! This post hasn't been updated in over a year. A lot can change in a year including my opinion and the amount of naughty words I use. There's a good chance that there's something in what's written below that someone will find objectionable. That's fine, if I tried to please everybody all of the time then I'd be a Lib Dem (remember them?) and I'm certainly not one of those. The point is, I'm not the kind of person to try and alter history in case I said something in the past that someone can use against me in the future but just remember that the person I was then isn't the person I am now nor the person I'll be in a year's time.
The Queen was put through the indignity of having to read the One Eyed Wonder of Wankistan first (and hopefully last) Queen’s Speech.
The BBC, to my utter amazement, have actually identified which bills are only applicable in England although there is no explanation of why this is so utterly reprehensible, undemocratic and morally wrong.
First up is the Apprenticeships (draft) Bill which only applies to England. 16-18 year olds will be given an entitlement to an apprenticeship. Who they will be apprenticed to, how companies will be convinced or forced to take on apprentices and why this is neccesary when kids will soon have to be in school until they’re 18 isn’t explained.
Mandate Rating: 0/5
Next is the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill which will “clarify the legal and regulatory position of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, ahead of the restructuring of the company which built the link”. The BBC says this applies to the whole of the UK although the Channel Tunnel is actually in England and Eurostar doesn’t go to Scotland or Wales. And I thought the situation was pretty simple – it cost a horrendous amount of public and private money, won’t break even for decades and the taxpayer will see little or no return ever on the “investment”.
Mandate Rating: 0/5
The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill comes next which will reform (god, I hate that word) the child maintenance system. Can’t really pick fault with that provided it actually works, unlike the piss poor job the CSA does. Applies to England, Wales and Scotland.
Mandate Rating: 1/5
Next is the Children and Young Persons Bill which will prevent children from moving schools in years 10 and 11 (the last two years for 16 year old school leavers). There is no explanation of how the state will prevent you from moving home or if they, perhaps, intend to take your child into care if you try to move when your child is that age. Also requires local authorities to provide children leaving institutional care continued support. Only applies to England and technically to Wales.
Mandate Rating: 0/5
Possibly the most unbelievable one is the Citizenship and Immigration (draft) Bill which will “take forward any recommendations” from a review by Lord Goldsmith. Nobody knows what those recommendations are going to be but it looks like it’ll be pushed through regardless of what it contains. Probably applies to the whole of the UK but policing is devolved so possibly not.
Mandate Rating: 1/5
Next up is the Climate Change Bill which is going to decimate our economy. Statutory targets are going to be introduced to reduce our CO2 emmissions by 60% by 2050, effectively making the country a no-go for any type of heavy industry. Also provides for pilot schemes such as pay-as-you-throw rubbish tax by local authorities which the British government believes will result in less household waste rather than more fly-tipping. “Much of the bill” applies to the whole country according to the BBC although the bits intended to directly empty our pockets will only apply in England.
Mandate Rating: 1/5
The Constitutional Renewal (draft) Bill will apparently give more power to Parliament to hold the government to account and decide where to deploy troops. Doesn’t abolish the party whip or stop the British government from telling blatant lies to secure the answer they want so pretty pointless really. Also changes the way judges are appointed … because that’s something we all want to see changed (he said, sarcastically). “Most of the bill applies to the whole UK” says the BBC. We’ll see.
Mandate Rating: 4/5
The Counter Terrorism Bill is the most dangerous bill proposed giving the state more power to obtain and use DNA, assumes terrorist suspects are hiding something if they refuse to answer and (you’ll like this) bans convicted terrorists from travelling abroad. Firstly, why would convicted terrorists not be in prison? Secondly, why would we want to keep them here if they’re not? Applies to the whole UK apparently but policing is devolved, remember.
Mandate Rating: 4/5
Next, the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. This will allow non-dangerous criminals who’ve been released early from prison but breach the terms of their release to be jailed for only 28 days rather than having to serve the rest of their sentence. That’ll teach them. Also gives convicted terrorists a new immigration status … did I already ask why we want convicted terrorists here? “Extreme” pornographic images on the internet will be made illegal and people who defend themselves in their own home will be “fully protected” by the law. Mostly relates to England but partly applies to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mandate Rating: 1/5
The Crossrail Bill is still floating atop all the other turds and has been since February 2005. Only applies to England apart from the bit where Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland get chucked a couple of billion extra in their subsidy for the privelege of spending English taxes on England.
