List of bills
Lunchtime summary
3.11pm BST
Miliband says that, at the state opening of parliament, MPs honour the importance of the Commons, and its battle to assert its powers.
But what the recent elections show is that more than at any time for generations, this House faces a contemporary battle of its own.
A battle for relevance, legitimacy and standing in the eyes of the public.
3.10pm BST
Miliband says, before he turns to the Queen's speech, he wants to say how important it is that Scotland stays in the UK.
3.09pm BST
Miliband turns to Annette Brooke.
She voted against tuition fees, has described being in the coalition as terrible and describes the Lib Dem record on women MPs as dreadful
By current Lib Dem standards, Mr Speaker, that apparently makes her a staunch loyalist.
3.09pm BST
It is also conventional for the leader of the opposition (and the prime minister) to pay tribute to those MPs who proposed and seconded the loyal address.
He praises Penny Mordaunt.
She also has an obvious hinterland, she made headlines for her recent appearance on Splash.
She has an admirable line in self deprecation saying about her performance on Splash, I have the elegance and drive of a paving slab... which seems somewhat unfair since she got to the quarter finals.
3.07pm BST
As is traditional, Miliband pays tribute to an MP who has died in the last year, Paul Goggins.
He was, as was said at the time of his death, one of the kindest, most decent people in the House, and he was someone of the deepest principle.
3.06pm BST
Miliband starts with a tribute to those servicemen who have lost their lives in Afghanistan.
Their sacrifice has not been in vain.
And they have demonstrated, as our Normandy veterans did all those years ago, that they represent the best of our country.
3.05pm BST
Ed Miliband is speaking now.
Labour aides have been telling us that it will be serious than is usual for a Queen's speech debate speech. What they mean is that there will be fewer jokes than usual, and more politics.
3.04pm BST
Annette Brooke's speech is over. I'm afraid it was a bit of a dud.
3.04pm BST
Labour's Toby Perkins is heckling Brooke on Twitter.
As Annette Brooke laments LibDems poor record on women MPs, she appears to be only LibDem woman here.
Annette Brook should not be so hard on the Lib Dems about their under-representation of women. 100% of their MEPs are female.
3.02pm BST
Brooke says she particularly welcomes the extension of free childcare in the Queen's speech today.
And she is also very pleased about the modern slavery bill, and the legislation to tackle child neglect.
2.56pm BST
Annette Brook is speaking now.
She says she is proud to be the first woman Lib Dem MP to propose or second the loyal address. There have to be more female Lib Dem MPs, she says.
2.54pm BST
She's finished.
That was an excellent speech. The instant Twitter reviews are outstanding.
One of best Q's speech proposer speeches by @PennyMordauntMP: says women MPs shd be allowed to propose speech more than once every 57 years
Hard to understand why Dave has a 'woman problem' given @PennyMordauntMP's confident, well judged, smart performance #QueensSpeech
.@PennyMordauntMP has House eating out of her hand as she proposes #QueensSpeech. A star is born
I suspect that Prince Philip would have rather enjoyed Penny Mordaunt's speech
Even Cam will have trouble following that superb Mordaunt speech. A Thunderbird with "right hand drive" indeed.
2.52pm BST
Mordaunt ends saying the coalition should take inspiration from the heroism of those who served at D-Day.
2.51pm BST
Mordaunt mentions another MoD event. It included a session on how to look after your penis and testicles in the field. The organisers clearly did not anticipate some of the people who would be attending, she says.
She says she is glad women are now serving in the armed forces in roles where they have never served before.
2.45pm BST
Mordaunt, MP for Portsmouth North, turns to the navy, and praises its role. And she says she hopes that the Ministry of Defence will end its practice of holding a defence review - and then ordering half the number of ships needed.
She said she would have turned up in her naval uniform today (she is a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve) but that she decided not to out of consideration for the MP for Beckenham (Bob Stewart's) blood pressure.
2.42pm BST
John Bercow calls Annette Brooke. There are objections because Penny Mordaunt was due to go first. Bercow says the coalition parties changed the order. Then he calls Mordaunt.
