Posted on 22/06/2017 by

Queen’s Speech contains watered-down, fudged or scrapped promises on social care, energy caps and grammar schools

PM forced to make changes to the manifesto after failing to win a majority

THERESA MAY has been forced to scrap a whole host of promises in the Queen’s Speech after failing to win a majority in the election.

The speech today did not include information on the hated social care reforms, proposals for an energy cap, scrapping free school meals, or information on changes to grammar schools.

Theresa May must battle other parties to pass laws in the House of Commons

Donald Trump’s visit to the UK was also not included – leading to claims that it has been cancelled.

It was reported earlier this month that  President Trump did not want to come until the public would support such a trip.

But the text, prepared for the Queen by Theresa May, contained no reference to the proposed visit by the US President.​

After a procession in the Palace of Westminster the Queen unveiled 27 Bills and draft bills – but plenty of flagship manifesto policies found no place in the Conservative agenda.

The Government has chosen to fudge, delay or water down a number of promises they made in their manifesto – amid fears that they can’t get through the Commons.

This includes:

• Scrapping of universal free school lunches: The Conservatives promised to replace free school lunches with free school breakfasts. But this wasn’t mentioned in today’s Speech.
• Means-testing winter fuel payments: The Conservatives announced this would take place during the election – but refused to say who would be affected. We have no more new details about that today.
• Energy price cap: The Government has backed away from radical plans to introduce an energy price cap – as the Queen’s Speech confirmed it will only be extending price protections for vulnerable customers.Theresa May in April vowed to intervene in the “broken” energy market and introduce a cap to knock £100 a year off 17 million people’s energy bills. But today she was not able to say whether it would be introduced. She was asked specifically by John Penrose MP, but she only said the Government intends to “take action on this issue”.
• Foxhunting: Theresa May wanted to hold a free vote on repealling fox hunting. This got no mention in today’s Queen’s Speech
• Reform of social care funding / “dementia tax”: This was one of the most unpopular parts of the manifesto during the election – plans to make older people pay for more of their care. The Prime Minister was forced to say there would definitely be an upper limit on the amount that people would pay. Today’s speech says these measures will be brought forward for consultation. It says that this will include putting it “on a more secure financial footing” and supporting people to prepare for the challenges of old age.
• Grammar schools: Mrs May wants to expand and build more new grammar schools – a controversial policy with the Labour party and her own back benchers. Today’s Queen’s Speech didn’t mention them.
• Immigration reform: After we leave the EU, ministers promised reform of our immigration system, with proposals to be brought forward in due course. Today’s announcement said there would be an immigration bill put forward, but with little detail on what it will mean. It says that the Bill will allow for the “repeal of EU law on immigration, primarily free movement”. It will also make the migration of EU nationals and their families subject to relevant UK law after we leave. The Tories promised in their manifesto to stick to their aim of getting net migration down to the tens of thousands.

Source: TheSun