THE Queen delivered the Queen’s Speech in the House of Lords this afternoon, setting out the Tory government’s agenda for the next parliamentary term.
The Queen said there will be a suite of new government legislation to “strengthen and renew democracy and the constitution” and “ensure the integrity of elections”.
This relates to the UK Government’s plans to force voters to show ID at polling stations and plans to give the Prime Minister the power to call early elections.
The move to make voters show ID at polling stations has been heavily criticised, with politicians pointing out there is little evidence of voter fraud.
Labour’s shadow justice secretary David Lammy said a new law on ID is a “cynical and ugly attempt to rig the system to disempower the poorest”.
Despite the UK Government slashing aid spending, during the speech the Queen said: “My government will continue to provide aid where it has the greatest impact on reducing poverty and alleviating human suffering.
“My government will uphold human rights and democracy across the world. It will take forward a global effort to get 40 million girls across the world into school.”
The Queen said the Government will “strengthen the economic ties across the Union, investing in and improving national infrastructure”.
“Proposals will be taken forward to transform connectivity by rail and bus and to extend 5G mobile coverage and gigabit capable broadband,” she said.
READ MORE: SNP to use Queen's Speech debate to pile indyref2 pressure on Johnson
Legislation will support a “lifetime skills guarantee” and measures will be introduced to ensure that “support for businesses reflects the United Kingdom’s strategic interests and drives economic growth”.
MPs complied with social distancing measures as they sat two metres apart in the Commons chamber ahead of the Queen’s Speech.
Around 50 were sat on the green benches with more MPs sat in the side galleries and public gallery.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson sat arms folded wearing a black face mask with a Union flag on it.
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