Brexit news: Boris Johnson unveils ‘book of Trump’ agenda to prevent courts challenging government and make voter ID mandatory
All the latest developments as they happened
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Boris Johnson has unveiled plans for new photo ID requirement at polling stations, sparking the move is designed to suppress voting by young people and disadvantaged groups.
The Queen’s Speech also revealed a Royal Commission on the criminal justice system and separate review of every aspect of the post-Brexit constitutional settlement – condemned by Labour as “vindictive revenge” for his defeat in the prorogation case and “another play from the Book of Trump”.
Meanwhile Emily Thornberry, the first figure to declare she is standing for the Labour leadership, has attacked Jeremy Corbyn’s closest aides – and questioned why they were not “under threat” of losing their roles in the leaders’ office.
‘Suppressing voters’ rights’: PM wants to make photo ID mandatory polling stations
The Queen’s Speech has confirmed that Boris Johnson plans to press ahead with new requirements for photographic ID at polling stations, in the face of accusations that the move is designed to suppress voting by young people and disadvantaged groups.
The prime minister faced immediate calls to ditch the “dangerous” proposal from the Electoral Reform Society, which warned: “Make no mistake – these plans will leave tens of thousands of legitimate voters voiceless.”
ERS director of policy and research Jess Garland said: “When millions of people lack photo ID, these plans risk raising the drawbridge to huge numbers of marginalised voters.
“Ministers should focus on combating the real threats to our democracy, rather than suppressing voters’ rights.”
Our political editor has all the details:
Putin praises Johnson for ‘judging the mood’
Vladimir Putin rejected allegations of Russian interference in British politics and praised Boris Johnson for better understanding the mood of British society than his rivals.
Putin, fielding questions from reporters at his annual news conference, he said: “As regards (Russian) interference or non-interference, we’ve heard many times from official governing bodies in various countries, including Britain, assessments of what is happening inside Russia. Is that interference?” said Putin.
“We reserve the right to behave in the same way towards you. If you think that is interference, then keep thinking that. But it has nothing at all to do with interference.”
Reminded by a BBC reporter that Johnson had once compared him to Dobby the House Elf from the Harry Potter films, Putin said he didn’t care.
“I know what my country’s interests are. And whatever anyone has said about me has no importance when compared to the fundamental tasks that Russia is interested in solving,” he said.
Citing unnamed British business people and investors whom he said Russia regarded as friends, Putin said he believed London was interested in forging stronger economic ties with Moscow.
“We value this and are doing everything to support them so that they feel like they are at home here,” he said.
And despite being reminded of Johnson’s elf joke about him, Putin had warm words for him.
“As regards what’s happening now, it’s possible to congratulate Johnson. He turned out to be the victor after all and better grasped the mood in British society than his opponents,” he said.
“And as I understand it, he intends to go through with all of his Brexit plans.”
Vladimir Putin at annual press conference in Moscow (EPA)
Ex-Labour wins libel action against left-wing blog and Unite
The former Labour MP Anna Turley, who lost her seat in Redcar, has announced she won her libe action against the union Unite and The Squawkbox, a left-wing blog.
Baker wants new roles for Brexit department staff
Steve Baker, the chairman of the European Research Group (ERG) of Tory MPs, hopes the closure of the Brexit department won’t result in a loss of “outstanding” civil servants.
A former Brexit minister, Baker said those working in the department should be “dispersed into the cabinet office and across government”.
Charities ‘still in the dark’ on social care plan
The government risks prolonging the social care crisis by holding cross-party talks, a charity said as it accused the Tory government of leaving people “in the dark”.
An additional £1bn will be made available for social care every year of the new parliament, the government said.
Charities urged the government to make reform “an immediate priority”, more than two years after promises of a social care green paper.
Jonathan Blades, external relations manager at the MS Society, said: “We’re pleased to see the Conservatives will be investing vital funds in the NHS.
“But it’s been years since we were first promised a plan on how to fix our failing social care system, and we’re still in the dark … why are we still waiting for a system that works?”
Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU), questioned at what stage plans for social care reform were at – and said it felt like “groundhog day”.
He said: “A commitment to achieving a cross-party consensus on a sustainable social care system is right, of course, but we’ve heard it all before.
“A social care green paper was initially promised two-and-a-half years ago. Are we building on that work or starting again?”
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said “change cannot come too soon” for millions of older and disabled people, their families and carers.
Jeremy Corbyn responds to Queen's Speech
The Labour leader says "there is nothing to address the levels of poverty and inequality in the fifth richest country in the world" in the Queen's Speech unveiled this morning.
"Shouldn't the Queen's Speech address this?," he asks.
"We will be holding them to account every step of the way - campaigning for the change that this government will not deliver, but desperately needs," he says.
The Labour leader adds that the Queen's Speech contained nothing of substance to deal with the climate emergency facing the planet.
RMT condemns legislation aimed at reducing rail strike disruption
Union leaders have reacted with fury to a government plan to legislate to reduce disruption to passengers caused by rail strikes.
Under the legislation, so-called minimum service agreements will set out minimum services to be provided during walkouts by railway workers.
Any strike will be unlawful unless a minimum service agreement is in place, and if it is not honoured, a strike shall be unlawful and injunctions or damages may be sought against unions.
The government said the aim of the legislation was to reduce disruption caused to passengers during rail strikes.
The move was announced as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on South Western Railway (SWR) took their 17th day of strike action since the start of the month in the bitter row over the role of guards on trains. A total of 27 days of strikes will be held until New Year’s Day.
RMT members joined a protest outside parliament shortly after the announcement of action on strikes was made.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “This is a draconian measure which amounts to an attempt to ban transport workers from going on strike.
“Taking industrial action is a basic human right and denying workers the ability to withdraw their labour has been the hallmark of hard right, authoritarian regimes.”
Boris Johnson says a 'new golden age' is in reach for the UK
The prime minister says a "new golden age for this United Kingdom is now in reach" and the Queen's Speech is a blueprint for Britain's future.
Addressing MPs in the Commons, Mr Johnson said: "This is the moment to repay the trust of those who sent us here by delivering on the people's priorities with the most radical Queen's Speech for a generation.
"If there was one resounding lesson of this election campaign, one message I heard in every corner of these islands - it's not just that the British people want their government to get Brexit done, though they do, they want to move politics on and move the country on.
"Building hospitals, renewing our schools, modernising our infrastructure, making our streets safer, our environment cleaner, our Union stronger - and this Queen's Speech of this people's government sets in motion a vast interlocking programme to unite and level up across the whole United Kingdom and unleash the potential of all our people."
He added that his personal relationship with Jeremy Corbyn is "excellent" and his "sincerity is to be admired" – though it didn't look like the pair were enjoying one another's company just hours ago heading into the House of Lords
Tories raised three times more in big donations than Labour during election campaign
The Conservatives registered more than three times as much in large donations as Labour during the general election campaign, new figures have revealed.
Electoral Commission returns shows that the Tories raised just short of £18m in the five weeks before 12 December, while Labour registered £5.1m.
The Brexit Party raised £4.1m and the Liberal Democrats £1.2m.
Theresa May responds to the Queen's Speech
She congratulates Boris Johnson on winning a majority at the general election.
"While this was the result that was supposed to happen in 2017," she adds. "This victory brings with it a huge responsibility.
"We are a party that is at our strongest when we appeal to people across the board - that is the true the Conservative Party."
May says "we have a very real job of delivering on those who have put their trust in us".
On a trade deal with the EU, she says she has "every confidence" it can be done by the end of 2020.
But she warns Johnson: "I would have preferred a more full-blooded commitment to a new Mental Health Act."
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