Penny Mordaunt says she is only the second woman to propose the loyal address in Queen Elizabeth's reign.
2.35pm BST
Theresa May & Michael Gove not on the Govt front bench for the Queens Speech debate. Assume they're busy working amicably together somewhere
2.34pm BST
Bercow also announces that there will be an election for the chairmanship of the health committee because Stephen Dorrell is standing down. The ballot will take place on Wednesday 18 June.
2.32pm BST
John Bercow, the speaker, opens the session by telling MPs they have a duty to uphold high standards. It is not because MPs have behaved particularly badly; it is something that has become normal practice at the start of a session.
2.28pm BST
The debate on the loyal address will start in a few minutes.
Before Ed Miliband and David Cameron speak, two backbenchers propose and second the loyal address to Her Majesty. By convention, one is young, up-and-coming MP, and the other is an older, respected figure.
A bit of parliamentary history will be made today as female MPs both propose and second the Queens Speech. 1st time this has ever happened
2.13pm BST
The Queen has delivered a speech revealing that two pensions bills - introducing what David Cameron describes as "the biggest transformation in our pensions system since its inception" - will be among 11 new bills and three draft bills being introduced in the final session of parliament. The speech contained no real surprises, but it confirmed that a bill to promote fracking could turn out to be the most controversial piece of legislation of this session. It also confirmed that the government will try to pass a recall bill, although campaigners are complaining the government's plans will give MPs the final say over whether or not to allow a recall election. Despite Ukip's victory in the European elections there was no immigration bill. And the NHS did not get a mention. There's a full list of the bills here. And here's an analysis from my colleague Patrick Wintour. Here's an extract from it.
Both sides will also be happy there is little here that is likely to provoke backbench revolts. Some Conservatives are still battling to take a tougher line on knife crime, and the HS2 paving bill will keep the whips on their toes. A group of Tory backbenchers are already cutting up about the timidity of the measures allowing errant MPs to be recalled by their constituents. It was being described as embarrassingly weak, and a total misreading of the anger of voters displayed in the European elections.
Labour is likely to argue that the bills do not represent the kind of big response to the anger displayed by the voters or the problems facing the country. Ed Miliband will highlight the crises in banking, housing and wages.
1.43pm BST
And there is also vocal opposition to the recall proposals, on the grounds that they do not go far enough.
This is from Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance.
Some positive measures have been overshadowed by an embarrassingly weak Recall Bill. This stitch-up will do nothing to restore the trust of voters in politics. It will centralise more power in Westminster, rather than handing it to voters.
True right of recall was included in the Coalition Agreement, and the proposed legislation is nothing more than a weak imitation. In a democracy, voters should have the final say, not a committee of MPs. That politicians are scared of 'kangaroo courts' only underlines how detached they are from the concerns of ordinary people.
This is Clegg's 'Recall' the Govt will announce: a stitch up, a con, and a big step backwards. It must be amended: http://t.co/7AMsvWX0Q6
At a time of mass anti-politics voting, what do our leaders suppose voters will do when they learn that they have been duped over Recall?
1.32pm BST
And the most controversial measures in the Queen's speech are probably those relating to fracking.
Here is some reaction to them.
The government is making a mockery of public participation by announcing legislation in the Queens speech to open up access to shale gas. Just days ago ministers launched a public consultation on whether or not to strip away householders rights to say no to companies fracking under their homes.
Ministers are losing the argument on fracking and are now steamrolling over peoples rights in order to sacrifice our countryside and climate. This is all for the sake of an industry which will have a marginal impact on providing energy security. When ministers sober up from their shale gas inebriation, well all be sharing their morning hangover.
This is the latest salvo in yet another coalition assault on our environment.
Allowing fracking firms to drill under peoples homes without permission, and scrapping plans to make new houses more energy efficient would show a complete disregard for tackling climate change and protecting the planet.
The competitiveness and infrastructure bill, which will allow shale gas companies to drill under peoples homes and land without their permission, is the latest in a long line of measures from the coalition to force through fracking. The bill rides roughshod over the public interest in pursuit of the vested interests and greed of a few. Sadly, thats what weve come to expect from this government.
