Liberal Democrat policies announced in Queen's Speech

1.18.52pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th May 2010

A large number of Liberal Democrat policies were announced in today's Queen's Speech, including the party's major priorities: fair taxes, a fair start for children, a green and sustainable economy, and a comprehensive clean up of politics.

The policies include:

• Making the tax and benefits system fairer and simpler, including a significant increase in the personal allowance and an ambition to increase it to £10,000

• Restoring the earnings link to pensions

• Greater freedoms for teachers over the curriculum

• Measures to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses

• Support for low carbon energy production

• Financial services regulation to learn the lessons of the financial crisis

• Fixed term parliaments of five years

• A referendum on the Alternative Vote

• The right to sack MPs guilty of serious misconduct

• Reform of party funding

• Moving towards a wholly or partly elected House of Lords, elected by proportional representation

• A Bill to restore freedoms and civil liberties, through the abolition of Identity Cards and repeal of unnecessary laws

• Giving greater powers to councils and giving neighbourhoods and communities more control over planning and housing decisions

• Ending child detention

• Fair compensation for Equitable Life victims

• Enabling the creation of a national high speed rail network

• The modernisation of the Royal Mail

• Flexible working and promotion of equal pay

• Strengthening the voices of patients and the role of doctors in the NHS

• A commission on long-term reform of social care

• Cutting Quangos and government bureaucracy

• Implementing the recommendations of the Calman Commission

• A referendum on further powers for the Welsh Assembly

A full list of Bills and other items from the Queen's Speech is available at http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/topstorynews/2010/05/queens-speech-2010-3-50297