Government under pressure: the 2016 Queen’s Speech

On 18 May the Government set out its proposed legislative programme in the second Queen’s Speech of this Parliament. It set itself an ambitious agenda prior to the General Election with manifesto promises such as extending seven-day coverage in the NHS. It has since introduced new initiatives, including the announcement, in the March Budget, of plans to turn all schools into academies. Meanwhile, controversial decisions such as whether and where to expand airport capacity in the South East have been pushed to the other side of the European Union (EU) referendum.

Amidst the turmoil of the EU referendum campaign, the Queen’s Speech provides the Government with an opportunity to demonstrate it still has momentum. The Prime Minister will also consider this Queen’s Speech important for his legacy. He has been helped by the relatively strong performance of the Conservative Party in the 5 May elections.

But the constraints facing the Government mean that the prospects for realising the legislative programme and wider public services reforms are uncertain. This paper looks at the pressures the Government faces in Parliament, public services and spending. We argue that, if it is to succeed in its already ambitious agenda, the Government needs to recognise the significant challenges it faces, take a realistic approach to meeting existing promises, and prioritise future legislation carefully.