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A Bill to enable a referendum on whether voters wanted Britain to ‘remain’ in the European Union figured in the Queen’s Speech. Another Bill prohibited any rise in income tax rates, VAT or national insurance before 2020. Tenants of housing associations would be given the right to buy their homes. Provision for Scottish devolution was promised in fulfilment of the recommendations of the cross-party Smith Commission. A ‘powerhouse’ in the north was to come into being through cities being given powers over housing, transport, planning and policing. Laws on strikes would be tightened. Red tape for business would be reduced, and a new quango set up to invigilate late payment to small businesses. Apprenticeships would be encouraged and childcare expanded. The National Health Service could expect money and meddling. Police cells would no longer be used for the emergency detention of the insane. But there was no provision for the promised replacement of the Human Rights Act.
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, entertained Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, to dinner at Chequers and told him that ‘British people are not happy with the status quo’ in Europe.
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