Boris Johnson Plans 'Radical' U.K. Remake After Big Election Win

(Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson heralded a “golden age” for the U.K. as he pressed on with his plan to deliver Brexit on Jan. 31, with the first vote on his deal with European Union scheduled for Friday.

The prime minister set out what he described as the “most radical” program of law-making in a generation after last week’s election victory. The plans, delivered in a speech to Parliament by Queen Elizabeth II, included a spending boost for the National Health Service, infrastructure development and a review of the relationship between government and the courts.

“This is not a program for one year or one Parliament, it is a blueprint for the future of Britain: Just imagine where this country could be in 10 years’ time,” Johnson told the House of Commons. “I do not think it vainglorious or implausible to say that a new golden age for this United Kingdom is within reach.”

The Withdrawal Agreement Bill, the piece of legislation needed for the U.K. to leave the EU on Jan. 31 before formally triggering trade talks with the bloc, will be voted on for the first time in the House of Commons on Friday. The government announced the Department for Exiting the European Union will be closed at the end of January, to signal that Brexit will be “done.”

The revamped bill, similar to one introduced to Parliament by Johnson in October, removes provisions for workers’ rights that were intended to win the support of opposition MPs and strips lawmakers of much of their say over leaving the bloc.

Taking Back Control

In the three-and-a-half-years since the 2016 referendum, the House of Commons wrested control of the process from the government, forcing ministers to seek the approval of lawmakers before making agreements with the EU. The new bill removes a say for MPs over negotiations and stops them from forcing an extension of the implementation period, which is scheduled to end in December 2020.

In a symbol of Johnson’s complete control of the process and how much the Brexit debate has moved on, The Independent Group for Change, set up by a cross-party group of pro-EU MPs, announced it was closing down after failing to win any seats in the Dec. 12 election.

“It was always better to have fought and lost than never to have fought at all,” the group said. “We have no regrets about standing up and speaking truth to power when the country needed it.”

Johnson, who also promised action on immigration and tougher sentences for offenders, is seeking to act fast to cement the support of people in areas of Britain that have traditionally voted for the opposition Labour Party. His legislative program is loaded with the pledges he made to win support in those districts.

Election Pledges

Alongside a law to guarantee increased spending on the NHS and commitments to hire more police officers, there are political promises to provide free parking at hospitals and get people home quickly from their holidays if travel companies go bust.

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Johnson is also pushing ahead with potentially radical constitutional reforms. After opponents of Brexit successfully went to the U.K. Supreme Court to block Johnson’s Brexit plans, he will launch a review into the relationship between the country’s governing institutions, setting up a battle with the judiciary and Parliament over Britain’s constitution.

“We will set up a Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission to consider the relationship between Government, Parliament and the courts and to explore whether the checks and balances in our constitution are working for everyone,” the government’s briefing document said.

The program also promised legislation to support the U.K.’s position as a center for financial services. Laws will ensure the country keeps its regulatory standards and stays open to international markets after leaving the EU.

Security, Defense

Johnson, who had a controversial term as foreign secretary before becoming prime minister, will also personally lead a review of the U.K.’s security, defense and foreign policy. The focus will be on better integration and use of money to combat developing threats “from smartphones to autonomous drones,” a briefing document said.

Other measures include:

• A Trade Bill to allow international deals after Brexit and give the U.K. powers to “transition” trading arrangements while it is in the process of leaving the EU.
• Fiscal rules that commit the government to balancing the day-to-day budget and limiting investment to 3% of gross domestic product. The rules will allow the government room to increase borrowing for investment
• Legislation upgrading the government’s power to scrutinize and intervene in mergers and acquisitions seen to threaten national security
• New Espionage bill to allow security services to disrupt hostile state activity; U.K. is also considering a register for foreign agents in the country
• Scrapping the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act -- the law sets the date for a general election once every five years. Under Johnson’s plan, the prime minister would have power to decide the timing of future elections
• A 100 billion-pound ($131 billion) national infrastructure strategy to be set out alongside the government’s first budget, focusing on transport, decarbonization and digital infrastructure
• Putting into law a new funding settlement for the NHS and speeding up access to cutting-edge drugs, making it easier for hospitals to manufacture innovative personalized medicines
• Laws to speed up roll-out of gigabit-per-second broadband

--With assistance from Jessica Shankleman, Kitty Donaldson, James Paton and Alex Morales.

To contact the reporters on this story: Thomas Penny in London at tpenny@bloomberg.net;Greg Ritchie in London at gritchie10@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Stuart Biggs

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