Sunday, 23 May 2010

POLITICAL HYBRIDS


This pretty much says it all for me.....


BY PETER BROOKES IN THE TIMES

And, now that it's been leaked, here is a brief summary of the hybrid government's draft of the Queen's speech....
 
* An Academies Bill that will allow more schools to become free of local     authority control and a second Education Bill that will pave the way for Michael Gove's Swedish-schools reforms.    
 
* A Great Repeals Bill will terminate plans for identity cards and restore other civil liberties. 
 
* A free vote on repealing the ban on hunting with dogs is unlikely, however.    
 
* There will also be legislation for fixed-term parliaments, a right for voters to “recall” ethically questionable MPs, a referendum on changing the voting system and other political reforms promised by Nick Clegg.  
 
* There will be two Bills from Iain Duncan Smith’s Work and Pensions Department including one that will overhaul the benefits system.    
 
* Andrew Lansley will have a Health Bill focused on the reduction of  inequalities.    
 
* A Bill to ensure that future transfers of power to the EU are subject to referenda will be published in the autumn. I'm reliably informed it's not called the "Bolting The Stable Door After The Horse Has Bolted Bill".   
 
* Eric Pickles will present a simple Bill that will scrap Labour's plan to reorganise local government in Exeter and Norwich.    
 
* There will also be Bills dedicated to Energy Security and the Green Economy, Social responsibility and one, for Nick Herbert, on Police Reform.