BORIS Johnson faced criticism after the Queen's Speech today, as the lack of a plan for social care was branded "an insult to the nation".

The Prime Minister promised to unleash the “pent up energy of the UK economy” as he set out the Queen’s Speech, with Her Majesty unveiling the Government’s programme in her first major public ceremonial appearance since the death of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Prime Minister told MPs the programme would “take this country forward” and spread opportunity across the country.

But measures to address the long-standing issue of social care funding were not included in the speech.

Proposals on social care will not appear until later this year – despite Mr Johnson’s promise when he entered No 10 two years ago that he had already prepared a “clear plan” to fix the system.

The Prime Minister said: “We will bring forward proposals to reform adult social care so that every person receives the dignity and security they deserve.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer said the failure to act on social care after the pandemic was “nothing short of an insult to the whole nation”.

Mr Johnson said: “We must harness the ingenuity and resolve that has been revealed in the struggle against Covid-19 and use it to create a stronger, healthier and more prosperous nation.

“We have been given an historic opportunity to change things for the better, level up opportunities across the whole of the United Kingdom, and address the problems that have constrained us far too often before.

“We Conservatives understand this crucial point: that you will find flair and imagination and enthusiasm and genius distributed evenly across this country while opportunity is not.

“And we mean to change that because it is not just a moral and social disgrace, it’s an economic mistake, it’s a criminal waste of talent.”

In response, the Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir said Mr Johnson had “squandered” the chance to set out a “transformative agenda to rebuild Britain’s foundations after a decade of neglect and a year of national sacrifice”.

Included in the speech were the following pieces of legislation:

  • A Health and Care Bill to better integrate the NHS and social care systems.
  • A Planning Bill to make it easier to build new homes, schools and hospitals.
  • New laws to scrap the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, meaning it will be easier for Mr Johnson to call an early general election before 2024.
  • A Counter-State Threats Bill to introduce a US-style register of foreign agents to help counter espionage and influence from hostile governments.
  • An Online Safety Bill requiring tech giants to tackle illegal content on their platforms and clearly set out in their terms what content is and is not acceptable.
  • The return of the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which saw demonstrations over concerns that it would curtail the right to protest when it was last before Parliament.
  • A Higher Education (Free Speech) Bill giving regulators the power to fine universities or students’ unions in England if they fail to protect freedom of expression.