The third and final theme of the Bills announced in the Queen’s speech is that of keeping our country safe.
The long awaited so called Bill of Rights will apparently include measures to reform and modernise the UK human rights framework. In reality if the Country votes to stay in the European Union whatever this Bill might claim to do will in my opinion be irrelevant because this Country will still be subject to the Human Rights regime set out by the EU in their own Charter of Fundamental Rights which will be legislated upon by the European Court of Justice.
A Counter-Extremism and Safeguarding Bill will give law enforcement agencies new powers to protect vulnerable people, including children from those who seek to extol extremist propaganda.
The Criminal Finances Bill will include new measures to deal with money laundering and include a new offence which companies will be guilty of if they fail to stop their staff facilitating tax evasion.
Finally, the much discussed Investigatory Powers Bill will continue to be debated and hopefully in this session will at last find its way on to the statute book.
David Nuttall 