It’s been a big week in politics – *seriously* big. From Theresa May handing her official resignation over to the Queen to the installation of Boris Johnson and his new Brexiteer cabinet in Number 10, it’s been a momentous few days.
Now the dust has started to settle, you might be thinking – what next? What can we actually expect from a Johnson government? Is it all going to be about Brexit?
Never fear – here’s HuffPost UK’s round up of five of the biggest things the new PM has promised away from Brexit.
A Bulked Up Police Force
With tackling crime high-up on the new PM’s agenda, Johnson has vowed to reverse austerity cuts to police numbers and recruit an extra 20,000 officers by 2022.
The huge recruitment scheme – which is set to begin in September – is expected to cost around £1.1 billion. But police officials have warned that following years of swingeing cuts, some forces are worried they do not have enough training instructors or police stations to keep up with the expansion plans.
Tax Cuts For High Earners
It was one of the most headline-grabbing – and divisive – pledges of Johnson’s campaign for Tory Party leader – his promise to cut tax for high earners.
Currently, people have to pay a 40% levy on anything they earn over £50,000. Under the new prime minister’s plans, the threshold for this higher rate of tax will be raised to £80,000 – a move expected to save workers up to £3,000 and wealthy pensioners as much as £6,000.
However, while the proposal means savings for some, it also translates to a £9.6 billion bill for the government.
A Potential Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants
Johnson didn’t quite vow to offer amnesty to 500,000 immigrants in the UK illegally during his first appearance in the Commons as PM – but he suggested it might be on his to-do list.
Addressing MPs during his first full day as prime minister on Thursday, Johnson said Britain should examine the “economic advantages and disadvantages” of such a pardon.
Asked about the issue by Labour MP Rupa Huq, he told the Commons: “I do think we need to look at our arrangements for people who have lived and worked here for a long time unable to enter the economy, unable to participate properly or pay taxes without documents.
“We should look at it and the truth is, the law already basically allows them an effective amnesty, that’s basically where we have settled now.”
Solving The Social Care Crisis
What a prime minister says outside the doors of Number 10 on their first day in office is seriously important – they are held to the promises they make in that speech throughout their premiership.
So Johnson’s vow that his government will fix the UK’s social care crisis will have been seen as significant by many.
“My job is to save you, or your parents, or grandparents from the fear of having to sell your home to pay for the costs of care,” Johnson said.
“As so I am announcing now, on the steps of Downing Street, that we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared to give every older person the dignity and security they deserve.” The exact details of the plan have not yet been released.
According to Age UK, the country’s crisis in social care means that 1.4 million older people are currently struggling without the support they need.
School Funding
Johnson has promised to raise school funding to £5,000 for every secondary school pupil – a pledge that looks great in headlines, but one that Schools Week suggested would only amount to a 0.1% bump in funding.
However, later in his campaign the former foreign secretary suggested he would actually reverse the decline in school budgets seen in recent years – a vow the BBC estimates would cost nearly £5 billion.