Energy security is paramount for British business. While some companies are concerned about volatile energy prices, all businesses, from the smallest to the largest, tell us that they can't trade unless the lights stay on. Britain needs to exploit all of its potential energy generation resources - including shale gas - in order to deliver the security of supply that our economy requires. While fracking may be unpalatable to some, it is absolutely essential, and business will support legislative measures to exploit Britain's shale gas deposits.
The proposals to permit drilling for shale gas and oil under peoples homes and properties, even if they object, will bring the trespass laws in this area into line with other industries such as coal and transport. The issue isnt about money, in the well known Bocardo case the damages were minimal. The issue is about lengthy legal battles that could hold up the exploration phase for the UK industry. What the industry needs, therefore, is reforms which produce an expedited or no delay procedure, where any claims for compensation, however nominal, can follow the event. Proponents and objectors will be watching closely to see if this is what the reforms will achieve
This Queens speech will be remembered as the day the government decided to sacrifice our homes on the altar of fracking.
Fracking has not been proved safe, it wrecks the landscape and it is definitely not necessary. We call for a total ban on fracking and investment in renewable energy instead.
1.24pm BST
The most significant measures in the Queen's speech are, almost certainly, those affecting pensions.
Here is some reaction to them.
The two pensions bills announced today pull in opposite directions.
The pooling and risk sharing in Dutch-style not-for-profit pensions offer a better and more predictable retirement income.
We welcome the governments aims to boost choice and flexibility in the pensions market and collective defined contribution schemes will play a part in this. These schemes are complex, so they are likely to be offered only by a few large employers keen to provide their employees with something more predictable than existing defined contribution schemes.
They have the potential to deliver more for savers but equally they need to understand that even in retirement their pots could decrease because there are no individual controls over how pensions are drawn down. Thats why businesses need to explain clearly the terms to employees.
Businesses and their employees will welcome attempts to broaden and diversify the provision of pensions in the UK. However, if the government does introduce a collective defined contribution scheme (CDC), it must ensure that the perceived benefits are not overplayed, and that prospective participants are made aware of the possible pitfalls of entering such a scheme particularly around risk and access to funds. From an employers perspective, offering a range of models is not a problem, providing this does not lead to additional, burdensome bureaucracy. There should also be incentives for employers of all sizes to participate in CDCs, otherwise only very large companies are likely to take these up.
Under the new system, people will be able to access their defined contribution savings from the age of 55 in all circumstances, rising to 57 in 2028.
It will mean that individuals can withdraw money from their defined contributions pot after the age of 55 as and when they wish and only pay their marginal rate of tax on it (0, 20, 40 and 45%). They no longer need to buy an annuity. They can structure withdrawals so that they minimise any tax charge. This will also impact Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs). People can also still choose an annuity if they wish.
Access to advice on pensions and savings can make or break someones retirement. Letting people manage their own pension pot is a positive move, but availability of advice will be vital in making this policy work for people.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to advising people on their pension. Ministers need to ensure the delivery of the Guidance Guarantee allows people to access advice in a way that suits them and their circumstances, whether that is online, over the phone or in person.
1.16pm BST
Here's some more on the page boy who fainted. It's from the Press Association .
One of the Queen's page boys fainted today as the monarch outlined the Government's proposed laws.
A loud thud could be heard in the House of Lords after the child fainted at around eight minutes and 53 seconds into the Queen's speech, which lasted close to 10 minutes.
1.06pm BST
Animal Defenders International has issued this statement about the lack of a wild animals in circuses bill in the Queen's speech. (See 12.52pm.) This is from its president, Jan Creamer.
ADI is immensely disappointed that a year after legislation was finally drafted, no further progress has been made to bring an end to the suffering of wild animals in circuses. This is an issue which the government has committed to take action on, and has overwhelming support from the public and politicians. Britain is now lagging behind 27 countries worldwide that have already introduced national measures on this issue. We urge the prime minister to press ahead, as promised, and bring in the ban without further delay.
