christmas, and to pledge that the Government will enshrine in law the first multi-year funding settlement for the NHS leading to a £33.9 billion per year increase in the health service budget by 2024.
The Queen’s Speech will also include measures to strengthen the justice system, with tougher sentences for serious criminals; restrict trade union strikes affecting vital services such as health and transport; offer more security of tenure for renters; and crack down on Left-wing local authorities which boycott products from other countries – such as Israel – on political grounds.
Mr Johnson’s first week in No 10 after the Election will start with a small reshuffle to replace Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan, who stepped down at the Election, and former Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns who resigned in November following claims that he had known about a former aide’s role in allegedly sabotaging a rape trial.
A more full-bloodied reshuffle, to remodel the Cabinet in the image of the new Tory parliamentary party, will follow in February after Brexit.
The new MPs will be sworn in on Tuesday, followed by the State Opening of Parliament on Thursday and then the introduction of the Withdrawal Bill on Friday in what Mr Johnson has described as ‘an early Christmas present’ for voters. The Bill has to be passed by January 29 in order for it to be ratified by the European Parliament in time for Britain to leave the EU by the deadline of 11pm on January 31.
The legislation was blocked by MPs in October, but is certain to pass now that Mr Johnson has won his 80-seat majority. Cross-party talks to agree ‘an enduring solution to the challenge of social care’ will also start within Mr Johnson’s first 100 days.
A No 10 s ource s ai d: ‘ This Election was as much about delivering on the people’s priorities as it was about getting Brexit done – and the Prime Minister understands that.
‘We will show the public, especially Labour voters who trusted us with their vote, that we will deliver on the promises we have made on helping with the cost of living, tackling crime and supporting our NHS.
‘This starts with making sure the NHS has the funding it needs to carry on being the best healthcare service in the world. It is one of the key priorities of the people’s government.’