UK Edition
As part of the State Opening of Parliament, the Queen has confirmed that the Government has pledged to bring forward proposals to reform adult social care this year.
Boris Johnson also used the Queen's Speech to press ahead with scrapping fixed five-year terms between elections, freeing him up to call an earlier poll. A wider Elections Bill will be pledged, which will introduce new rules around voter ID.
The Prime Minister also used his package of legislation to give substance to his vow to "level up" the country, and there were also details on new measures for migration, online safety, criminal sentences, housing development and national security.
What did you think of the measures outlined in the Queen’s Speech? Read on for the best discussion points from our readers and share your own views in the comments section at the bottom of this article.
'What about investment in the Red Wall?'
@G J Edwards:
"The usual waffle buff and bluster from this government.
"Levelling up was mentioned, in terms of education, but nothing about investing billions in the deprived Red Wall areas. Funding that those areas were expecting. So, if not now, when?
"It looks as though it is just another undeliverable promise."
'Social care should be focused on allowing people to stay in their homes'
@ThePeddlerOfOldDreams:
"So no action to tighten up gambling laws especially to deal with the epidemic of social problems from online gambling; ditto dealing with alcohol addiction; and what happened to the plans first announced by Cameron 10 years ago to protect children from internet pornography?
"Social care should be focused on allowing people to stay in their homes as long as they can. The way to do this is to improve the current attendance allowance so that it pays for people to hire the help they need. This would save a lot of money, compared with just putting people in a home."
'Voter ID is an excellent idea'
@The Coldstreamer:
"Introducing voter ID is an excellent idea as long as it is managed robustly."
'Green and Hunt had their turn'
@Robert Price:
"Damian Green and Jeremy Hunt both complaining of the inaction over social care. They both had a turn over many years holding the levers of power. Now they should let those currently in office do their own thing without being criticised by allegedly 'senior' Tory backbenchers."
'Money should be spent on adult social care'
@Brave New World:
"The billions wasted on Covid would have been better spent on adult social care; the dire current situation could have been drastically improved.
"Just let the government dare to say that there is no money available for the care of the elderly and vulnerable."
'Repealing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act has nothing to do with party politics'
@Alastair Harris:
"Repealing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act has absolutely nothing to do with party politics. It was introduced to pacify Nick Clegg, and to ensure that the coalition government would be able to survive. It is about time it is repealed!"
'Voter ID is overdue'
@Stephen Read:
"Photo ID for voting is long overdue, but it is next to useless unless postal voting is strictly limited to those who cannot possibly get to a polling booth"
'Ending the Fixed-term Parliament Act is a grave mistake'
@Anthony Hopkin:
"The proposal to end the Fixed-term Parliaments Act is a grave mistake and shows just how much disregard there is in government for the intelligence of the electorate. If passed this will allow any future prime minister the dictatorial powers to manipulate the vote by nothing more than outright bribery in the weeks before an election.
"Keeping a fixed term, with no exceptions other than hostilities, will mean a more balanced approach to contentious issues. No leader of this country should ever be granted the right to gerrymander with the public's vote.
"Be careful what you wish for Johnson, it is a double-edged sword and could work to keep your party out of government for many years."
'The Queen is stronger than ever'
@Mohammad Saad Sheikh:
"It's obviously fascinating to keep debating this government's policies and intended reforms but I just wanted to voice my appreciation, love, and respect for the Queen, who at 95 just opened her 67th session of parliament and is going stronger than ever."
'Voter ID is the most logical thing to do'
@M RE :
"Voter ID is the most logical thing to do in any democracy as it is all to easy to double or triple vote in this country."
'Get this right and many lives will be improved'
@David Democrat:
"The integration of the NHS with care services should fix one of the greatest frustrations within the system (provided they get it right). We have personal experience (involving several relatives) where it has been a massive problem when communication between the two services has proven an obstacle. It typically results in a standoff on who should be doing what. Get this right and the lives of many will be improved."
'People are more concerned about jobs'
@jay True11:
"I don’t see anyone wanting the Fixed-term Parliament Act scrapped. People are more concerned about jobs.
"This focus on the Act only serves to give the SNP the moral high ground. They’ll make the distinction that Boris has given himself the power to hold general elections whilst denying Scotland a referendum.
"Let’s focus on the economy."