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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Brown sets out future programme | Brown sets out future programme |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has outlined his plans to put changes to schools, hospitals and the benefits system at the heart of his legislative programme for next year. | |
| The PM pledged more help for first-time buyers, a savings scheme for eight million low earners and more flexible working rights for parents. | |
| He said "building a more prosperous Britain and a fairer Britain" was the purpose of the draft Queen's Speech, | |
| But David Cameron said the measures showed Mr Brown had "run out of steam". | |
| Mr Brown was making his statement to MPs ahead of next week's by-election - and with his fortunes at a low ebb after poor local election results. | Mr Brown was making his statement to MPs ahead of next week's by-election - and with his fortunes at a low ebb after poor local election results. |
| 'Complete farce' | 'Complete farce' |
| It also follows Chancellor Alistair Darling's £2.7bn tax cut announced on Tuesday to compensate those who lost out when the 10p tax rate was scrapped. | It also follows Chancellor Alistair Darling's £2.7bn tax cut announced on Tuesday to compensate those who lost out when the 10p tax rate was scrapped. |
| The Conservatives called that tax move "an exercise in political survival" by the government, while the Liberal Democrats said tax policy had "descended into a complete farce". | |
| POSSIBLE MEASURES Public say on GP hoursParents' councils to help run schoolsCitizenship ceremonies for young peopleMore accountable chief constablesReform of banking regulationsHelp for first-time buyers Live: Point-by-point coverage class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7400594.stm">In full: All the planned bills | |
| But Mr Darling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the change would help "individuals but... also support the economy as a whole". | But Mr Darling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the change would help "individuals but... also support the economy as a whole". |
| The prime minister's plans for the next parliamentary session, essentially a preview of the Queen's Speech, includes a Banking Bill to bolster protection for depositors. | The prime minister's plans for the next parliamentary session, essentially a preview of the Queen's Speech, includes a Banking Bill to bolster protection for depositors. |
| Allowing families to play a greater role in the running of schools, with parents given the right to regular information on their child's progress has also been outlined. | Allowing families to play a greater role in the running of schools, with parents given the right to regular information on their child's progress has also been outlined. |
| Policing | Policing |
| Policing is a key area of reform. Chief constables will be made accountable to a directly elected representative. | Policing is a key area of reform. Chief constables will 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. |
| The Conservatives say the idea is a reworded version of their plan for US-style sheriffs, put forward in their 2005 general election manifesto. | |
| Other announcements include help for first-time home buyers through extension of the shared equity schemes, which currently exist for key workers. | |
| 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? | 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? |
| 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. |
| It is the second draft Queen's Speech. Mr Brown introduced the idea when he became prime minister last year. | It is the second draft Queen's Speech. Mr Brown introduced the idea when he became prime minister last year. |
| Critics say it diminishes the role of the monarch and the relevance of the State Opening of Parliament in November. | Critics say it diminishes the role of the monarch and the relevance of the State Opening of Parliament in November. |
| But the government says it is appropriate to announce proposed measures earlier to allow consultation over the summer, resulting in a more concrete Queen's Speech. | But the government says it is appropriate to announce proposed measures earlier to allow consultation over the summer, resulting in a more concrete Queen's Speech. |