Queen’s Speech: Boris Johnson promises ‘radical overhaul’ of constitution and justice system

Fresh from landslide election victory, prime minister says he is planning ‘a complete transformation of our country for the better’

Boris Johnson has unveiled plans for a historic overhaul of the UK’s constitution, democratic institutions and justice system in a Queen’s Speech which he described as “the most radical… in a generation”.

Buoyed by his 80-seat majority from last week’s general election landslide, the prime minister made clear his intention to use his new-found dominance in the House of Commons not only to drive through Brexit on 31 January but to institute reforms which will alter the face of the nation for decades to come.

When hints of the PM’s intention to revamp the court system emerged in the Conservative election manifesto, there were warnings that he was planning to rein in individuals’ ability to use legal challenges to restrict the use of executive power.

Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said last month that he feared a “clear intent to attack the power to go for judicial review” in the wake of historic government defeats over the triggering of Article 50 and the unlawful shutdown of parliament.

And shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti said today: ”This looks like a vindictive revenge for his defeat in the Supreme Court when he shut down Parliament illegally. It’s another play from the Book of Trump and decent people of all parties and none must resist.”

Mr Johnson also set out plans for what he said would be the “deepest” review of security, defence and foreign policy since the end of the Cold War, covering the armed forces, intelligence services and counter-terrorism.

The legislative programme unveiled by the Queen in a scaled-back ceremony in the House of Lords centred on plans for a Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission to undertake a review of every aspect of the post-Brexit constitutional settlement which Mr Johnson said would “restore trust in our institutions and in how our democracy operates”.

And, in a move likely to be seen as a bid to clip the wings of the Supreme Court after his humiliation over prorogation, the PM announced a separate Royal Commission on the Criminal Justice Process.

Declaring that the current justice system needs “serious change”, Mr Johnson said the Commission will deliver a “fundamental review”, with the goal of ensuring that it “works for the law-abiding majority” and gives a “second chance” to offenders willing to make a fresh start.

It will be the first such shake-up of the system since the Runciman Commission of 1993, which led to the creation of the Criminal Cases Review Commission to investigate allegations of miscarriages of justice.

Details of the remit of the Constitution Commission were not made immediately available.

But Mr Johnson said that he would separately abolish fixed-term parliaments legislation introduced by David Cameron, seizing back for the prime minister the crucial power to set the date of the election at a time calculated to maximise his chances of re-election.

The government will press ahead with controversial plans for voter ID, which critics claim will make it more difficult for the young and disadvantaged groups to vote.

To allay concerns that vulnerable voters will be forced to pay for passports or driving licences in order to vote, Mr Johnson revealed plans for a free “local electoral identity document” for those without ID.

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

There will be a clampdown on postal voting, following longstanding claims by Tory MPs of abuse of the system, with a new requirement for individuals to renew their registration every three years.

The list of 37 bills and draft bills is much expanded on the Queen’s last visit to Westminster in October, when she set out a programme which was almost immediately curtailed by the general election.

The rapid repeat visit meant a reduction in the usual pomp and ceremony, with the monarch travelling from Buckingham Palace by car rather than horse-drawn coach and wearing a hat rather than a crown.

The Speech confirmed plans to enshrine in law a commitment on NHS funding, with an extra £33.9 billion per year provided by 2023/24, and level up per-pupil funding in schools.

It set out plans for what Mr Johnson termed “the biggest infrastructure revolution in living memory”, including legislation to permit the extension of the HS2 rail link to Crewe, subject to an ongoing review.

Declaring himself “humbled” by his overwhelming triumph in last week’s election, Mr Johnson promised to work to “repay the trust” of voters, many of whom backed Tories for the first time.

And he said: “Our ambition is nothing short of a complete transformation of our country for the better.

“We will deliver for the whole of our great Union, investing in and levelling up every part of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“We will ensure that 2020 is a year of growth and opportunity, bringing together our United Kingdom and moving on from the division and uncertainty of the last three and a half years.”