2021 State Opening of Parliament
A
Background
The parliament was elected at the
COVID-19 restrictions
The ceremony was different from usual protocol, being the first since the
Substance
Speculation
There were expected to be between 25 and 30 bills mentioned in the speech,[8] including bills related to rent reform and employment.[9] BBC News reported that the speech would include measures on adult social care, Northern Ireland veterans, asylum reform, the English planning system, fixed-term parliaments, and building safety regulations.[10]
Announced bills
The following new bills were announced in the speech:[11]
- Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill
- Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill
- Animals Abroad Bill
- Building Safety Bill
- Charities Bill
- Counter-State Threats Bill
- Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill
- Dormant Assets Bill
- Electoral Integrity Bill
- Health and Care Bill
- High Speed Rail (Crewe–Manchester) Bill
- Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill
- Judicial Review Bill
- Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill
- National Insurance Contributions Bill
- Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill
- Online Safety Bill
- Planning Bill
- Procurement Bill
- Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill
- Skills and Post-16 Education Bill
- Subsidy Control Bill
- Victims Bill
Further legislation will also introduce the government's "New Plan for Immigration" and deal with legacy issues relating to Northern Ireland.[11]
The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill would repeal the
The Online Safety Bill would create a new statutory duty of care of online platforms towards their users, obliging them to remove both illegal and "legal but harmful" content, and empower Ofcom to block access to particular websites. In addition, the bill would prohibit social media networks from removing certain forms of user-submitted political content or discriminating against particular political viewpoints.[16]
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill would impose requirements for universities and
Carried-over bills
In addition, the following bills were carried over from the 2019–21 legislative session:[18]
- Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill
- Armed Forces Bill
- Environment Bill
- Finance Bill
- Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
- Telecommunications (Security) Bill
Event
The Queen travelled from
The consort's throne was absent from the House of Lords during the event due to COVID-19 restrictions: though the Queen's consort Prince Philip had died on 9 April 2021, the throne was expected to be returned and occupied by Prince Charles at future State Openings.[22]
Response
Members of Parliament debated the speech in the House of Commons afterwards.[23] A debate also took place in the House of Lords. Lord Lebedev made his maiden speech.[24]
On 19 May the motion on the address was passed by a vote of 367–264, with the Democratic Unionist Party supporting the government.[25]
See also
- Parliament of the United Kingdom
- List of acts of the 2nd session of the 58th Parliament of the United Kingdom
- List of acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 2020–present
References
- ^ "Queen's Speech: What did she say at the State Opening of Parliament?". Independent. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Queen's Speech to be held on 11 May". GOV.UK. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Queen's Speech: What is it and why is it important?". BBC News. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Queen carries out first major royal duty since Philip's death". BBC News. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "First State Opening Of Parliament Since The Start Of The Pandemic Will Be Held On 11 May". Politics Home. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "The Queen's Speech: What is the Queen's Speech and the State Opening of Parliament?". BBC Newsround. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- USA TODAY. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Boris Johnson expected to announce more than two dozen new laws in the Queen's Speech next week". I. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Seven laws promised in the last Queen's Speech haven't been delivered 16 months on". I. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Queen's Speech 2021: What can we expect?". BBC News. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Queen's Speech 2021". gov.uk. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Parkinson, Justin (12 May 2021). "Boris Johnson pushes for power to call election at any time". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Geraghty, Liam (11 May 2021). "Voter ID: What does the new plan mean for voters?". The Big Issue. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ O'Carroll, Lisa (11 May 2021). "Britons living abroad for more than 15 years to be given right to vote". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "Planning, procurement and judicial review legislation to the fore in Queen's Speech". Local Government Lawyer. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Wakefield, Jane (12 May 2021). "Government lays out plans to protect users online". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "Universities could face fines over free speech breaches". BBC News. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "Research Briefing: Queen's Speech 2021". parliament.uk. House of Commons Library. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ Becquart, Charlotte (11 May 2021). "Charles supports his mother for Queen's Speech by holding her hand". CornwallLive. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ Hill, Erin; Perry, Simon (11 May 2021). "Queen Elizabeth Opens Parliament with Prince Charles and Camilla by Her Side". People. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "This is why an MP is being held hostage at Buckingham Palace today". Dorset Echo. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ Elston, Laura (11 May 2021). "Consort's throne missing from state opening". AOL. PA Media. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "As it happened: Queen's Speech and MPs debate". BBC News. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Queen's Speech Volume 812: debated on Wednesday 12 May 2021". Hansard. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ "Queen's Speech (Motion for an Address)". parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
External links
- Video of the event from the BBC
- Briefing Notes from the Government of the United Kingdom