Queen's Speech ditched to enable Brexit laws scrutiny

Next year's Queen's Speech will be ditched. Picture: Getty

Next year’s Queen’s Speech is being ditched by the Government to ease the way in Parliament for new Brexit laws.

In a highly unusual move, the parliamentary session is being doubled to two years.

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said it would give MPs and peers the maximum time possible to scrutinise legislation taking the UK out of the European Union.

It means the Government will not put forward a new legislative programme next year.

The Conservatives delayed this year’s Queen’s Speech as the party held discussions with the DUP to thrash out an agreement on propping up the minority government.

A formal deal has yet to be secured but Tory sources have said there is a “broad agreement” on the principles of the speech, and State Opening will now take place on Wednesday June 21 - two days later than originally scheduled.

It comes amid growing pressure on Mrs May over her future as Prime Minister.

Tory backbencher Heidi Allen told The Sunday Times the country wanted a “leader and a party that will carry us through this most turbulent of periods but care about the little man”.

“We have to change, and if we don’t we deserve to die,” she added.

Former Brexit minister David Jones, who was sacked in Mrs May’s reshuffle, warned the PM not to row back on the exit strategy taking Britain out of the EU, telling the newspaper it would be a “betrayal of trust”.

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Extending the new parliamentary session will allow MPs and peers to examine Brexit laws as well as domestic reforms in depth, according to the Government.

Under the Coalition, the Queen’s Speech, which is traditionally surrounded by great pomp and ceremony, was dropped in 2011, with ministers insisting it would give Parliament more time to scrutinise the government’s heavy legislative agenda.

Labour accused the coalition at the time of an “abuse of power” and said it was aimed solely at easing the passage of controversial legislation.

The Government said the Great Repeal Bill, which converts EU laws into British legislation, will be considered alongside other Brexit laws.

Mrs Leadsom said: “Whilst our top priority right now is supporting the victims of the terrible tragedy at Grenfell Tower, we also need to look ahead by setting out a legislative programme that not only delivers a successful EU exit but also a domestic agenda which aims to tackle the social injustices in our country.

“The UK will spend the next two years preparing for our departure from the European Union in a way that best places us to realise the opportunities ahead and build a fairer society.

“This will require substantial amounts of legislation, beginning with the Great Repeal Bill.

“We will build the broadest possible consensus for our Brexit plans, and that means giving Parliament the maximum amount of time to scrutinise these bills by holding a two-year session of Parliament.

“It will mean we can work together to deliver a successful Brexit deal and a strong social legislative programme that delivers justice and opportunity to everyone.”