Plan B Forum

The measures were unveiled by the Queen amid the usual pomp and ceremony.



The proposed legislation includes:

A ban on income tax, VAT and national insurance increases for five years

A freeze on working age benefits, tax credits and child benefit for two years from 2016/17

30 hours free childcare a week for three and four-year-olds by 2017

Cutting the total amount one household can claim in benefits from £26,000 to £23,000

More devolution for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and "English votes for English laws" at Westminster

500 more free schools and more failing and "coasting" schools turned into Academies

A ban on so-called legal highs

A "truly seven day" NHS by 2020

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32894214

Queen's Speech: A programme to transform Britain?
By Iain Watson
Political correspondent, BBC News

The political message is clear - that the government will help "working people" but not those claiming benefits who, in the words if the prime minister, are "sitting at home".
The Conservatives' own polling highlighted that this was a powerful message especially in the Midlands and southern marginals seized from, or defended from, Labour.

The intention is to try to recreate the coalition, not with the Lib Dems, but with people who don't traditionally back the Conservatives, but whose parents may well have voted for Mrs Thatcher before deserting the party for Tony Blair.

The prime minister is even using the language of 'One Nation' - briefly favoured by Ed Miliband.

So there are measures to extend free child care, and the right to buy to housing association tenants, and to ensure those who work thirty hours a week for the minimum wage won't pay income tax.

But it's also interesting to note what isn't in the Queen's Speech.

Labour warned that VAT would have to rise. There will now be a bill to freeze the rate until the end of the parliament. There were warnings from the opposition, too, that child benefit might be cut further, or limited to the first two children.

There is no mention of this. But some of the detail of the welfare cuts may not become apparent until the Chancellor delivers a fully Conservative Budget in just over a month's time.

More here...

Big RR wrote:So Gob, what is this "Queen's Speech"? Does she merely read a speech prepared by Cameron or can/does she throw in her own comments/views/initiatives? And while I am sure there is a reason to have the monarch read the speech, what is that reason?