AT Westminster yesterday, Boris Johnson announced that a public inquiry into the handling of the Covid crisis would begin next spring. Labour opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer had an inquiry: Why? Why wait so long? But, told that there was probably more pandemic palaver to come in winter, and that it would be unwise to weigh down frontline staff with questions, Sir Keir promised that, despite some reservations, his party would be as helpful as it could. The Prime Minister’s updates on Covid are not occasions for too much disunity. It was really only the Nats who introduced a sour note, though Boris took a noticeably less hysterical approach in return, even correcting himself when he said “Scottish Nationalist (sic) Party”.
Updates from Queen s Speech as new laws are announced
Boris Johnson has vowed that new legislation will reform education
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The Government will set out its legislative agenda for the year ahead in the Queen s Speech this morning.
The ceremony - which is the traditional State Opening of Parliament - is due to take place at the Houses of Parliament from 11am to 12.30pm.
It will be her first major public ceremonial duty since the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed that the new laws being announced by the Queen will reform education and act as rocket fuel for his levelling-up agenda.
Queen s Speech RECAP: NHS catch-up and recovery plan at heart of next steps proposed by the Government
The Queen attended Parliament for her first major public ceremonial duty since the death of the Duke of Edinburgh
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The Prime Minister has put repairing the NHS following the Covid pandemic at the heart of the next programme for government.
The Queen s speech to officially reopen parliament included an NHS catch-up and recovery plan . The Prime Minister said he was “revolutionising” the adult education and training system as the Government prepared to set out its legislative agenda.
Proposals to cap the House of Lords to 600 members should be written into law as progress on slashing numbers is being “undone” by the Prime Minister’s political appointments, a committee has recommended.
The fresh call for action follows concerns after nominations made in January by Boris Johnson took the total number of peers to more than 830 – compared with 650 MPs in the House of Commons.
The make-up of the appointments, including political donors and the Prime Minister’s own brother, fuelled accusations of “cronyism” as Mr Johnson opted to fill up the red benches, going against recommendations made to his predecessor.
Proposals to cap the House of Lords to 600 members should be written into law as progress on slashing numbers is being “undone” by the Prime Minister’s political appointments, a committee has recommended.
The fresh call for action follows concerns after nominations made in January by Boris Johnson took the total number of peers to more than 830 – compared with 650 MPs in the House of Commons.
The make-up of the appointments, including political donors and the Prime Minister’s own brother, fuelled accusations of “cronyism” as Mr Johnson opted to fill up the red benches, going against recommendations made to his predecessor.