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| Queen's Speech: What is it and why is it important? | Queen's Speech: What is it and why is it important? |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Boris Johnson's plan to hold a Queen's Speech has suffered a setback after the Supreme Court's decision that he broke the law by suspending Parliament. | |
| That's because prorogation needs to take place before the speech can be made. | That's because prorogation needs to take place before the speech can be made. |
| But what exactly is the Queen's Speech and what would happen if MPs rejected it? | But what exactly is the Queen's Speech and what would happen if MPs rejected it? |
| What is the Queen's Speech? | What is the Queen's Speech? |
| The Queen's Speech provides the government with an opportunity to highlight its forthcoming priorities. | The Queen's Speech provides the government with an opportunity to highlight its forthcoming priorities. |
| It forms part of the State Opening of Parliament ceremony, which marks the start of the parliamentary year. | It forms part of the State Opening of Parliament ceremony, which marks the start of the parliamentary year. |
| The ceremony begins with a procession, where the Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster by carriage. | The ceremony begins with a procession, where the Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster by carriage. |
| MPs are summoned by a House of Lords official, known as Black Rod. Before entering the Commons, Black Rod has the doors shut in their face, symbolising the chamber's independence from the monarchy. | MPs are summoned by a House of Lords official, known as Black Rod. Before entering the Commons, Black Rod has the doors shut in their face, symbolising the chamber's independence from the monarchy. |
| During the speech, the Queen sets out the laws the government wants Parliament to approve. By convention, it is announced by the monarch in the presence of MPs, peers and other dignitaries in the House of Lords. | During the speech, the Queen sets out the laws the government wants Parliament to approve. By convention, it is announced by the monarch in the presence of MPs, peers and other dignitaries in the House of Lords. |
| Normally a Queen's Speech happens once a year, but there has not been one since 21 June 2017. That's because the previous prime minister, Theresa May, wanted a two-year parliamentary session to focus on Brexit. | Normally a Queen's Speech happens once a year, but there has not been one since 21 June 2017. That's because the previous prime minister, Theresa May, wanted a two-year parliamentary session to focus on Brexit. |
| Why does Boris Johnson's government want one? | Why does Boris Johnson's government want one? |
| Mr Johnson had planned to hold a Queen's Speech on 14 October, saying it was needed to bring in a "bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda". | Mr Johnson had planned to hold a Queen's Speech on 14 October, saying it was needed to bring in a "bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda". |
| But his decision to prorogue Parliament for five weeks caused controversy and was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. | But his decision to prorogue Parliament for five weeks caused controversy and was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. |
| However, that does not prevent Mr Johnson from proroguing again, as long as it does not stop Parliament from carrying out its duties "without reasonable justification". | However, that does not prevent Mr Johnson from proroguing again, as long as it does not stop Parliament from carrying out its duties "without reasonable justification". |
| So, if Mr Johnson still wants to hold a Queen's Speech on 14 October, he could prorogue Parliament a few days beforehand, so that preparations can be made. | So, if Mr Johnson still wants to hold a Queen's Speech on 14 October, he could prorogue Parliament a few days beforehand, so that preparations can be made. |
| After the Supreme Court ruling he said he planned to "get on with" holding the Queen's Speech. | After the Supreme Court ruling he said he planned to "get on with" holding the Queen's Speech. |
| Who writes the Queen's Speech? | Who writes the Queen's Speech? |
| It is written by ministers but it is delivered by the Queen from the throne of the House of Lords. | It is written by ministers but it is delivered by the Queen from the throne of the House of Lords. |
| Its length depends on the number of proposed laws and other announcements - such as foreign policy objectives - but it normally takes about 10 minutes. | Its length depends on the number of proposed laws and other announcements - such as foreign policy objectives - but it normally takes about 10 minutes. |
| Can anyone else deliver the Queen's Speech? | Can anyone else deliver the Queen's Speech? |
| The Queen has delivered the speech 64 times but was absent in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant. | The Queen has delivered the speech 64 times but was absent in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant. |
