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Brexit: Queen's speech branded farcical as 'difficult' talks continue in EU - live news Brexit: Queen's speech says government priority is to leave EU on 31 October - live news
(30 minutes later)
I missed this moment earlier ...
pic.twitter.com/C3yZzQd7u0
The government has now published its 130-page Queen’s speech briefing pack (pdf).
This includes a statement by the prime minister, the full text of the Queen’s speech (always the most boring speech delivered by anyone during the political calendar - it is basically just a list), and briefing notes on all the government bills being planned.
Here is my colleague Peter Walker’s story about the Queen’s speech.
Queen's speech reveals tougher jail terms and end to free movement
And this is how it starts.
The government has announced a proposed legislative programme dominated by post-Brexit bills and a renewed focus on law and order in an unusual Queen’s speech, one mainly used by Boris Johnson as a preview of the Conservatives’ election manifesto.
The summary of planned new laws read out by the Queen to mark the new session of parliament contained 26 new or returning bills, more than a third of which relate to new arrangements following departure from the EU.
Other key elements of a speech widely trailed in advance included plans for tougher jail sentences and controversial proposals to oblige people to show photographic ID before they are allowed to vote.
Back to Brexit, and at the European commission’s daily briefing the commission’s spokeswoman, Mina Andreeva, got sidetracked into musing about lighting effects when responding to a question about progress in the Brexit talks. Asked about “light at the end of the tunnel” and whether the light was “static” or “approaching”, she replied:
I’m really not a technician in light bulbs or light effects. Maybe it could be a flashing light, because sometimes it’s stronger, sometimes it’s less strong. So let’s see what kind of light we will see at the end. Hopefully there will be light indeed.
From Jack McConnell, a Labour peer
Behind the scenes, the carriages ‘park up’ #QueensSpeech pic.twitter.com/uPVS4Nu6Fy
She says the union is of the utmost importance to the government.
Steps will be taken to protect the integrity of democracy, she says.
The government will maintain defence spending at 2% of GDP.
And the UK will continue to play a leading role in global affairs, she says.
She tells MPs that estimates (measures that decide how government money is spent) will be presented to them.
And “other measures” will be introduced during the session, she says.
And that’s it.
The Queen says the government is committed to the environment. There will be measures to improve air and water quality, and to promote the welfare of animals. Trophy hunting will be banned.
The Queen says the government wants everyone to have access to an excellent education.
There will be measures to help those working hard.
A national infrastructure strategy will bring the benefits of a prospering economy to every corner of the kingdom, she says.
Legislation will ensure the delivery of fast, reliable broadband to millions of homes.
There will be an aviation bill, and proposals on railway reform.
She says the government’s new economic plan will be underpinned by a new fiscal strategy.She says the government’s new economic plan will be underpinned by a new fiscal strategy.
There will be measures to strengthen the NHS, she says. There will also be plans to reform adult social care.There will be measures to strengthen the NHS, she says. There will also be plans to reform adult social care.
She says the government is committed to addressing violent crime. New sentencing laws will be introduced, she says. And measures will improve the handling of foreign national offenders.She says the government is committed to addressing violent crime. New sentencing laws will be introduced, she says. And measures will improve the handling of foreign national offenders.
There will be measures to improve prison safety and to help vicitims. There will be measures to improve prison safety and to help victims.
Public sector bodies will be under a duty to address serious violence.Public sector bodies will be under a duty to address serious violence.
There will also be laws to help the victims of domestic abuse and to minimise the impact of divorce.There will also be laws to help the victims of domestic abuse and to minimise the impact of divorce.
The Queen starts by saying the government’s priority “has always been to secure the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on 31 October”.The Queen starts by saying the government’s priority “has always been to secure the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on 31 October”.
She says the government wants a new partnership with the EU, based on free trade.She says the government wants a new partnership with the EU, based on free trade.
