Parliament now open for session

The Queen speaks, Phillip snoozes

What is the Queen’s Speech?

The Queen’s Speech is the showpiece of the state opening of Parliament. Written by the Government and delivered by the monarch as each session of Parliament begins, the royal address outlines the legislative agenda for the oncoming year. The state opening, which normally occurs in November, is one of the more important dates on the Parliamentary calendar. It is a ceremonial affair unmatched in spectacle and tradition. Black Rod has the doors of the Commons slammed in his face and the Queen attends to give her speech from the grand throne in the House of Lords. This is the first time in the Queen’s reign that she has unveiled the legislative programme of a coalition government.

Not Just Another Speech

Despite not setting out the entirety of the Government’s programme, the Queen’s Speech is a significant political herald. The decision of what to include or leave out of it is a crucial one that is usually subject to months of political wrangling for favoured measures to win a place in the legislative agenda. This year, however, things are different. Firstly, the process will have been hurried since the speech was delivered less than 10 days since the government came to power. Secondly, given the nature of the Parliamentary timetable the negotiations are expected to have been particularly sensitive. This is the first coalition government in 65 years and the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats want their priority policies expressed in the crowded legislative plan. Nevertheless, Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the Queen’s Speech as “a radical programme for a radical government”.

The Queen in her royal address unveiled the Government’s key priorities: "My government's legislative programme will be based upon the principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility." A total of 22 bills are outlined in the speech including plans for major reform of political system, welfare, schools and the police. However, reducing the deficit and restoring economic growth remains the coalition government’s “first priority”.

Overview of coalition plans:

- Fixed term Parliaments, recall of MPs and a referendum on voting system

- ID cards and national identity register to be scrapped

- Changes to financial regulation

- Measures to strengthen civil liberties

- Creation of “directly elected individuals" to hold the police to account

- Improving energy efficiency

- Powers to set up new schools and open more academies

- Raising the state pension age and restoring pensions link to earnings

- Guarantee of referendum on future EU treaties

- Cut the number of “quangos” and make them more accountable

- More powers for Scottish Parliament

Opposition’s response to the Queen’s Speech

Ms Harman, in response to the Queen’s Speech, said the programme put economic recovery at risk. In her first speech as acting Labour leader, she said its plans for £6bn in cuts would “blight the prospects” of young people and threaten jobs. Ms Harman attacked the new government, suggesting Cameron and Clegg were “just not right for each other”, portraying the coalition as a marriage of convenience. The Tories and Lib Dems were “already preparing for the day when they shrink back from their loveless embrace”, she said. Ms Harman promised Labour would effectively oppose the Government, but made clear that the party would not oppose measures put forward for “the sake of it”.

The Guardian's Wordle

Because The Guardian still like Wordles, they have created a wordle of the text of Queen's Speech written by Cameron and Clegg to see how it compares to the speech Blair wrote in 1997. The result is interesting - for instance, the word "deficit" and "nuclear" reappear. Both the 2010 and 1997 wordles can be seen here.

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