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| Queen's speech is ruthless attempt to put focus on families, says PM | Queen's speech is ruthless attempt to put focus on families, says PM |
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| David Cameron has told ministers that the Queen's speech marks a "ruthless" attempt to refocus the work of the government on hardworking families as Downing Street removes what the Tories' new campaign director, Lynton Crosby, dubbed "the barnacles off the boat" of its legislative programme. | |
| The prime minister has made clear that omissions from the Queen's speech, such as a minimum price for alcohol and plain packaging for cigarettes, are designed to streamline the work of the government as it battles to secure economic recovery. | The prime minister has made clear that omissions from the Queen's speech, such as a minimum price for alcohol and plain packaging for cigarettes, are designed to streamline the work of the government as it battles to secure economic recovery. |
| The guidance from the prime minister came as the Queen unveiled 17 bills for the penultimate session of parliament before the general election in 2015. The list includes an immigration bill restricting the access of EU migrants to jobseekers' allowance to six months. There will be new responsibilities on EU member states to pay if their citizens use the NHS. | The guidance from the prime minister came as the Queen unveiled 17 bills for the penultimate session of parliament before the general election in 2015. The list includes an immigration bill restricting the access of EU migrants to jobseekers' allowance to six months. There will be new responsibilities on EU member states to pay if their citizens use the NHS. |
| There was no mention of the bill legalising gay marriage, which was introduced in the last session and is being carried over into the new session. In contrast the energy bill, which is also being carried over, was mentioned. | |
| The Queen highlighted the renewed focus of the government on helping families struggling as Britain recovers from its worst downturn since the war when she said: "My government's first priority is to strengthen Britain's economic competitiveness. To this end, it will support the growth of the private sector and the creation of more jobs and opportunities. | The Queen highlighted the renewed focus of the government on helping families struggling as Britain recovers from its worst downturn since the war when she said: "My government's first priority is to strengthen Britain's economic competitiveness. To this end, it will support the growth of the private sector and the creation of more jobs and opportunities. |
| "My ministers will continue to prioritise measures that reduce the deficit – ensuring interest rates are kept low for homeowners and businesses. My government is committed to building an economy where people who work hard are properly rewarded. It will therefore continue to reform the benefits system, helping people move from welfare to work." | "My ministers will continue to prioritise measures that reduce the deficit – ensuring interest rates are kept low for homeowners and businesses. My government is committed to building an economy where people who work hard are properly rewarded. It will therefore continue to reform the benefits system, helping people move from welfare to work." |
| Dennis Skinner performed his usual trick of interrupting proceedings when Black Rod summoned MPs to hear the speech. He said: "Royal Mail for sale. Queen's head privatised." | Dennis Skinner performed his usual trick of interrupting proceedings when Black Rod summoned MPs to hear the speech. He said: "Royal Mail for sale. Queen's head privatised." |
| The Queen was accompanied as usual by the Duke of Edinburgh. But the Prince of Wales also attended the state opening of parliament for the first time since 1996 accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall for the first time. | The Queen was accompanied as usual by the Duke of Edinburgh. But the Prince of Wales also attended the state opening of parliament for the first time since 1996 accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall for the first time. |
| Buckingham Palace, which announced on Tuesday that the Queen will not attend the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Sri Lanka in November on the grounds of age, has indicated that the presence of the prince and the duchess is meant to signal the gentle transition to the heir to the throne. The Queen's speech highlighted how the transition is under way when she made no mention of forthcoming overseas visits as she usually does. | Buckingham Palace, which announced on Tuesday that the Queen will not attend the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Sri Lanka in November on the grounds of age, has indicated that the presence of the prince and the duchess is meant to signal the gentle transition to the heir to the throne. The Queen's speech highlighted how the transition is under way when she made no mention of forthcoming overseas visits as she usually does. |
| The streamlined Queen's speech shows the impact of Crosby, who told Downing Street that it needs to refocus its efforts by removing the "barnacles off the boat". In addition to the dropping of a bill to introduce a minimum price for alcohol, a draft communications bill dubbed the "snooper's charter" has been dropped. | |
| But the Queen said that proposals would be brought forward to crack down on crime in cyberspace, which could be a vehicle for a slimmed-down version of the controversial plans. She said: "In relation to the problem of matching internet protocol addresses, my government will bring forward proposals to enable the protection of the public and the investigation of crime in cyberspace." | |
| In an introduction to the Queen's speech the prime minister and Nick Clegg lay the blame for the struggling economy firmly at the door of Labour. "Under Labour, Britain's problems went much deeper than our deficit," they wrote. "As new powers were rising across the globe, our economy was becoming less competitive; our tax and benefits system did not properly reward hard work; too many of our children were leaving school without the skills they needed to flourish." | In an introduction to the Queen's speech the prime minister and Nick Clegg lay the blame for the struggling economy firmly at the door of Labour. "Under Labour, Britain's problems went much deeper than our deficit," they wrote. "As new powers were rising across the globe, our economy was becoming less competitive; our tax and benefits system did not properly reward hard work; too many of our children were leaving school without the skills they needed to flourish." |
| But Cameron and Clegg tried to show that the coalition is not a new version of the Thatcher government when they said that Britain needs more than the "anonymous forces of economics alone" to recover. | But Cameron and Clegg tried to show that the coalition is not a new version of the Thatcher government when they said that Britain needs more than the "anonymous forces of economics alone" to recover. |
| The prime minister and his deputy wrote: "We recognise that success doesn't lie in the anonymous forces of economics alone. Instead, it will be driven by the collective hard work of our people. Our purpose must be to unlock their potential and unleash their talents." | The prime minister and his deputy wrote: "We recognise that success doesn't lie in the anonymous forces of economics alone. Instead, it will be driven by the collective hard work of our people. Our purpose must be to unlock their potential and unleash their talents." |