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The Conservatives are expected to announce a raft
of new laws, including a new counter-terror bill, the scrapping of the Human
Rights Act and to pledge further devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament in
the first meeting of the new government.
The
Queen’s Speech, which acts as the focal point for the official State Opening of
Parliament, will take place at 11:30 BST before newly elected and returning
Members of Parliament and peers in the House of Lords.
Cameron
has previously said he would “not waste a single moment” delivering his
manifesto pledges, many of which were vetoed by the Liberal Democrats during
the 2010-2015 coalition administration.
RT.com report continues:
Outgoing
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the new government was already abandoning the
principles of liberalism his party had advocated over the past five years,
while the Scottish National Party (SNP) said it will continue to use its
influence to protest against further spending cuts.
The most
controversial new measure will be the creation of a British Bill of Rights to
replace the Human Rights Act (HRA) in an attempt to clamp down on the supposed
abuse of existing human rights legislation. The proposals have already caused
cracks to form within the Conservative ranks, with some backbench MPs staging a
rebellion.
The speech
is set to include a bill which will start the process for an EU membership
referendum, likely to occur by 2017. The BBC reports that while the precise
wording of the plebiscite question is as yet unknown, it is likely the “Yes”
option will be to stay in the EU.
Further
devolution powers for Scotland will be met with increased autonomy for English
MPs voting on English matters.
Other
measures expected are a new counter-extremism bill to help tackle
radicalization and an increase in the level of free childcare provision for
three and four year olds.
Clegg said
it was “dispiriting” to see how quickly the government was “tuning back on that
liberal stance” achieved during the coalition.
“The human
rights we hold dear, our right to privacy in an online age, our future as an
open-minded, outward-looking country, are all hanging in the balance again
because of the measures being announced by the Conservative government.”
He added
that the party would “fight any attempt to weaken the fundamental rights of our
citizens. “We will stand up for the poorest and the most vulnerable.”
SNP
Westminster Group Leader Angus Robertson used the impending speech to outline
the strength of his party and to renew their anti-austerity pledge.
“The SNP
group of 56 are already a strong and effective opposition to the Tory
government,” he said. “That will be demonstrated further in our response to the
UK government's Queen’s Speech.
“Our priority
is ending austerity, and the damage it does to people’s lives. The Tory
government’s priority is ending human rights, and we will work across party
lines and with colleagues in the Scottish Parliament to stop them scrapping the
Human Rights Act.”
He said
the Scottish devolution negotiations will be the “first key test” for the new
government.
To
coincide with the Queen’s Speech, a number of high profile celebrities have
come out in opposition to the Tory’s British Bill of Rights proposal.
Benedict
Cumberbatch, David Harewood, Indira Varma, Vanessa Redgrave and Simon Callow
have starred in short films based on experiences of people who have relied on
the Human Rights Act.
Sherlock
actor Cumberbatch said: “Our Human Rights Act belongs to all of us. It’s not
for politicians to pick and choose when they apply or who deserves protection.
“Repealing
it will mean less protection against state abuse or neglect, and weaken the
rights of every single one of us - and the vulnerable most of all.”
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