In the first all-Conservative prepared Queen’s Speech for 19 years, the new government unveiled its grand plans for the coming parliament – with some echoes from 1996.
The John Major-led government proposed plans to support a “flexible” European Union, for construction to start on HS1, and for terrorism to be tackled.
David Cameron’s first solo Queen’s Speech saw pledges for a European Union in/out referendum (after he has renegotiated Britain’s relationship); to press ahead with legislation to allow HS2 to be developed; and for extremist behaviour and propaganda to be clamped down on.
One thing in the 2015 version that was missing in 1996 was the pledge for another Energy Bill – less than two years since the last one received Royal Assent.
New energy secretary Amber Rudd will be tasked with guiding the bill through parliament, and ensuring measures to increase energy security.
The Oil and Gas Authority will be nurtured into a fully functioning regulator with the intention to strengthen security of gas supplies for the UK and to squeeze as much as possible from the North Sea reserves.
Affordability is another challenge Rudd will have to meet.
The third leg of the trilemma – not to be forgotten despite Tory opposition to onshore wind – will be dealt with by shifting responsibility for granting consent to turbines to local councils.
It may have been a Queen’s Speech of deja vu, but the government is looking to tackle the energy trilemma, and it will have no one else to blame if it fails.