12.52pm BST
And here are some bills that seem to have been left out of the Queen's speech.
A wild animals in circuses bill: A draft wild animals in circuses bill, banning their use, was published in 2013, but it did not get a mention today. There is more background in this briefing note.
12.35pm BST
There are various figures being quoted for how many bills there were in the speech.
By my count, there were 11 new bills, and three new draft bills (which, because they are being published in draft, are very unlikely to become law by the election).
12.05pm BST
Here is the full text of the Queen's speech.
And here is the 105-page background briefing on the speech from the government, explaining in more detail what the measures in the Queen's speech involve (pdf).
11.59am BST
And here's some Twitter comment on the speech.
"Coalition's last stand": Dennis Skinner's fairly bland heckle. He's as much the dignified part of the constitution as the Queen herself.
Dennis Skinner's traditional heckle, this year is hopefully just a statement of fact: "Coalition's last stand" #QueensSpeech
Dennis Skinner makes his usual contribution to #QueensSpeech "Coalition's Last Stand". Not as good as "Queen's Head for sale" of last year
Were all the women busy doing their make up? #QueensSpeech pic.twitter.com/JiRf9IbWVZ
Ghastly. Intolerable. Queen forced to use "grow" as a transitive verb. Tory victory. #QueensSpeech Best place to "grow a business"
The abuse of the English language continues. "Locally-led garden cities." #QueensSpeech
Once again the Queen is more on message than many Lib Dem ministers.
Queen didn't miss a beat when page boy fainted - what a pro.
People say she doesn't earn her money but you try reading something that long and dull with a ton of bling on your head. #QueensSpeech
Significant win for Lib Dems: blocking Tory plans for an immigration bill #QueensSpeech
Nick Robinson: "I feel sorry for the Queen having to read out party political propaganda."
I'm with @bbcnickrobinson: the political guffery in the #QueensSpeech should stop. Precisely what Tories complained about in opposition
11.47am BST
One of the page boys has fainted - has just had to be carried out #QueenSpeech
11.45am BST
My lords and members of the House of Commons, I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.
And that's it. The speech is over.
11.45am BST
Other measures will be laid before you.
These could be the most important six words in the speech. Essentially they mean that the government is free to bring in various other measures that it has not told us about today. Governments always do this, meaning the Queen's speech is never a complete guide to the legislation that eventually gets passed. It is also worth noting that the Queen has not mentioned some of the bills being carried over, like the HS2 bill.
11.45am BST
Prince Philip and I will pay a state visit to France and will attend events to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
We look forward to welcoming his Excellency the president of the Republic of Singapore on his forthcoming state visit.
It is also normal for the Queen to update MPs and peers on her own travel plans. But, thankfully, she does not get out the photo album and tell us all about her trips over the last year.
11.44am BST
My lords and members of the House of Commons
The United Kingdom will work for peace and security on Europe's borders, and for stable relations between Russia and Ukraine based on respect for national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law.
The Queen always turns to foreign policy at the end of her speech.
11.43am BST
Members of the House of Commons
Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.
"Estimates" is parliament-speak of government spending plans. The Queen addresses this to MPs only because budgetary matters are the preserve of the Commons.
11.43am BST
Draft legislation will be published providing for direct elections to National Park authorities in England.
This is an idea the Lib Dems have been pushing. But, given the experience of directly-elected police commissioners (the turnout in the elections was derisory, and the performance of the commissioners ever since has been distinctly mixed), you might think that the coalition would have had second thoughts about this.
11.43am BST
My government will continue its programme of political reform.
My ministers will introduce legislation on the recall of members of parliament.
The Wales bill has already been introduced, and it is one of six bills being "carried over" from the previous session. There will be particular interest in the recall bill. A draft recall bill was published in 2011, but it was savaged by the Commons political and constitutional reform committee which said it should be dropped. Campaigners complained it did not go far enough, because it would only allow for recall if the Commons standards committee approved. There are more details in this briefing from the House of Commons library.
