This is what would be in Labour’s first Queen’s Speech

Today the coalition unveil their (rather meagre) Queen’s Speech. There are some large measures (pensions) and some laudable ones (action on modern slavery) but also some bills that come across as a bit “Cones Hotline” (I’m looking at you, plastic bag pricing legislation).

So by way of contrast, here’s what Labour have planned (so far) for next year’s Queen’s speech, in the event of a Labour victory in May 2015:

Banking bill – it’s been a while since Miliband has talked about the banking sector, but it’d be a first year priority for Miliband. That’ll mean breaking up banks to create competition in the banking sector – and reforms intended to boost lending and support small businesses.

Make Work Pay bill – this one still needs some detail adding to it ( which we should get in the months ahead), but in short, this bill would see Labour legislating for a higher minimum wage (maybe even a statutory living wage?) and legislating on zero-hours contracts.

Housing bill – Currently Labour is talking about building 200,000 homes a year by 2020. For me, that’s a little slow – we should be aiming to build a million homes over the next parliament and I’d expect Miliband to upgrade Labour’s offer on housing before the election. But it’s already pretty substantial, this bill would act on land banks, legislate for new garden cities, crack down on fees for private sector tenants and provide more stable and secure long-term rents for those in the private rented sector.

Community bill – or to put it another way, the “taking back the high street” bill. This would give communities a say on payday lenders and betting shops on their high streets – thus reducing their volume and growth.

Immigration bill – those listening to the Today Programme will have heard Angela Eagle state that Labour would legislate on immigration. Such a bill would seek to stop workers being undercut and ban recruitment agencies from only recruiting from overseas. This might also be where Miliband would want act to ensure immigrants learn English (and paying for their lessons, too).

A new Scotland bill – this would  enshrine the recommendations of Scottish Labour’s Devolution Commission, introducing a form of “Devo-Max” – obviously this is in the event of a No vote in this year’s referendum.

Consumers’ bill – or perhaps more accurately, the energy prices bill. Labour’s big energy price freeze pledge would be enacted in the first Queen’s Speech

Outlawing discrimination against armed forces bill – This would  discrimination against members of the armed forces on the same footing as other forms of discrimination.

Other priorities for Labour in the for at year of the next parliament that don’t necessarily need primary legislation, but which would be mentioned in the Queen’s Speech, include: The jobs guarantee, the return of the 50p Tax rate and the abolition of the Bedroom Tax.

When you write it all out like that, Labour actually has a significant first year of legislation planned.