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PM to outline legislative plans Brown to set out future programme
(about 4 hours later)
Gordon Brown is set to outline his proposals for the year ahead, as he tries to move on from the 10p tax row.Gordon Brown is set to outline his proposals for the year ahead, as he tries to move on from the 10p tax row.
Mr Brown's draft legislative programme is expected to include plans to give people more of a say over public services such as health and education.Mr Brown's draft legislative programme is expected to include plans to give people more of a say over public services such as health and education.
Plans for more flexible working rights for mothers and more help for first-time buyers are also expected.Plans for more flexible working rights for mothers and more help for first-time buyers are also expected.
It follows the chancellor's statement on plans to compensate those who lost out when the 10p tax rate was scrapped.It follows the chancellor's statement on plans to compensate those who lost out when the 10p tax rate was scrapped.
On Tuesday, Alistair Darling put up the personal tax allowance by £600 - meaning anyone earning up to £40,835 will gain £120 this year.On Tuesday, Alistair Darling put up the personal tax allowance by £600 - meaning anyone earning up to £40,835 will gain £120 this year.
The Tories accused him of "panicking" ahead of a by-election, and the Lib Dems said it was "tax policy on the hoof". 'Political survival'
Housing help Shadow chancellor George Osborne said the measure was "a short-term fix that's causing enormous long-term damage".
"I don't think Gordon Brown did what he did yesterday because he genuinely wanted to help the low paid, or he genuinely thought he'd made a mistake," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"He was fighting for his political survival within the Labour Party. The fact that the prime minister is reduced to that after less than a year in office, shows what a state the government is in."
The Liberal Democrats said it was "tax policy on the hoof".
Mr Brown's plans for the next Parliamentary session - essentially, a preview of the Queen's Speech - could include giving people more of a say over issues such as extending GPs' opening hours, and allowing parents to play a greater role in the running of schools.Mr Brown's plans for the next Parliamentary session - essentially, a preview of the Queen's Speech - could include giving people more of a say over issues such as extending GPs' opening hours, and allowing parents to play a greater role in the running of schools.
The list of possible initiatives was greeted with an underwhelmed response: "boring," "uninspiring" and "awful" were some of the terms used The BBC's Iain Watson tests reaction to the proposals What will be in draft Speech? Policing is also likely to be a key area of reform. The list of possible initiatives was greeted with an under whelmed response: "boring," "uninspiring" and "awful" were some of the terms used The BBC's Iain Watson tests reaction to the proposals What will be in draft Speech? Policing is also likely to be a key area of reform.
Chief constables could be made accountable to a directly-elected representative.Chief constables could be made accountable to a directly-elected representative.
That official could then influence police priorities by, for example, requesting more resources to tackle gun crime.That official could then influence police priorities by, for example, requesting more resources to tackle gun crime.
Any such proposal would probably be criticised by the Conservatives, who would be likely to say the idea was a reworded version of their plan for US-style sheriffs, put forward in their 2005 general election manifesto. The Conservatives are likely to say the idea is a reworded version of their plan for US-style sheriffs, put forward in their 2005 general election manifesto.
Other possible announcements from Mr Brown include plans to reform the banking regulation system, and plans to help first-time home buyers through shared equity schemes. Other possible announcements include, plans to reform the banking regulation system and help for first-time home buyers through shared equity schemes.
The prime minister's speech comes after a difficult two weeks which have seen Labour's worst local election performance in 40 years, as well as criticism of Mr Brown's own behaviour in memoirs by John Prescott and Cherie Blair.The prime minister's speech comes after a difficult two weeks which have seen Labour's worst local election performance in 40 years, as well as criticism of Mr Brown's own behaviour in memoirs by John Prescott and Cherie Blair.
'Complete farce''Complete farce'
The abolition of the 10p tax rate, announced in the 2007 Budget, is thought to have played a key role in the election results.The abolition of the 10p tax rate, announced in the 2007 Budget, is thought to have played a key role in the election results.
This was quite simply another Budget - an emergency Budget... The emergency was not financial but political The BBC's Nick Robinson Read Nick Robinson's blog The compensation package Mr Darling announced on Tuesday will benefit 22m people on low and middle incomes, at a cost to the Treasury of £2.7bn, which will be funded through borrowing.This was quite simply another Budget - an emergency Budget... The emergency was not financial but political The BBC's Nick Robinson Read Nick Robinson's blog The compensation package Mr Darling announced on Tuesday will benefit 22m people on low and middle incomes, at a cost to the Treasury of £2.7bn, which will be funded through borrowing.
The Conservatives accused the government of "panicking" ahead of the Crewe and Nantwich by-election on 22 May.The Conservatives accused the government of "panicking" ahead of the Crewe and Nantwich by-election on 22 May.
And the Liberal Democrats said the government's tax policy had "descended into a complete farce".And the Liberal Democrats said the government's tax policy had "descended into a complete farce".
But Labour backbencher Frank Field, who led a backbench revolt against the 10p tax rate abolition, welcomed the chancellor's announcement and said it should "put an end to this issue".But Labour backbencher Frank Field, who led a backbench revolt against the 10p tax rate abolition, welcomed the chancellor's announcement and said it should "put an end to this issue".