11.42am BST
A serious crime bill will be brought forward to tackle child neglect, disrupt serious organised crime and strengthen powers to seize the proceeds of crime.
No session of parliament is complete without a crime bill. This one will be called the serious crime bill.
11.42am BST
Legislation will be introduced to improve the complaints system in the armed forces through the creation of an ombudsman.
This will be in the armed forces (service complaints and financial assistance) bill.
11.41am BST
A bill will be brought forward to provide that where a person acts heroically, responsibly or for the benefit of others, this will be taken into account by the courts.
This proposal will be enacted in the social action, responsibility and heroism bill. It is intended to protect people who intervene to help others ("have-a-go heroes", as they are known in the papers) from being liable for being sued for damages if something goes wrong.
11.41am BST
A bill will be introduced to strengthen the powers to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking whilst improving support for victims of such crimes.
These measures will be in the slavery bill. Here's the Commons library note on the draft bill published last year.
11.41am BST
My government will continue to work to build a fairer society.
To improve education attainment and child health, my government will ensure all infants will receive a free school meal. Free childcare will be extended to more of the most disadvantaged two-year-olds and a bill will be introduced to help working families with childcare costs.
These measures will be in the childcare payments bill. Parents earning up to £15,000 will be able to benefit.
11.41am BST
My ministers will continue to promote the help to buy and right to buy schemes to support home ownership.
My government will continue to deliver the best schools and skills for young people. In England, my ministers will help more schools to become academies and support more free schools to open, whilst continuing investment to deliver more school places. Further reforms to GCSEs and A levels will be taken forward to raise standards in schools and prepare school pupils for employment. My government will increase the total number of apprenticeship places to 2m by the end of the parliament.
Essentially, this means more of the same from Michael Gove. But it is interesting that the Queen is not promising more of the same from Jeremy Hunt and the Department of Health. Labour are criticising the speech for not mentioning the NHS, although, given the massive opposition that that Andrew Lansley's Health Act attracted, it's perhaps not surprising that the coalition has decided not to highlight this topic.
11.40am BST
11.40am BST
The overall benefits bill will continue to be capped so that public expenditure continues to be controlled and politicies will be pursued so people are helped from welfare to work.
My government will increase housing supply and home ownership by reforming the planning system, enabling new locally-led garden cities and supporting small house building firms.
The measures for the sale of high-value land will be in the infrastructure bill.
11.39am BST
A key priority for my ministers will be to continue to build an economy that rewards those who work hard.
Legislation will be brought forward to give those who have saved discretion over the use of their retirement funds. My government's pension reforms will also allow for innovation in the private pensions market to give greater control to employees, extend the ISA and premium bond schemes and abolish the savers' 10p tax rate.
There will be two pensions bills, a pensions tax bill and a private pensions bill. David Cameron and Nick Clegg have described these reforms as "the biggest transformation in our pensions system since its inception". It was interesting to see the Queen did not know how to pronounce ISA. She pronounced it ee-SA. I presume we can assume she does not use her annual ISA allowance.
11.38am BST
My government will continue to implement major reforms to the electricity market and reduce the use of plastic carrier bags to help protect the environment.
This is the 5p plastic bag tax announced by Nick Clegg at the Lib Dem conference. England is following Wales and Northern Ireland, which have already introduced plastic bag charges.
11.38am BST
My government will introduce a bill to bolster investment in infrastructure and reform planning law to improve economic competitiveness. The bill will enhance the United Kingdom's energy independence and security by opening up access to shale and geothermal sites and maximising North Sea resources. Legislation will allow for the creation of an allowable solutions scheme to enable all new homes to be built to a zero carbon standard and will guarantee long-term investment in the road network.
These measures will be in the infrastructure bill. It may be the most controversial of this parliament. Greenpeace have been protesting about it today outside David Cameron's constituency home. (See 8.51am.)
Hello Dave. You just got fracked. http://t.co/KCvX5MJzG9 pic.twitter.com/2a46Cec15l
11.37am BST
In respect of national insurance contributions, legislation will be brought forward to tackle avoidance and to simplify their collection from the self-employed.
