Freedom of speech saved 10 crucial Bills in the pipeline
Bill of Rights
Freedom of speech will be enshrined in a new British Bill of Rights to protect against wokery, political correctness and the advance of European-style privacy laws. The Bill will also restrict criminals’ ability to use human rights laws to evade deportation or secure their release from jail.
To curb the “incremental expansion of a rights culture”, a “filter” will weed out “spurious” human rights cases before they get to court. All cases will have to get permission to be heard by the courts, with those deemed to be without merit barred from being put before judges.
Economic Crime Bill
Anyone running a UK firm will have to verify their identity with Companies House, which will get greater powers to investigate and enforce rules. Law enforcement agencies will get powers to seize crypto assets often used in ransomware attacks.
Modern Slavery Bill
All companies with a turnover of £36million or more will have to publish an annual report on the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery.
Online Safety Bill
Major social media firms will face fines worth up to 10 per cent of their global turnover if they fail to tackle illegal content on their sites. Media Bill
This confirms the privatisation of Channel 4, in order to “ensure [its] sustainability”. Ofcom will be given new regulatory powers through a “video-ondemand code”, covering platforms including Netflix and Amazon Prime, to protect viewers from “harmful material”. Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill
Exporting livestock to be fattened or slaughtered will become illegal, and zoos face requirements to strengthen their conservation work. Pet abduction will become a criminal offence and pet travel measures are tightened. Importing dogs with cropped ears and docked tails will be banned.
Energy Security Bill
This will extend the energy price cap and allow Ofgem to regulate heat networks. Green innovations will include new carbon capture business models, a hydrogen heating trial and a “pro-innovation” fusion energy regulator.
Transport Bill
Great British Railways will be established to run all train services, although many rail powers are devolved in Scotland. There will still be a “significant role” for the private sector, but the new operator will have more control over services, revenue and planning. High Speed Rail (Crewemanchester) Bill
The next leg of HS2, which runs from Crewe to Manchester, will be built using powers in the Bill, including to issue compulsory purchase orders for the land needed.
Brexit Freedoms Bill
A Brexit bonfire of red tape will see up to 1,400 “messy” EU laws torn up at record pace as Boris Johnson pledges to turbocharge growth by ditching Brussels rules.