The snp’s alternative queen’s speech

At the general election, Scotland voted to reject the politics of Brexit and austerity. However, it is clear that Boris Johnson is still willing to ignore people in Scotland and attempt to

force through his right-wing agenda. In contrast to Boris Johnson and while the Labour Party is stuck in a rut, unable to unify or to decide what it stands for, it is the SNP that is

providing a clear, consistent and effective opposition to the Tories. Our Alternative Queen’s Speech calls for policies to deliver a fairer, more prosperous and more equal country, and for

Westminster to accept that Scotland’s future must lie in Scotland’s hands. THE ALTERNATIVE QUEEN’S SPEECH THE CONSTITUTION _SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM_, making clear that Scotland’s

future must always be in Scotland’s hands. The right to decide the timing of any future referendum on Scottish Independence should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, recognising that it

is for Scotland’s parliament to decide our future – not Westminster. _AN ELECTORAL FRANCHISE EXPANSION BILL_, lowering the voting age to 16 and establishing an independent commission on

proportional representation to report on possible models for Westminster. _A HOUSE OF LORDS ABOLITION BILL_, delivering the long overdue reform to Westminster of abolishing the House of

Lords. The SNP would also signal its wider intention to abolish English Votes for English Laws, introduce electronic voting in Parliament, and create a House Business Committee to enhance

the role of Parliament in scrutinising government. HEALTH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE _AN NHS PROTECTION BILL_, to stop the threat to the NHS from a Tory-Trump trade deal, and a commitment to

increase per capita health spending in England to the same level as it is in Scotland, benefiting the NHS in all four UK nations. _A SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM BILL_, to scrap the two-child cap

on tax credits and rape clause, to end the benefits freeze, and halt the flawed rollout of Universal Credit. _A PARENTAL LEAVE EXPANSION BILL_, to increase parental leave with an additional

12 weeks to be ring-fenced for the father in order to encourage take-up as well as increases in statutory maternity and paternity pay. CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE GREEN REVOLUTION _A CLIMATE

EMERGENCY BILL_, introducing tougher legal targets, to ensure the UK government matches Scotland’s net zero emissions target by 2045 – as well as putting oil and gas receipts into a net-zero

fund for measures to tackle climate change. _A NEW GREEN ENERGY DEAL_, delivering real action on the climate emergency by building on the transition toward a greener, sustainable future.

THE ECONOMY _AN EQUAL LIVING WAGE BILL_, to increase the national minimum wage to at least the level of the real Living Wage, and to end age discrimination in the legal minimum wage. _A BBC

LICENCE FEE BILL_, to ensure the BBC licence fee remains free for over-75s. _A WOMEN’S PENSION JUSTICE BILL_, to deliver justice for the 3.8million women born in the 1950s denied their

pension by consecutive UK governments. DEFENCE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS _A TRIDENT ABOLITION BILL,_ rejecting the immoral replacement of nuclear weapons at a cost of over £200billion.