These measures will be in a national insurance contributions bill.
11.37am BST
Measures will be brought forward to limit excessive redundancy payments across the public sector.
This is a response to the fact that more than 3,000 highly-paid NHS executives have taken redundancy payments, only to pick up new jobs in the NHS soon afterwards.
11.37am BST
Legislation will be introduced to help make the United Kingdom the most attractive place to start, finance and grow a business. The bill will support small businesses by cutting bureaucracy and enabling them to access finance.
New legislation will require ministers to set and report on a deregulation target for each parliament. The legislation will also reduce delays in employment tribunals, improve the fairness of contracts for low paid workers and establish a public register of company beneficial ownership. Legislation will also be introduced to provide for a new statutory code and an adjudicator to increase fairness for public house tenants.
These measures will all be set out in the small business, enterprise and employment bill. There are some more details here.
11.36am BST
My government will also continue to cut taxes in order to increase people's financial security.
My ministers will implement measures to increase further the personal allowance and to freeze fuel duty.
This is mostly a reference to measures already in the pipeline, although there will be another budget early next year, before the election. In practice, though, that will mainly be a manifesto announcement.
11.36am BST
An updated charter for budget responsibility will be brought forward to ensure that future government's spend taxpayers' money responsibility.
This is the elephant trap for Labour that Osborne set out in the budget. Osborne failed to get Labour to vote against "budget responsibility" in March, but there will be another vote in the autumn, when the government will set out more details of its long-term plans to constrain spending.
11.35am BST
To strengthen the economy and provide stability and security, my ministers will continue to reduce the country's deficit, helping to ensure that mortgage and interest rates remain low.
Obviously, the Queen is too polite to mention that, with the deficit still running at £108bn at the end of the 2013-14 financial year, George Osborne is massively behind the target he originally set himself for getting rid of the deficit by the end of this parliament.
11.35am BST
The Queen is starting now.
My lords and members of the House of Commons.
My government's legislative programme will continue to deliver on its long-term plan to build a stronger economy and a fairer society.
11.34am BST
Black Rod has just summoned MPs to the Lords.
And what did Dennis Skinner have to say?
Coalition's last stand.
11.34am BST
They're having a ball at the Queen's Speech pic.twitter.com/4la7nAdYi4
11.31am BST
And now the Queen is going through the Royal Gallery, heading for the Lords.
11.25am BST
The Speaker, John Bercow, is taking his seat in the House of Commons now.
Then Black Rod will come to summon MPs to attend the Lords for the Queen's speech.
11.16am BST
Here she is.
11.03am BST
The Queen is on her way. Her new carriage has left Buckingham Palace.
10.53am BST
Here's a picture of the state opening order of procession.
The Order of Procession at the Queen's Speech. I've always wanted to be a Maltravers Herald Extraordinary pic.twitter.com/cbqnhTUs2Z
10.29am BST
Here's one idea that won't be in the Queen's speech. On LBC this morning, Boris Johnson, the London mayor, said that councils should be able to charge ten times the normal council tax rate for large, empty properties.
The volume of homes being bought by international investors in London is still at around 6% which is where it has been, you know, for a long long time and that includes people form Ireland and whatever. What is certainly not acceptable is people buying as assets and then keeping them empty in Kensington and Chelsea or Westminster or wherever as a sort of bank balance in the sky; that is no good. And we are certainly saying to councils who have powers to impose punitive council taxes on such people is, do so. You know whack up the council tax by ten times, why not?
At the moment [councils can impose 150% council tax] but so far I think only one of them has used that power. So far I think only Camden has exercised that right It would be an important revenue stream for the council and I think actually after a while I think you would care and you would think actually I am going to rent this out to a Londoner. I am going to make sure somebody can make use of that dwelling.
10.06am BST
At Westminster we can hear the BBC helicopter overhead.
They have been filming David Cameron's car, which has just taken him from Downing Street to the House of Commons.
