Time to put Britain before petty politics

TODAY’S Queen’s Speech will set out the Government’s legislative priorities for the next session of Parliament – as per usual.

Everything else about it will be so unusual as to be unparalleled in the modern age.

To begin with, it brings to an end the longest Parliamentary session since the civil wars of the 17th century.

Theresa May kept extending it in the hope of winning a Brexit deal – a hope that was cruelly dashed, along with her political career.

Secondly, whatever the speech contains, it is overwhelmingly likely to be voted down in the Commons, something that hasn’t happened since 1924.

This isn’t because the opposition parties object to any particular part of it.

It’s because they are so consumed with bitterness and animosity against Boris Johnson and his attempts to ‘get Brexit done’ that they would oppose anything he said on principle.

Then there’s the unprecedented and tortuous legal backdrop. Three weeks ago, the Supreme Court ruled that Mr Johnson had given unlawful advice to the Queen when he first asked her to prorogue Parliament.

She could be forgiven for raising an eyebrow, as he’s now asking her to take part in something of a charade.

This is not so much a Queen’s Speech as an election manifesto, setting out Mr Johnson’s hustings blueprint for Britain.

It is an avowedly post-austerity package, pledging extra money for law and order, education, the NHS and various other public services.

It promises reform of the social care system, measures to stem plastic pollution and a revamp of the rail franchise system.

These are all areas of deep concern to ordinary people and would be widely welcomed.

But the truth is he can only implement them if he wins a majority in the next general election. And the key to that is delivering Brexit. The Queen’s Speech will remind us of all the things – vital things – the Government could be doing if MPs would stop their posturing and resolve to break the Brexit deadlock.

On Saturday, they may well be asked to vote on a new withdrawal agreement between the UK and Brussels. If they have any patriotic feeling, they will back it and allow the country finally to move on.

Business needs this deal. Their constituents need it. And above all, our ailing democracy needs it.