There will be new regimes for fisheries and agriculture.There will be new regimes for fisheries and agriculture.
An immigration bill, ending free movement, will be introduced.An immigration bill, ending free movement, will be introduced.
And steps will be taken to deliver stability in financial services, she says.And steps will be taken to deliver stability in financial services, she says.
Robert Buckland, the lord chancellor, gives the Queen the text of the speech to read out.Robert Buckland, the lord chancellor, gives the Queen the text of the speech to read out.
The Mirror’s Kevin Maguire heard what Dennis Skinner said.The Mirror’s Kevin Maguire heard what Dennis Skinner said.
BOOM! "I'm not going" - Dennis Skinner's briefest if most direct heckle after Black Rod announced the Queen was summoning MPs to the House of LordsBOOM! "I'm not going" - Dennis Skinner's briefest if most direct heckle after Black Rod announced the Queen was summoning MPs to the House of Lords
Black Rod is entering the Commons.Black Rod is entering the Commons.
She tells the Speaker the Queen has commanded MPs to attend her in the House of Lords.She tells the Speaker the Queen has commanded MPs to attend her in the House of Lords.
Dennis Skinner, the Labour MP famous for heckling Black Rod at this point in the ceremony, expresses some sort of dissent, but from the TV coverage it is hard to hear what he said.Dennis Skinner, the Labour MP famous for heckling Black Rod at this point in the ceremony, expresses some sort of dissent, but from the TV coverage it is hard to hear what he said.
Downing Street has expressed scepticism at the idea the UK could part-exit the EU on 31 October – agreeing a deal to satisfy political demand while allowing a “technical extension” for details to be finalised.Downing Street has expressed scepticism at the idea the UK could part-exit the EU on 31 October – agreeing a deal to satisfy political demand while allowing a “technical extension” for details to be finalised.
Asked about the idea, which would allow Boris Johnson to reach an interim agreement at the European Council summit this week while giving more time for parliament and the EU to approve it, Johnson’s spokesman said: “It’s news to me that something like that is even possible.” Asked about the idea, which would allow Boris Johnson to reach an interim agreement at the European council summit this week while giving more time for parliament and the EU to approve it, Johnson’s spokesman said: “It’s news to me that something like that is even possible.”
Asked if Downing Street would thus not agree such a plan even if it was mooted, the spokesman said:Asked if Downing Street would thus not agree such a plan even if it was mooted, the spokesman said:
The prime minister has been clear on many occasions that we are going to leave on 31 October.The prime minister has been clear on many occasions that we are going to leave on 31 October.
There was also little news on negotiations to even reach a deal at the summit in Brussels this Wednesday and Thursday. “Talks remain constructive but there is a lot of work still to do,” Johnson’s spokesman said.There was also little news on negotiations to even reach a deal at the summit in Brussels this Wednesday and Thursday. “Talks remain constructive but there is a lot of work still to do,” Johnson’s spokesman said.
The prime minister currently has no calls with EU leaders scheduled, despite reports he was due to talk to people including Angela Merkel.The prime minister currently has no calls with EU leaders scheduled, despite reports he was due to talk to people including Angela Merkel.
If a deal was reached, he said, MPs would be expected to ”work around the clock” to get it through parliament in time. However, as yet it is not confirmed whether the Commons will definitely sit on Saturday, as mooted, to either agree a deal or decide on a possible extension, as dictated under the so-called Benn Act. If a deal was reached, he said, MPs would be expected to “work around the clock” to get it through parliament in time. However, as yet it is not confirmed whether the Commons will definitely sit on Saturday, as mooted, to either agree a deal or decide on a possible extension, as dictated under the so-called Benn act.
A motion to sit on Saturday would need to be tabled on Wednesday for a vote of MPs on Thursday, the spokesman said.A motion to sit on Saturday would need to be tabled on Wednesday for a vote of MPs on Thursday, the spokesman said.
The Queen is now on the throne in the Lords.The Queen is now on the throne in the Lords.
