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Is that it? All over in 15 minutes... Queen's Speech sets out new laws for flexible leave for new parents, ankle bracelets for drunks and crackdown on banks but Cameron admits Clegg is stopping him from being a real Tory
New parents allowed to swap leave from work allowing fathers to spend more time with children but move sparked anger from business leaders
Flat-rate pension of £140 a week introduced in biggest shake-up since introduction of state pay-out
Mixed-race adoption to be made easier and better access for divorced fathers to see their children
An end to the tidal wave of filth promised as explicit music videos, computer games and porn will be blocked
'Shareholder Spring' continues with new powers to curb excessive boardroom pay in the City
Banks to be split between High Street retail operations and riskier 'casino' investment arms
Employees will need to work two years before bring unfair dismissal cases as red tape is cut to boost growth
Booze crackdown will see minimum pricing plans and use of Lindsay Lohan 'ankle bracelets' for drunks
If Kate and William have a daughter she WILL be Queen under new Royal reform
Defamation bill to protect freedom of speech... but witnesses be allowed to give evidence in secret courts
Controversial House of Lords reform is IN to satisfy Liberal Democrats... but gay marriage is out
By Rick Dewsbury and Kirsty Walker
A raft of family-friendly policies were at the heart of the Queen’s speech today as David Cameron attempted to win back support following the coalition’s catastrophic losses at the local elections.
Mr Cameron’s fight-back also includes plans to boost the economy and defy the turmoil in Europe by splitting up the banks and boosting the power of shareholders to set executive pay.
Measures aimed at winning back voters also include an historic shake-up of the pension system hat will see flat-rate payouts, drug driving sentences, ankle bracelets for drunks, a new British ‘FBI’ and a crackdown on the sexualisation of children.
But other controversial bills likely to provoke anger are plans for a snoopers charter to check emails and texts, House of Lords reform and secret courts. Business chiefs also said that more flexible working rules could damage the economy at a time when it is already in a perilous position.
The Queen delivered the speech in just 15 minutes, setting out the Government’s legislative plans for the coming year, amid lavish traditional ceremony at the House of Lords in Westminster.
Queen Elizabeth wearing her crown and dressed in a fur coat arrives at the Norman Porch of the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament today
The Queen begins reading the speech today which she said would be justice and the economy at the forefront of Government over the next year
Helping hand: Prince Phillip gently holds the hand of the Queen as she sits on the throne to deliver the bills on the agenda for the next year in Parliament
The Monarch arrived at the House of Lords shortly after 11am in a ceremonial horse-drawn coach amid fanfares before delivering her speech from the grand throne in the House of Lords dressed in her crown and full regalia. The ceremonial trappings surrounding the speech make the event one of the high points of the parliamentary calendar.
However the pomp and circumstance is set to be overshadowed by a furious political row as the Government is pushing ahead with House of Lords reform despite stiff opposition from many Tory MPs. In a sign of how hamstrung Mr Cameron has been by the Liberal Democrat’s coalition, the Queen delivered the entire speech setting out the Government’s reforms in under 15 minutes. In his interview with the Daily Mail, the Prime Minister complained that there was a growing list of things he wanted to do, including addressing the human rights act and recognising marriage in the tax system, but is being hampered by Nick Clegg. He said: ‘There is a growing list of things that I want to do but can’t, which will form the basis of the Conservative manifesto that I will campaign for right up and down the country. Be in no doubt, I want a Tory-only government.’
 
Princess Anne stands to attention at The State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster as the Queen arrives at West Minister dressed in full regalia
Full house: MPs and Lords gather in the Upper Chamber today as they listen to the Queen's Speech. Reform of the House of Lords was one of the controversial measures included in the delivery
In: The Queen walks with the Duke of Edinburgh at the start of the the familiar proceedings
Out: Fifteen minutes later Her Majesty leaves the House of Lords after setting out the agenda for he next year
Grand entrance: The packed Palace of Westminster looks on as the monarch walks towards here throne in the House of Lords
As the proceedings started, veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner shouted: ‘Jubilee Year double dip recession. What a start!’ as Black Rod came to the Commons chamber to summon MPs to the Lords to hear the Queen. Conservative MPs cried ‘shame’ at the interruption.
Labour MP Ian Austin tweeted: ‘Isn't this ridiculous? I thought we were sent here to work, not take part in some sort of pageant.’
Plans backed by the Lib Dems to create elected peers were included in the address – despite little or no public appetite for the measures.
The Prime Minister is facing mounting demands for a return to key Tory values have grown after the dismal election results last week that saw more than 800 councillors lose their seats.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-21...l#ixzz1uIcjbtm1
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3 replies since 9/5/2012, 17:14 106 views
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