- Title: United Kingdom: Britain's New Labour Cabinet Holds First Meeting
- Date: 8th May 1997
- Summary: Britain's new Labour cabinet has agreed a 17-month legislative programme to enable Prime Minister Tony Blair to stamp his modernising philosophy on Britain. The cabinet held its first full meeting on May 8 to agree the legislation it wants to include in Queen Elizabeth's speech when she opens the first session of the parliament that was chosen at the May 1 election. The ministers got straight down to the business of fulfilling their election pledges when they met at 10 Downing Street. The meeting lasted more than two hours. Education topped the list of more than 20 bills discussed by the Cabinet at their first meeting. Other measures will include introducing a national minimum wage, ending the internal market in the National Health Service, fast-track punishment for persistent young offenders and greater independence for the Bank of England. It was also confirmed that the new Labour government is committed to action on freedom of information. A Downing Street spokesman said that there had been "a really good atmosphere" around the Cabinet table. The Prime Minister had told his ministers to dispense with their formal titles and call each other by their first names.
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- Location: UK ENGLAND LONDON 10 DOWNING STREET
- Reuters ID: LDL00126LEGLN
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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- Copyright Holder: Reuters Archive
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