Liberal Democrat policies announced in Queen's Speech

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.