This year’s Queen’s Speech on 18th May was laid out with a social reform, one nation Conservativism and anti-extremism agenda, which was hoped to detract media attention away from the internal wrangling of the Conservative party over Europe and reorganisation in the education and health services. However backbench disquiet and the small government majority (and no majority in the Lords) appear to have resulted in a watered down and less controversial set of Bills. Whilst the government maintain the 21 Bills announced are more than the average of 18 in recent years, it is undeniable that several of the Bills are re-announcements or draft Bills being firmed up.
That all said the Queen’s Speech ends with the wonderful, all-encapsulating caveat, “Other measures will be laid before you”! So depending upon the outcome of the EU referendum and any associated fall-out within government, more Bills are likely to follow.
See our document below for a full list of bills, complete with NFU comment (members only).