The Queen’s Speech was proof that David Cameron has taken Lynton Crosby’s advice to scrape “the barnacles off the boat” and focus on what he regards as voters’ core concerns: the economy, immigration, welfare reform and education. Out went the international aid bill, the “snoopers’ charter”, minimum alcohol pricing and plain packaging for cigarettes. In came bills limiting immigrants’ access to public services and benefits, making it easier to deport foreign criminals and giving the government new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. In another concession to the right, the speech made no reference to the equal marriage bill (which was introduced in the last session and is being carried over), although the energy bill, which is similarly being carried over, was mentioned.
David Cameron and Nick Clegg will point to bills introducing a £72,000 cap on social care costs, a single-tier pension scheme and High Speed Two as proof that the coalition is not short on ambition. But the social care and pensions measures aren’t due to take effect until 2016 (so after the next general election), while the high speed rail project won’t be completed until 2033. In the short-term, both Cameron and Clegg’s fortunes will hinge on the performance of the economy, and here the speech was decidedly lacking.
“My Government’s legislative programme will continue to focus on building a stronger economy,” it read (almost as if the double-dip recession, the loss of Britain’s AAA credit rating and the £245bn increase in forecast borrowing never happened), promising “the creation of more jobs and opportunities”. But aside from the new £2,000 Employment Allowance for small businessses, there was little with the potential to stimulate growth and job creation. It is here that Labour will concentrate its attack in this afternoon’s debate. Last week, Ed Miliband unveiled an alternative Queen’s Speech, which included the creation of a British Investment Bank, a temporary VAT cut, a one year national insurance holiday for small firms and a jobs guarantee for every adult out of work for more than two years and every young person out of work for more than a year. But Labour’s reluctance to make the case for a short-term increase in borrowing (highlighted by Peter Hain today) has left it struggling to take advantage of the coalition’s inertia. After a mixed set of local election results and the first hints of a Tory recovery since the “omnishambles” Budget, Miliband needs a strong performance today to earn him the political breathing space he requires.