A Mixed Reception

By Ray Fleming THE Queen said her ministers' first priority would be to “reduce the deficit and restore economic stability.” David Cameron said the Queen's Speech would “rebuild Britain”. Ed Miliband said it “offers nothing”. The Daily Telegraph's headline was of “19 new laws to boost the economy” but The Times spoke of “Major U-Turns” and “retreat, delay and inaction”. There are 15 new Bills and four draft Bills in the Queen's speech and not all are directed to boosting the economy as the Daily Telegraph suggested. For instance, the Bill to reform the House of Lords is clearly nothing more than a sop to the Liberal Democrats and depends, as the prime minister unrealistically said, on all parties and MPs agreeing on whatever proposals are eventually “brought forward”. The Communications Bill to enable police and intelligence services to “access vital communications data under strict safeguards” ran into a lot of opposition when first introduced and has been demoted to draft status. There are several necessary family and social Bills and provisions for fiscal legislation. But there appears to be nothing specifically related to the “growth” mood of the moment and generally the government programme gives the impression of an administration stranded on an island in the midst of a fast moving river and uncertain how to get off. It is certainly not a response to last week's local elections.