Lunchtime Espresso

Today in brief

1. Boris’s ‘radical’ Queen’s Speech
Boris Johnson says today’s Queen’s Speech is ‘the most radical in a generation’ and, on the back of it, he invites people to ‘imagine where this country could be in 10 years’ time’. Beyond Brexit, infrastructure and NHS funding, the 29 pieces of legislation include an employment bill to encourage flexible working and support working families, a renters’ reform bill to abolish no fault evictions and espionage legislation to give security services ‘the tools they need to disrupt hostile state activity’. Here’s the full transcript of the speech, and here’s the government’s briefing document on the policies. On Coffee House, Isabel Hardman says the laws won’t necessarily enjoy smooth passage through parliament – but, for the first time in a decade, the government can confidently say that it can do what it wants to do. 

2. The end of DExEU
The Department for Exiting the European Union will be closed on 31 January, the government announced today. 

3. Sturgeon demands powers to hold IndyRef2
Nicola Sturgeon has written to Boris Johnson demanding the power to hold another independence referendum by the end of 2020. In a Scottish government paper, she says the decision ‘is for the Scottish Parliament to make – not a Westminster government which has been rejected by the people of Scotland’. (The SNP won 45 per cent of the vote and 81 per cent of the seats in Scotland at the general election.)

4. Bank of England keeps rates on hold
The Bank of England is keeping the interest rate at 0.75 per cent, it announced today. Seven members of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, including Mark Carney, voted to leave borrowing costs unchanged, while two members voted for a cut to 0.5 per cent. 

5. Corbyn appoints English MP as shadow Scottish secretary

At the election, Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary Lesley Laird lost her seat and the party was left with just one MP in the country, Ian Murray, who has been critical of Jeremy Corbyn. Today the Daily Record’s Torcuil Crichton reports that Corbyn has passed over Murray for Laird’s replacement as shadow Scottish secretary – instead he’s appointed Tony Lloyd, the MP for Rochdale.

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Today on Coffee House

This is the first time in a decade the government can do what it wants – Isabel Hardman

What impact did the Brexit party have on the general election result? – John Connolly

New Corbynite MP’s car-crash interview – Steerpike

Keir Starmer looks and sounds middle class precisely because he’s working class – Isabel Hardman

A new leader won’t stop the far left’s domination of Labour – Nick Cohen

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The Spectator’s most popular

Perhaps my campaign was ‘clunking’. But sometimes, clunking is what you need – Boris Johnson

Let’s make David Lammy Labour’s next leader – Rod Liddle

Inside Labour’s post-election PLP meeting – ‘We lost the f—ing election’ – Katy Balls

Corbyn couldn’t have done it without ‘moderates’ like Jess Phillips – Stephen Daisley

We’re heading for a Singapore-style Brexit, no matter what Boris does – Pieter Cleppe