Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 22 June 2017

Queen outlines UK government agenda in scaled-down speech

By DANICA KIRKA the message the elector-
Associated Press ate sent,” May said. “We
LONDON (AP) — Queen will work hard every day
Elizabeth II outlined the Brit- to gain the trust and confi-
ish government’s legisla- dence of the British people,
tive program in a speech making their priorities our
to Parliament on Wednes- priorities.”
day after the prime minister Signaling the importance
promised “humility” in ne- of Brexit negotiations with
gotiating Britain’s exit from the EU, set to continue un-
the European Union follow- til the spring of 2019, the
ing a disastrous election speech set out the govern-
that cost the ruling Conser- ment’s program for two
vative Party its majority. years, rather than one.
The 91-year-old monarch The prime minister, who
carried on with her royal had campaigned with
duties at the ceremonial the slogan “Brexit means
opening of the new Par- Brexit,” softened her tone in
liament despite the an- comments released ahead
nouncement that her hus- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, right, walk through the Royal Gallery in the Houses of the speech.
band, Prince Philip, had of Parliament prior to the Queen making The Queen’s Speech during the State Opening of Parlia- She also tried to be softer
been hospitalized. Bucking- ment in London, Wednesday, June 21, 2017. period. In remarks in the
ham Palace said Philip, 96, Associated Press debate that followed the
was hospitalized as a pre- Prime Minister Theresa ing winter fuel payments to party in opinion polls, May speech, she acknowl-
caution for treatment of an May’s weakened position low-income elderly. called the June 8 snap edged government fail-
infection. — a loss of stature that has Nor was there a mention of election expecting an ings in helping victims of
His rare absence from the emboldened those within President Donald Trump’s overwhelming victory that the London high-rise fire
State Opening of Parlia- her own party who want a previously announced, but would silence dissenters on June 14 that killed at
ment added to the solem- “softer” Brexit that makes as yet unscheduled state and give her a mandate least 79 people. She de-
nity of an occasion cher- a less-sharp break with the visit. May’s invitation, ex- to push ahead with plans scribed the support on the
ished by the British people EU. Eight of 27 bills outlined tended with days of Trump to leave the European Cus- ground after the Grenfell
and replete with tradition. in the speech deal with the taking office, has been toms Union and drastically Tower blaze as “not good
While Elizabeth reads what complex Brexit process. sharply criticized by all par- limit immigration as Britain enough,” and said that it
is known as the Queen’s May slimmed down her ties. leaves the EU. Instead, the failed to help people when
Speech to lawmakers plans and omitted several The prime minister’s Down- Conservatives lost seats they need it the most.
whenever a new parlia- policies touted in the Con- ing Street office said noth- and May still hasn’t se- “As prime minister, I apolo-
ment convenes, it is written servative election cam- ing had changed: an invi- cured a deal with another gize for that failure,” she
by the prime minister and paign, including plans to tation had been extended party to insure Parliament said.
her staff and offers a broad change funding for the and accepted. It was not will back the government’s Opposition leader Jeremy
brush of goals for Britain’s care of older people, mentioned in the speech agenda. Corbyn denounced the
future. which opponents dubbed because no date had “The election result was not speech, arguing that May
The nine-minute speech the “dementia tax.” Also been set, May’s office said. the one I hoped for, but this had delivered a “thread-
the queen delivered missing was ending free Tempted by a big lead government will respond bare” program devoid of
Wednesday reflected school lunches and limit- over the opposition Labour with humility and resolve to new ideas.q

UK acquires apartments for tenants

displaced by tower fire

LONDON (AP) — The British 79 people and displaced been made since the trag-
government has acquired many more. The govern- edy.
newly built apartments that ment is scrambling to find Private fundraising efforts
can be used to house some housing in the local area, continue as well. A charity
of the residents displaced which includes some of the music single produced by
by the horrific fire last week most expensive real estate “American Idol” and “The X
at a high-rise public hous- in London. Factor” judge Simon Cow-
ing complex, officials an- The government said ev- ell was released Wednes-
nounced Wednesday. ery displaced family will day to help victims of the
The 68 apartments are “all be re-housed in the locally devastating fire.
newly built social housing” and “the expectation” is Some 50 artists performed
located in the Kensing- that the 68 apartments a cover of Simon and Gar-
ton and Chelsea borough will be used as permanent funkel’s classic recording of
where the Grenfell Tower residences for some of the “Bridge Over Troubled Wa- General view of apartments in the Kensington Row develop-
ment, in Kensington, west London Wednesday June 21, 2017.
fire occurred, Communities burned-out Grenfell Tow- ter.” The singers included Associated Press
Secretary Sajid Javid said. er’s residents. The units are Rita Ora, Robbie Williams,
They are part of a devel- part of the upscale Kens- Liam Payne and Jessie J. be silenced/I refuse to ne- a week since the blaze,
opment that also includes ington Row development. Grime star Stormzy opens glect you/That’s for every which ripped through the
luxury residences priced The Department for Com- the single, rapping: “I don’t last soul up in Grenfell/Even apartment building in the
at more than 1.5 million munities and Local Gov- know where to begin so though I’ve never even early hours of June 14,
pounds ($1.9 million.) ernment says 110 housing I’ll start by saying I refuse met you.” when many of the residents
The blaze killed at least need assessments have to forget you/I refuse to The single’s release marked were home asleep.q