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WORLD NEWS Thursday 19 december 2019

What will Boris Johnson do? UK leader to unveil policy plans

By JILL LAWLESS on the government more
DANICA KIRKA decisively in the new year.
Associated Press He's expected to shake up
LONDON (AP) — British vot- his Cabinet and merge or
ers have given Prime Min- even eliminate some minis-
ister Boris Johnson a com- tries — all under the guiding
manding majority. But they eye of chief adviser Domi-
have little idea what he nic Cummings, a self-styled
plans to do with it, apart political disruptor.
from taking the U.K. out of Johnson will also have to
the European Union. wait to see how Brexit af-
Johnson won last week's fects the U.K. economy. A
election with a pledge to downturn could hamper
"get Brexit done" by leav- the government's plans to
ing the EU on Jan. 31, and spend more on public ser-
a broad promise to end vices. Tim Bale, professor of
years of austerity in public politics at Queen Mary Uni-
spending. versity of London, said Con-
Now Britain's Conservative servative prime ministers
prime minister has to turn from Margaret Thatcher to
his vague election pledges Theresa May all took office
into political reality. That promising, like Johnson, to
will start Thursday, when "heal the nation" and tack-
Johnson's government an- Brexit supporters protest against Britain being in the European Union, outside the Houses of le social injustice.
nounces its legislative plans Parliament in London, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. "But actually in the end …
for the coming year in a Associated Press they don't want to spend
speech read out in Parlia- claims to be a socially lib- drawal Agreement Bill, the Britain's immigration system too much money, they
ment by Queen Elizabeth II. eral "one nation" Tory who law needed to make Brexit after Brexit, when EU citizens don't want to raise taxes
Anand Menon, director of welcomes immigration and a reality. It must become will lose the automatic right too high, they don't want
the political think-tank U.K. wants Britain to be a leader law before Jan. 31 if John- to live and work in the U.K. to regulate the economy --
in a Changing Europe, said in tackling climate change. son is to stick to his timeta- Beyond Brexit, there's likely and actually nothing much
with Johnson's 80-strong It's unclear which Johnson ble, and the government to be a spending boost for happens," he said. "So don't
majority in the 650-seat will be uppermost in Thurs- plans to hold the first signifi- the National Health Ser- hold your breath."
House of Commons, he can day's speech, which forms cant vote on it Friday. vice, which has struggled Meanwhile, politicians from
govern however he wants. part of the ceremony-rich The bill commits Britain to to keep up with growing the opposition Labour Party
"But what we don't know State Opening of Parlia- leaving the EU on Jan. 31 demand during a decade- have begun jostling to be-
is what he wants," Menon ment. It usually takes place and to concluding trade long funding squeeze by come the party's next lead-
said Wednesday. "We've about once a year, but Brit- talks with the bloc by the previous Conservative gov- er in the wake of its crush-
just had a so-called 'Brexit ain saw its last state open- end of 2020. Johnson insists ernments. ing election defeat. Labour
election' and yet we're not ing just two months ago, he won't agree to any more Johnson loves big infra- lost 60 seats, securing only
entirely certain what kind soon after Johnson took delays — a vow that has structure projects, and in 203, as voters rejected its
of Brexit this prime minister over as prime minister from set off alarm bells among the past has floated every- complex Brexit stance and
wants to deliver." Theresa May through a businesses, who fear that thing from a "Boris Island" its hard-left leader, Jer-
The Queen's Speech — Conservative Party leader- means the country will face airport in the River Thames emy Corbyn. Labour Brexit
written by the government ship contest and shortly be- a "no-deal" Brexit at the to a bridge between Scot- spokesman Keir Starmer,
but read by the monarch fore the early election that start of 2021. land and Northern Ireland. foreign policy spokeswom-
from atop a golden throne returned him to power. Trade experts and EU of- Improving dire train ser- an Emily Thornberry and
— will give the British public For the queen's second visit ficials say striking a free vices in northern England is lawmakers Lisa Nandy and
some idea of what drives this year, the pomp is be- trade deal within 11 months a more likely priority for his Yvette Cooper all say they
Johnson, a politician whose ing toned down. There will will be a struggle. EU Com- government. are considering running to
core beliefs remain a mys- still be officials with titles mission President Ursula von There may also be tough- replace Corbyn next year.
tery, even to his allies. like Black Rod and lords in der Leyen called the time- sounding announcements Former Labour Prime Minis-
He sometimes acts like a ermine-trimmed robes. But table "extremely challeng- on law and order. After ter Tony Blair — whose cen-
Donald Trump-style popu- the 93-year-old monarch ing." Michel Barnier, the EU's two people were killed last trist policies were rejected
list — dubbing his admin- will travel to Parliament in chief Brexit negotiator, said month in London by an at- by Corbyn — blamed the
istration a "People's Gov- a car, rather than a horse- "it won't be possible … in tacker who had served a election debacle squarely
ernment" and banning his drawn carriage, and will this limited time, to do ev- prison sentence for terror- on Corbyn. Blair said the
ministers from attending wear a hat rather than a erything. But we will do ev- ist crimes, Johnson said he party had become "ma-
the elitist World Economic diamond-studded crown. erything we can." would end early prison re- rooned on Fantasy Island"
Forum next month in Da- A central piece of legisla- Thursday's speech is also set leases for serious offenders. and urged it to change
vos, Switzerland. But he also tion will be Johnson's With- to include a bill to overhaul Johnson will make his mark course quickly.q