9.52am BST
The BBC's James Landale has written a nice blog about the ceremonial aspects of the Queen's speech. He reveals that the Duke of Norfolk's sister, Marsha Fitzalan-Howard, plays the Queen in the dress rehearsal.
9.42am BST
Opening parliament must be a bit of a chore for the Queen, but this year there's a perk; she's got a new coach.
The Queen will travel to the state opening of parliament in a living time capsule a new state coach celebrating hundreds of years of the country's history.
Fragments of Henry VIII's warship the Mary Rose, Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree and the stone of destiny are among the priceless artefacts incorporated into the bodywork of the carriage being used by the monarch for the first time.
The Armed Forces turned out before dawn this morning to rehearse for tomorrow's State Opening of Parliament #London pic.twitter.com/emTyT7K93e
9.22am BST
Ed Miliband and his Labour colleagues also seem to have noticed a tweet that my colleague Patrick Wintour posted last night.
The queen will say the words plastic bag in her speech tomorrow but not the three words national health service.
9.19am BST
And here's the statement Ed Miliband released overnight about the Queen's speech.
The local and European elections show the depths of discontent with the direction of our country which people increasingly feel does not work for them.
We need action, we need answers, we need a programme for government equal to the scale of the challenge our country faces.
9.07am BST
David Cameron and Nick Clegg issued a joint statement overnight about the Queen's speech. Here it is in full.
This Queens speech marks the next big step in our long-term plan for Britain. Its aim: to secure the recovery for our country. We want a Britain that earns its keep and makes its way in the world, with a strong economy, a fair society and peace of mind for all that live here.
Its guiding principle: to back everyone who wants to get on in life. We may be two parties, with two different philosophies, but we understand one thing: countries rise when their people rise. So this Queens speech is unashamedly pro-work, pro-business and pro-aspiration.
8.51am BST
The Queen's speech will include plans to encourage fracking, by allowing companies to drill under peoples' homes without their permission.
To mark their opposition to this, Greenpeace are protesting this morning outside David Cameron's constituency home.
Frackers ahoy! The view outside @David_Cameron's country home this morning pic.twitter.com/BBIIOSsGqN
Activists in hard hats and high-vis jackets have turned up on the doorstep of the prime ministers period cottage in the Cotswold hamlet of Dean, Oxfordshire, this morning. They are now sealing off the propertys front gate with security fencing and hanging a sign reading, We apologise for any inconvenience we may cause while we frack under your home.
A group of campaigners is also trying to deliver a lottery-style over-sized cheque for £50 the maximum compensation ministers are willing to pay to individual home and landowners for allowing companies to drill under their property.
David Cameron wants to rob people of their right to stop fracking firms drilling under their homes surely he wont mind if we kick off the under-house fracking revolution below his own garden.
The prime minister is about to auction off over half of Britain to the frackers, including national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty like the Cotswolds. Having failed to reassure people that fracking is safe or good for Britain, Cameron is now railroading it through with a bungs and bulldozers approach.
8.38am BST
Today it's the Queen's speech, and the state opening of parliament - the start of the fourth and final session of this parliament before the general election (fourth because the first one lasted almost two years). It is the most prestigious event in the parliamentary calendar, but - to be honest - in political terms not the most important one. Although the Queen announces the government's legislative programme for the year, almost all the bills have been trailed in advance and the speech won't contain any great surprises. Later we do get major speeches from David Cameron and Ed Miliband in the Commons, but these tend to be quasi-ceremonial, and the only parts people tend to remember are the jokes.
Still, it's not all predictable. Some of the detail about the legislative programme may be new. In presentational terms, it will be interesting to see whether the government can convincingly argue that it has not run out of steam. And, for one day a year, it is good to be reminded how what Bagehot called the "dignified" part of our constitution works.
The coalition will on Wednesday try to dispel impressions of a zombie parliament limping into its final year by presenting a Queen's speech detailing plans to reform pensions, the communications industry, criminal justice, corruption in politics, and energy.
In one unexpected measure, the government will seek to defuse continued objections to renewable energy by giving communities enforceable rights to take a stake in commercial renewable energy projects in their localities.
Continue reading...