Boris Johnson vows not to quit as the Prime Minister says that he’ll refuse to resign even if MPs vote down his Queen’s Speech
- Boris Johnson ‘vows to get the gears on our national gearbox working again’
- His programme contains 26 Bills which Jeremy Corbyn called a ‘farce’
- Set to form the basis for the Tory election manifesto and make Britain ‘greatest’
- Includes seven anti-crime laws and pledge to tackle plastic and social care crisis
- If MPs reject the Queen’s Speech next week, it would be the first time since 1924
- Says he will not quit if this happens and will wait till Labour hold an election
Boris Johnson will not quit even if MPs vote down his Queen’s Speech, Downing Street said last night.
The Prime Minister yesterday unveiled his heavily trailed legislative programme with a promise to ‘get the gears on our national gearbox working again’.
The programme contained 26 separate Bills, with a heavy emphasis on fighting crime, delivering Brexit and improving key public services like health and education. Many of the measures are expected to form the basis of the next Tory election manifesto.
In the Commons, Mr Johnson said his plans would help make Britain ‘the greatest place on Earth’. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn branded the programme a ‘farce’, pointing out that the Prime Minister was 45 votes short of a majority.
Allies of the PM last night conceded that MPs are likely to reject the Queen’s Speech when it is voted on next week. Such a move would be the first time a Government had lost its entire legislative programme since 1924, when the then Conservative PM Stanley Baldwin was forced to resign. But Downing Street said Mr Johnson would not quit, and would continue to try to govern until Labour agreed to hold an election.
Boris Johnson told the Commons the government’s new legislative programme set out his vision to ‘get Brexit done’ and create an ‘open, free-trading country’. He added how his plans would usher in ‘a new age of opportunity’, pledging to ‘get this amazing country of ours moving again’
His official spokesman said: ‘If MPs do choose to vote against the Queen’s Speech it will be for them to explain why they are voting against greater support for public services including the police, school and hospitals, why they are blocking legislation that will lead to serious and dangerous offenders spending more time in prison, and why they are standing in the way of significant infrastructure improvements.’
Sources said the Fixed-term Parliaments Act meant the loss of a Queen’s Speech was no longer an automatic resignation issue.
The speech included:
- Seven anti-crime Bills, including measures to ensure serious offenders serve at least two-thirds of their sentences;
- Plans for a crackdown on single-use plastic as part of a wider package of environmental measures;
- A pledge to tackle the social care crisis, together with plans for a 2 per cent surcharge on council tax to help pay for it;
- A renewed commitment to take the UK out of the EU by the end of this month, with a deal if possible;
- Controversial plans to require voters to produce photo IDs at polling stations to tackle electoral fraud;
- Legislation to end free movement and introduce a new points-based immigration system after Britain leaves the EU;
- Plans to force restaurants to hand over all tips to staff;
- Legislation to allow for no-fault divorces.
Mr Johnson said his plans would usher in ‘a new age of opportunity’. Pledging to ‘get this amazing country of ours moving again,’ he added: ‘People are tired of stasis, gridlock and waiting for change. They don’t want to wait for improvements in their hospitals.
‘They don’t want to wait for their streets to be made safer. They don’t want to wait for their schools to have the funding they need. And they don’t want to wait any longer to get Brexit done.’
In the speech, the Queen said it was the Government’s ‘priority’ to leave the EU on October 31. But accompanying documents stated: ‘We are leaving the European Union on October 31.’ Number 10 denied the anomaly reflected a split between Downing Street and the Palace.
The Queen is pictured waiting patiently in the Lords chamber for MPs to trail in from the House of Commons for her speech today. She said it was the Government’s ‘priority’ to leave the EU on October 31
The Prime Minister heads into the House of Lords with opposition Corbyn for the Queen’s Speech – and according to Downing Street Mr Johnson would not quit if his programme was rejected and would continue to try to govern until Labour agreed to hold an election
A spokesman said: ‘Queen’s Speeches are written in a particular form of language. They are different to the form of language the PM uses.’
Mr Corbyn savaged the new package, saying: ‘There has never been such a farce as a Government with a majority of minus-45 and a 100 per cent record of defeat in the Commons setting out a legislative agenda they know cannot be delivered in this Parliament.’ He also suggested he could shortly back calls for an election.
But he was savaged by Mr Johnson for his flip-flopping on Brexit and mocked over reports that Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell is masterminding a silent coup against him.
MPs will now debate the plans ahead of a crunch vote on the package next Tuesday.
- A Budget will take place on November 6, just a week after Britain is due to have left the EU, Chancellor Sajid Javid announced yesterday. He said he would use it to ‘shape the economy for the future’.
As friend and foe looked on, PM’s 26-bill election blueprint
Brexit
Seven Brexit Bills – including fishing, farming, trade and financial services – but the most important is the Withdrawal Bill which would take us out of the EU with a deal. Its contents will be determined by talks in Brussels this week.
Carrie Symond’s donned a navy ensemble for the State Opening of the Queen’s Speech today. She sat with Johnson’s father Stanley Johnson in the gallery of the House of Lords
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to unveil a programme to ‘get the gears on our national gearbox working again’ while Jeremy Corbyn branded it a ‘farce’ (pictured heading into the House of Lords for the Queen’s Speech)
Immigration
To deliver on pledge to end free movement from the EU and then, in time, create an Australian-style points system for migrants who want to come to work in the UK.
Foreign Offenders
Foreign criminals who are deported from Britain and then sneak back in will face years in prison not weeks.
NHS
Five Bills designed to showcase multi-billion-pound increases in health spending. Also a new patient safety watchdog with powers to investigate serious blunders.
Social Care
No sign of the social care legislation the system is crying out for. But there is a signal of intent with spending increases of £1.5 billion with £500 million paid for from a 2 per cent increase in council tax.
Helen’s Law
Killers who refuse to reveal where their victims are buried, and paedophiles who refuse to identify their victims, will face longer behind bars.
Sentencing
End to automatic release for thousands of killers and rapists at the halfway point in their sentence. They will instead serve two-thirds.
Domestic Abuse
Creates a Domestic Abuse Tsar to represent victims; and powers to stop alleged abusers cross-examining their victims in person in the family courts.
Divorce
Bill to open door to ‘no-fault’ divorce and allow couples to end their marriage within six months, even if one partner doesn’t want to.
Railways
A White Paper setting out proposals to overhaul the current system of franchising and creating a new commercial model.
Windrush Compensation
Compensation for victims of Windrush who faced immigration proceedings despite living here legally.
Tips
Obligation on restaurateurs to ‘pass on all tips, gratuities and service charges’ to workers.
Environment
Legally binding targets to reduce plastic waste and air pollution, improve water quality and increase ‘biodiversity’.
Building Standards
Rules and regulations designed to prevent a repeat of the Grenfell Tower fire.
High Speed Rail (W Midlands–Crewe)
Legislation needed for the next phase of the HS2 rail line. But will it survive an ongoing review of the project?
Drones
New powers for police to combat drones.
Electoral Fraud
Requiring voters to show photo ID at the polling station to combat voter fraud.
Animal Welfare
Jail sentences for animal cruelty will be increased from a maximum of six months to five years.
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