But MPs are still in the Commons. They now need to be summoned by Black Rod.But MPs are still in the Commons. They now need to be summoned by Black Rod.
Back to Brexit, and measures to manage traffic on Kent’s motorways in preparation for a possible no-deal Brexit will be implemented on 28 October, the Department for Transport has announced. The transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris said travellers also needed to “do their bit”. He said:
We want residents in Kent and hauliers travelling from across the EU to be reassured that there are robust plans in place to deal with any disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
We now need everyone to do their bit. Whether you are travelling to see family, heading to work or transporting vital goods around the country, please check before you travel to ensure you know what to expect and have the right documents when heading to the border.
These are from the Mirror’s Pippa Crerar, who has been at the Downing Street lobby briefing.
No 10 not sounding hugely upbeat about prospect of new Brexit legal text being ready to put in front of EU leaders on Thursday. PM’s official spokesman says: “The talks are constructive but there is still a long way to go”.
PM’s spokesman also rules out extending Brexit by a couple of weeks if a deal looks in sight - even if just for a technical extension.“I’m generally not aware such a thing even exists. The PM is clear that we leave on October 31st”.
In the Commons John Bercow, the Speaker, is taking his seat ahead of the state opening ceremony.
The Queen has arrived at parliament for the Queen’s speech.
This morning Sajid Javid, the chancellor, announced that he plans to hold a budget on 6 November, less than a week after the date of the UK’s supposed exit from the EU. But the small print of the government’s announcement makes it clear that, if there were a no-deal Brexit on 31 October, the budget would be delayed. It says:
The government is committed to securing a deal and leaving on 31 October. In the event of no deal, the government would act quickly to outline our approach and take early action to support the economy, businesses and households. This would be followed by a budget in the weeks thereafter.
On the Today programme Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said this was an example of the government “making things up as they go along”.
I have to say, I think it’s another example of this government making things up as they go along. I’m not sure they will still be in office on November 6. It doesn’t appear to be at all certain we will leave the EU on October 31. It’s still a big risk of leaving with no deal, but I certainly hope that we will manage to see an extension secured to the article 50 process.
The Mail on Sunday’s Dan Hodges thinks this is an implicit acknowledgement that there will be a Brexit extension.
About this 6th November budget. Boris still saying we'll have left by 31st. At which point we're supposed to be having an election, aren't we? Once we leave, no incentive for other parties to block one. So isn't this a clear admission Boris knows we won't have left by the 31st.
From HuffPost’s Paul Waugh
Fascinating vignette in Lords gallery awaiting QSpeech. PM's partner Carrie Symonds chatting animatedly to Stanley Johnson (last seen, still not caught on @Channel4 #CelebrityHunted.)
Boris Johnson’s hopes of getting a new Brexit deal through parliament depend to a large extend on the 10 Democratic Unionist party MPs. That is not necessarily because those votes are essential – if Johnson could win over a significant number of Labour MPs, he could make up for those lost 10 votes – so much as the fact the DUP support would help to unlock a chunk of hardline Tory Brexiter support. There were 28 Tory Brexiters who voted against Theresa May’s deal three times, partly because of its impact on the union, but they would find it hard to object to a Johnson deal on unionist grounds if the DUP was in favour.
As Rory Carroll reported over the weekend, the DUP’s response to the plan currently being explored by the UK and the EU has been non-committal.
DUP finds itself caught between the devil and the Irish sea
This morning there is new evidence that the DUP may be turning against what is being proposed. An Irish Times story quotes the DUP MP Jim Shannon saying anything that does not treat Northern Ireland the same as England would be unacceptable. Shannon said:
It is simple. Are we being treated the same as England? No, we are not. Therefore, if we are not being treated the same as England, then we are not going to accept it.
We don’t know the full details of the latest plan, but everything we have been told about it says it does not treat Northern Ireland in the same way as England.