Mandate Rating: 0/5
The Cultural Property (armed Conflicts) (draft) Bill is a meaningless ratification of a convention protecting cultural artefacts during wars. Probably applies to the whole UK.
Mandate Rating: 5/5
The Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill will be met with dismay by our beleagured banking industry who will lose have to hand over cash from dormant accounts for the British government’s slush fund instead of investing it. Applies to the whole of the UK.
Mandate Rating: 5/5
The EC Finance Bill will allow the British government to hand over the £27.1m per day contribution they give to Federal Europe from their own bank account, the “Consolidated Fund”. Applies to the whole of the UK.
Mandate Rating: 5/5
Next is the Education and Skills Bill which will require all children to remain in school until the age of 18 by 2015. Also requires employers to release young people for one days training a week and requires parents and local authorities to make them do it. Applies to England.
Mandate Rating: 0/5
The Employment Bill aims to strengthen employment law and improve dispute resolution. Applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
Mandate Rating: 1/5
The Energy Bill will offer greater incentives for renewable energy generation such as ridiculously inefficient and cost-ineffective wind and solar power. Applies to the whole of the UK.
Mandate Rating: 5/5
The EU Reform Treaty Bill will pass the EU not-a-constitution into law making every MP that supports its passage through Parliament a traitor. Applies to the whole UK.
Mandate Rating: 5/5
Next, the Health and Social Care Bill. This merges three existing health regulators into one “super regulator” and which will have more power to intervene in failing hospitals. Only applies to England.
Mandate Rating: 0/5
The Heritage Protection Draft Bill will unify the two different heritage schemese – scheduling and listing – into one. Applies to England, Wales and partly to Northern Ireland.
Mandate Rating: 0/5
The Housing and Regeneration Bill paves the way for massive house building by merging the national land bank, English Partnerships, with the Housing Corporation which hands out money for social housing. Technically applies to England and Wales but realistically only applies in England.
Mandate Rating: 0/5
The Human Tissues and Embryos Bill will ban sex selection for non-medical reasons and will recognise same-sex couples as legal parents of children made from donated eggs and sperm. Applies to England and Wales and partly to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Mandate Rating: ½/5
The Local Transport Bill will allow local authorities to introduce local road pricing schemes. Applies to England, technically to Wales and tehcnially, partly to Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, transport is devolved so actually only applies to England.
Mandate Rating: ½/5
The Marine (draft) Bill will introduce a new system for planning marine and offshore developments. Applies to the whole of the UK.
Mandate Rating: 5/5
Next us is the Marine Navigation and Port Safety (draft) Bill which will “reform” lighthouse authorities and clarify the legal framework for port safety. Applies to the whole UK.
Mandate Rating: 5/5
The National Insurance Contributions Bill will make the National Insurance upper limit match the Income Tax upper limit over a period of about 18 months. Applies to the whole UK.
Mandate Rating: 5/5
The Pensions Bill will force all employees into a private pension scheme with minimum employer contributions. Applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
Mandate Rating: 3/5
The Planning Reform Bill will create a two-tier planning system – one for major infrastructure works and one for minor home improvements. Should result in less formal planning permission requirements for minor works but will probably mean more regional planning decisions by unelected quangos. Only applies to England.
Mandate Rating: 0/5
The Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill aims to “reduce unnecessary burdens” placed on business by local authorities, probably by moving more powers from elected local authorities to unelected regional quangos. Applies to the whole UK. Allegedly.
Mandate Rating: 5/5
Finally, the Sale of Student Loans Bill will allow the British government to sell the student loan portfolio to private companies. This is expected to raise £6bn over 3 years but there are no figures given on how much interest would be earnt in the long term. Applies mainly to England.
Mandate Rating: ½/5
Total mandate rating for the whole Queen’s Speech: 62½/145 (43%)
Go home Gordon, England doesn’t want you.
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