| On those occasions, the speech was read by the Lord Chancellor. | On those occasions, the speech was read by the Lord Chancellor. |
| Is there a vote on it? | Is there a vote on it? |
| Yes. A couple of hours afterwards, MPs reassemble in the House of Commons and begin debating the speech's contents. | Yes. A couple of hours afterwards, MPs reassemble in the House of Commons and begin debating the speech's contents. |
| After introductory speeches by two MPs, the prime minister will "sell" the speech to the Commons, setting out their vision for the country. | After introductory speeches by two MPs, the prime minister will "sell" the speech to the Commons, setting out their vision for the country. |
| The leader of the opposition then gets their chance to respond, before other MPs are allowed to contribute. | The leader of the opposition then gets their chance to respond, before other MPs are allowed to contribute. |
| The debate on what is known as the "Humble Address" normally lasts about five days. | The debate on what is known as the "Humble Address" normally lasts about five days. |
| At the end of the debate there is a vote. It's normally seen as symbolic, as it is extremely rare for a government to lose it. | At the end of the debate there is a vote. It's normally seen as symbolic, as it is extremely rare for a government to lose it. |
| What happens if the government loses? | What happens if the government loses? |
| By losing a Queen's Speech vote, MPs are effectively saying that they reject the government's plan to bring in new laws. | By losing a Queen's Speech vote, MPs are effectively saying that they reject the government's plan to bring in new laws. |
| Mr Johnson has already lost six consecutive House of Commons votes since becoming prime minister. | Mr Johnson has already lost six consecutive House of Commons votes since becoming prime minister. |
| But even though Mr Johnson would be under immense political pressure to resign if he lost again, he might not feel forced to do so. | But even though Mr Johnson would be under immense political pressure to resign if he lost again, he might not feel forced to do so. |
| If the government did lose, Labour could respond by proposing a motion of no confidence, leaving all MPs to vote on the matter. | If the government did lose, Labour could respond by proposing a motion of no confidence, leaving all MPs to vote on the matter. |
| A government defeat, under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (FTPA), would give opposition parties 14 days to form an alternative government. | A government defeat, under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 (FTPA), would give opposition parties 14 days to form an alternative government. |
| If nothing is resolved, a general election would be automatically called. At this point Mr Johnson would still not be forced to resign, and could continue on as prime minister during a campaign. | If nothing is resolved, a general election would be automatically called. At this point Mr Johnson would still not be forced to resign, and could continue on as prime minister during a campaign. |
| Alternatively, according to Catherine Haddon, from the Institute for Government think tank, the opposition could write its own no-confidence motion in different words to the FTPA. | Alternatively, according to Catherine Haddon, from the Institute for Government think tank, the opposition could write its own no-confidence motion in different words to the FTPA. |
| "This would allow the opposition to be explicit about what should happen, like the steps the government would need to take, or, say, if there was a Commons majority to form an alternative government," she says. | "This would allow the opposition to be explicit about what should happen, like the steps the government would need to take, or, say, if there was a Commons majority to form an alternative government," she says. |
| Ms Haddon says that convention would dictate that if any motion of no confidence is passed and there is a clear alternative government the government would have to stand aside. | Ms Haddon says that convention would dictate that if any motion of no confidence is passed and there is a clear alternative government the government would have to stand aside. |
| When did a government last lose a Queen's Speech? | When did a government last lose a Queen's Speech? |
| The last time this happened was in January 1924 to Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin after he proceeded with a King's Speech, under George V, despite having lost his majority in the previous month's general election. | The last time this happened was in January 1924 to Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin after he proceeded with a King's Speech, under George V, despite having lost his majority in the previous month's general election. |
| Mr Baldwin subsequently resigned and a minority Labour government took over. | Mr Baldwin subsequently resigned and a minority Labour government took over. |