4 Monday May 2 2022 | the times
News
The Queen’s Speech will not include
proposals to strengthen flexible work-
ing or introduce unpaid leave for carers
after Boris Johnson again shelved plans
for an employment bill.
In the government’s first Queen’s
Speech after the 2019 election it vowed
that “measures will be brought forward
to encourage flexible working” and “to
introduce the entitlement to leave for
unpaid carers”. These policies, both
manifesto promises, were to be
delivered in an employment bill.
But the bill was dropped from the
following speech, which set out the gov-
ernment’s agenda for the parliament-
ary term, in 2021. Sources said it was
because the labour market was in flux
due to the pandemic and that a bill was
still planned.
Now it has been dropped again from
the speech, to be delivered on Tuesday
next week, leaving Johnson at risk of
not meeting a manifesto commitment.
A source said the decision was part of a
move to stop departments from legis-
lating “unless you absolutely have to”.
Some believe that since flexible
working became a reality during the
pandemic, there is no longer the same
urgency as there was in 2019.
The issue recently prompted Jacob
Rees-Mogg, the Brexit opportunities
minister, to leave notes in emptyWhitehall workspaces with the mes-
sage: “Sorry you were out when I
visited. I look forward to seeing you in
the office very soon.” Nadine Dorries,
the culture secretary, later accused him
of “Dickensian” behaviour.
One Conservative source told The
Times: “We are torn two ways when it
comes to employment law — libertari-
ans versus non-libertarians. Should the
labour market prioritise security orHome Office officials have been urging
chief constables to apply to become the
Metropolitan Police commissioner
amid fears the bitter departure of Dame
Cressida Dick could deter candidates.
Sources said a string of senior officers
had been “tapped on the shoulder” to
ensure a wide array of applicants.
Dick quit in February after Sadiq
mayor for policing. One senior officer
said: “They want a decent field as it’s the
most senior job in policing. But the way
Cress was treated and the increasingly
political nature of that job — it’s fair to
say that’s turned a few people off.”
Many senior policing figures believe
restoring trust in the Met is almost im-
possible after a string of sexism, racism
and misogyny scandals. A groundswell
of opinion suggests some of its nationalfunctions, such as counterterrorism,
should be hived off so the new chief can
focus on improving standards.
A Home Office source said the ap-
proaches were to ensure as wide a field
as possible. The insider said: “We want
to make sure chief constables know
they are welcome to apply.”
Applications close next week.
New chief must be a fearless
outsider, Thunderer, page 24Fiona Hamilton Crime Editor
Greens’ Nato exit plan
The Green Party wants Britain to
leave Nato but not while the war
in Ukraine continues. The party’s
co-leader, Adrian Ramsay,
confirmed its “long-term policy”
was to leave and instead focus on
“peacekeeping institutions”.
However, he added: “In the short
term of course we’re not
proposing moving out of Nato in
the middle of a conflict.”Body is missing mother
A body found in the Forest of
Bowland in Lancashire has been
confirmed by police to be Katie
Kenyon, 33, a mother of two who
had been missing since April 22.
A post-mortem examination
found she had died from head
injuries. Appearing by video link,
Andrew Burfield, 50, of Burnley,
was charged with her murder at
Preston crown court on Friday.Burglars on your bike
Bicycles are the top target for
burglars in break-ins, according
to the insurer Zurich. In 2021 they
featured in 36 per cent of claims,
up from 18 per cent in 2018 —
possibly reflecting the rise in the
number of bikes in the UK, up
2 million to 22 million, since the
start of the pandemic. In previous
years jewellery, cash and bank
cards topped the list.Pension pain of divorce
One in six divorced people did
not realise their pension could be
affected by splitting up, a survey
has found — and more than one
in three said they had made no
claim on their former partner’s
pension. Aviva surveyed more
than 1,000 people. The survey
also found that one in 12
divorcees did not have their own
pension savings and had been
depending on their partner. One
in five said they would be
“significantly worse off” in
retirement as a result of divorce.AAABEEEE
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Cryptic clues every day onlineHome Office urges police chiefs to apply for Met’s top job
Khan, the mayor of London, withdrew
his support and said he did not believe
she could restore trust after a series of
scandals. Priti Patel, the home secre-
tary, has ordered an inquiry into her
ousting after Sir Stephen House, the
acting commissioner, complained that
due process had not been followed.
Chief constables are understood to
have been contacted by Home Office
officials and Sophie Linden, deputyTIMES PHOTOGRPAHER JAMES GLOSSOP; LEE THOMASShades of paganism Elaine Edmunds celebrates the May Day festival of Beltane at Thornborough Henge, North Yorkshire, and a Green Man at Glastonbury, Somerset
Pledges on flexible working and
leave for carers are paused again
international competitiveness? By the
time it gets through parliament people
will try to put regulations in and you’re
in a protracted fight about whether you
want to make the labour market more
flexible or more regulated.”
A government source said the bill
had been dropped for more mundane
reasons by Kwasi Kwarteng’s business
department. “It’s about timing,” the
source said. “Kwasi needs to prioritise
his energy bill and economic crime bill.
These are priorities which weren’t
priorities a year ago because of the
Ukraine crisis.” The source pointed out
that the manifesto committed the Con-
servatives to “consulting” on the issue,
which the government did last year.
The government reaffirmed its com-
mitment to introduce a right for
unpaid carers to take a week of unpaid
leave a year following a consultation
last year. Ministers are understood to be
examining whether a backbencher
could propose the change in a private
member’s bill, which the government
could then throw its weight behind.Henry Zeffman Associate Political Editor
Chris Smyth Whitehall Editor
Oliver Wright Policy Editor
Bills likely to feature in the Queen’s speech
Energy
This bill will give
legislative effect to
plans for up to eight
new nuclear reactors as
well as more hydrogen,
wind and solar projects.Levelling up and
regeneration
Michael Gove’s levellingup white paper
promised to write a
series of far-reaching
targets, or “missions”,
into law. A bill is needed
to do so. This bill will be
the successor to the
ditched planning bill.Human rights
This bill will overhaulhuman rights law,
allowing the
government to
automatically deport
foreign criminals.Channel 4 privatisation
Legislation is needed to
allow Nadine Dorries to
proceed with the
channel’s privatisation.