Boris Johnson is still prime minister for now and has appointed a cabinet, so technically the work of the government should be able to continue. With the nation gripped by a cost-of-living crisis and action needed on everything from education to energy, ministerial trays are overflowing. But the chances of a lame duck administration getting much done seem decidedly slim. Here are some of the basic policies that could stop the chaos.
Energy
It promised to be an important – and tumultuous – week in the energy industry as long-standing battles came to a head. A decision to approve £165m plans for Britain’s first new coal mine in decades, near Whitehaven in west Cumbria, was expected but has been delayed. A review of fracking, initially expected last week, has yet to appear. A decision was due on Friday to approve planning for the Sizewell C nuclear reactor in Suffolk, which has been opposed by environmental campaigners. It has now been postponed to July 20.
Whitehaven in Cumbria is the site of a proposed new coal mine in north-west England. Photo: Jon Super/AP
Gambling restriction
A once-in-a-generation reform of the UK’s antiquated gambling laws was due to be unveiled next week, but it has been thrown into doubt by the resignation of Gambling Secretary Chris Philp. The white paper is expected to include tighter betting limits for online casino games and accessibility checks to ensure punters don’t lose too much unless the offerings are watered down. Other policies hanging in the balance include the creation of a gambling ombudsman, a mandatory levy on operators to fund addiction services and a possible ban on betting logos on football shirts.
Northern Ireland Protocol
Johnson, like his predecessor, may leave office as the issue of trade with Northern Ireland remains unresolved. His government is pushing legislation to scrap the arrangements he signed into law that require checks on goods traveling from the UK to NI.
On Thursday, EU leaders quickly urged Johnson’s successor to abandon plans to deliberately flout international law, which could spark a wider trade war between the UK and its biggest trading partner. Warmer relations could also open the door to the UK rejoining the EU’s €90bn (£76bn) Horizon research scheme.
HS2 to the north
High-speed rail has always been opposed by the majority of Conservative voters, and particularly among the Brexit wing. Johnson likes big infrastructure projects and has supported them. Nevertheless, in his leadership campaign, he gathered votes by promising to review it – even if, once elected, he handed that review to a former HS2 chairman.
Too much work has certainly been done on the first stage from London to Birmingham to return now without colossal waste, and phase 2a to Crewe has passed through Parliament. But a new leader could still choose to scrap the others.
education
Teacher pay is top of mind for new Education Secretary James Cleverley – he must publish the recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review Authority before the end of the term or risk further angering teachers in England before voting begins in the autumn.
Exam results for A-levels and GCSEs arrive in mid-August – and you’ll see a sharp drop in top grades compared to last year. Whoever is education minister will have to make it clear to disgruntled students and parents why this has happened. The related university admissions round could be a similar nightmare for ministers.
The Higher Education Freedom of Speech Bill is facing opposition in the Lords and has already lost its main sponsor Michelle Donelan. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images
The schools bill making its way through parliament is in trouble and needs a major overhaul to overcome opponents in the Lords who see it as a centralizing power grab over academies by the government.
The Higher Education Freedom of Speech Bill is also facing opposition in the Lords and has now lost its main sponsor in Michelle Donelan as minister. It may be further delayed as its flaws are revealed.
Other policies that remain pending include the consultation on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Review, which closes soon and needs urgent focus if reforms are to make progress, while new post-Covid catch-up and school attendance policies also require attention from side of the ministers.
Retail taxes
The rapid change in retail brought about by the Internet was not matched by updates to the way taxation was done. The Government has held consultations on reforming the business rates system for shops and on online sales tax for web retailers. A decision on the latter was expected by the fall, but already faces fierce opposition from conservative-friendly think tanks.
Online harm
Parliament is due to scrutinize the government’s online safety bill next week. A major shift in internet regulation will potentially require social media platforms, video streaming services and search engines to reduce the influence of foreign-backed disinformation. Two of the bill’s advocates, Nadine Dorris and Priti Patel, are still in office and the government has said it will complete the next stage before parliament goes into recess on July 21.
Human rights
Dominic Raab has had the Human Rights Bill brought by Labor in his sights for a long time. He wants a replacement “bill of rights” that would allow the UK’s highest court to ignore rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (the arbiter of the European Convention on Human Rights outside the EU).
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Included in the bill is a proposal to prevent the wealthy from using the threat of expensive legal action to silence journalists or activists by filing so-called strategic public participation lawsuits, or Slapps. The consultation has closed but detailed proposals have not been published.
Immigration
The government’s decision to send UK refugees to Rwanda has sparked opposition ranging from backbench Tories to the Archbishop of Canterbury. It has also so far failed to get through the courts after the first scheduled flight was prevented from taking off. The architects of the scheme, Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel, are still in office, and government lawyers are due to make their case for the flights to resume on July 19. Even if it clears that hurdle, a future administration could easily abandon the policy.
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