A strong showing in the local elections for the Conservative Party set the scene for the Queen’s Speech earlier this month.
Unsurprisingly, the focus of the legislative agenda is the recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic, with the government using the opportunity to signal it is getting back on track with its manifesto commitments from 2019.
A significant proportion of the speech was dedicated to the government’s levelling up agenda, including plans for lifelong learning, extending 5G mobile coverage across the country, authorising the next phase of HS2 and – perhaps most importantly – an overhaul of the planning system to aid delivery of the Conservative manifesto promise to build 300,000 new homes a year.
Other themes include legislating for environmental commitments ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) later this year, and making the most of Brexit, with legislation to set out the new post-Brexit regime for state aid and to set up freeports.
Govt means business on public sector pensions reform
There was little for the adviser community to get their teeth into. With a Pensions Bill and a Financial Services Bill included in the previous session, it was no surprise neither feature this time around. Of most relevance, the Dormant Assets Bill – already introduced in the Lords – will expand the scope of the scheme to cover insurance and pensions funds, investment and wealth management and securities, allowing forgotten assets to be redistributed towards charities and social enterprises.
While the raft of legislation announced feels somewhat piecemeal, the government’s proposals for constitutional reform are certainly more ambitious. Of these, perhaps the most significant in terms of shaping the political landscape in the years ahead is the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill, which will repeal the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA) 2011.
This reinstates the previous constitutional principle that the government of the day has the confidence of parliament and is able to seek a fresh democratic mandate when it is needed.
Govt promises to bring vague social care reforms ‘forward’
Allowing the government to call a general election at the time of their choosing opens us up to speculation around when the next election will be. Spring 2023 – a year and a half earlier than the election date scheduled under the FTPA – is now the date to watch for several reasons.
Firstly, it moves the government back to a spring election cycle – much preferred for turnout than the December cycle we are now on under the FTPA. Secondly, it would allow the government to stretch to the election without making tax hikes beforehand – always an unpopular move with voters. Thirdly, it may scupper First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for an independence referendum the same year – a convenience for this government, which is going to have to answer Sturgeon’s calls for another vote one way or another. And finally, it would allow the government to capitalise on what is hoped to be a full recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic.
2023 may feel a while away, but rumours of an election always serve to focus parliamentarians’ minds. With many expecting to return to Westminster after a long period based in their constituencies, this parliamentary session is set to be an interesting one.
Charlotte Adamson is head of legislative affairs at Cicero/AMO
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