This week sees the Queen’s Speech, the government’s announcement of it legislative agenda for the next session of parliament, due to run for about 12 months.
Of course, all government’s want to get on with their legislative agenda, delivering manifesto pledges that they were elected on. Distractions happen and the distractions of the last couple of years have been profound. First, we are locked down in a global pandemic, with the effects on trade, businesses and investment that this brings. Then we find the world’s biggest energy producer decides to wage war on the world’s biggest food exporter. It’s fair to say there are quite a few challenges.
The effect of all of this is rising inflation, unusual economic performances, and rising interest rates. Here in the UK, our interest rates remain relatively low, inflation is middle ranking, and economic growth is uncertain. But this is not unusual as this cost of living crisis is a global phenomenon.
But what this means is the government must combine its policy ambitions with tackling immediate problems.
The thread running through the Queen’s Speech is one of improving living standards. This is something that is aligned to helping with the cost-of-living problems. Boosting economic growth, with improving wages, is key to both ambitions.
Indeed, the levelling up agenda is one that helps those poorer area of the country more. We need higher growth in those areas where wages are lower, to catch up with the richer parts of the country. And the bill includes raising standards in primary schools.
Several bills look at seizing the opportunities from Brexit, although one I want to look at very closely makes it easier for government to get rid of EU rules carried over from Brexit. The principal is fine, but we should not pass over complete discretion to ministers to tear up laws without scrutiny.
But we also have bills that will improving quality of life: giving police more powers to tackle antisocial behaviour that blights communities; improving efficiency on railways; cleaner energy production; and a new infrastructure bank to help grow the economy.
Importantly, we are giving the NHS support to clear the Covid backlog, and to support people in care.
So the message is clear: our priorities are growing the economy, safer streets, and supporting the NHS back to normal after the covid pandemic. It’s a lot to take on, but we have the resources to achieve it.