Government faces tight vote over Queen's Speech – BBC News, BBC News

        

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Boris Johnson faces a tight vote as MPs decide whether to back the Queen’s Speech, setting out his priority for the parliamentary year.

The government does not have a majority in the Commons, but could receive support from independent MPs who had the Conservative whip removed after voting to block a no-deal Brexit.

Amendments by the SNP and Labor criticizing the speech were rejected.

The result of the main vote is due at 17: 45 BST.

Debate on the speech was resumedafter the prime minister paused the billaimed at implementing his Brexit deal.

It is rare for a government to lose a Queen’s Speech vote – the last time this happened was in January 1924.

If they did not back this one, MPs would effectively be saying they reject Mr Johnson’s plan to bring in new laws.

Labor’s amendment said the Queen’s Speech did not address rebuilding the economy or tackle the “housing crisis”, and “further pushes public services into crisis” . It also called on the government to introduce measures on these issues, as well as the “climate emergency”.

MPs also rejected the SNP’s amendment which included demands for the retention of freedom of movement between the UK and Europe and a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2045.

Speaker John Bercow did not pick a Liberal Democrat amendment calling for a second referendum on the EU membership.

What is in the Queen’s Speech?

Last week’s Queen’s Speech setout 26 billsthe government wanted to introduce. These included:

• Seven pieces of Brexit-related legislation
• Seven criminal justice bills
• Plans for an independent NHS investigations body with legal powers
• An environment bill to “enshrine principles in law” and set legally binding “improvement targets”
• Proposed reforms to the divorce laws to minimise the impact of family breakdown on children
• Changes in employment law to require restaurants and cafes to give waiting staff “all tips” owed to them

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the Queen’s Speech contained a “few cynical publicity stunt commitments”.

But Chancellor Sajid Javid said it delivered on “the people’s priority and moves this country forward from a decade of recovery to a decade of renewal”.