Live coverage: State Opening of Parliament
The Government has unveiled its legislative programme amid the traditional pomp and ceremony.
A crackdown on crime dominated the first Queen’s Speech of Boris Johnson’s premiership.
As well as law and order issues, immigration and the environment were also major elements of the programme, which had already been extensively trailed.
Here’s the latest from Parliament:
12.05pm
Speaker John Bercow led MPs back into the Commons chamber, and the sitting is suspended until 2.30pm.
Debate on the Queen’s Speech will take place at this point.
12.03pm
12pm
Labour MP Jim McMahon had this message after the speech.
12pm
As well as justice measures, the Queen’s Speech included…
– Environment Bill setting legally binding targets to reduce plastics, restore biodiversity, improve water quality and cut air pollution.
– Immigration and Social Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill to end freedom of movement and introduce a points-based immigration system from 2021.
– Railway reform with a white paper setting out proposals to overhaul the current system of franchising and creating a new commercial model.
– Action on building standards in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire with the establishment of a new regulator with powers to impose criminal sanctions for breaches of building regulations.
– NHS Health Investigations Bill will create a new independent body with legal powers to ensure patient safety.
– Mental health reform to reduce the number of detentions under the Mental Health Act by ensuring more people get the treatment they need.
11.56am
11.55am
With the focus on criminal justice measures, the Queen said: “New sentencing laws will see that the most serious offenders spend longer in custody to reflect better the severity of their crimes.”
A Sentencing Bill will change the automatic release point from halfway to two thirds for adult offenders serving sentences of four years or more for serious violence or sexual offences.
Other measures include strengthening environmental protections, reforming adult social care and improving the NHS, and raising living standards through increasing the national living wage to £10.50 an hour.
11.50am
Meanwhile, veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner refused to attend the Queen’s Speech.
He appeared to mutter “I’m not going” after Black Rod requested MPs’ attendance.
This prompted laughter from both sides of the House of Commons.
Mr Skinner is known for making quips during the State Opening of Parliament and it has become part of the pomp and circumstance of the event.
He remained behind in the Commons chamber.
11.45am
The Queen is announcing 26 bills, including a crackdown on violent and foreign criminals, measures to invest in the NHS, and plans to protect the environment.
11.40am
MPs are heading to the House of Lords, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson making his way alongside Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
11.35am
Black Rod, the House of Lords official, saw the doors to the Commons shut in her face – in one of the more unusual traditions of the State Opening – as she arrived to summon MPs.
It is a practice that dates back to the Civil War and is said to symbolise the Commons’ independence from the monarchy.
Black Rod had to strike the door three times before it was opened.
11.30am
The Queen has taken her place on the throne in the House of Lords.
11.25am
MPs in the House of Commons are waiting to be summoned to the Lords.
11.20am
11.15am
The House of Commons Twitter feed has offered an insight into one of the quirkier traditions of the State Opening of Parliament.
11.10am
11.05am
The Queen has left Buckingham Palace and is making her way to the Houses of Parliament.
11am
10.45am
10.20am
10am
9.45am
As final preparations got under way, Yeomen of the Guard carried out a ceremonial search at the Houses of Parliament, while police patrolled the route from Buckingham Palace.
9.15am
First things first – Boris Johnson received a flu jab at Downing Street before heading to Parliament
9.10am
Ahead of the speech, Chancellor Sajid Javid announced he is planning to hold a Budget just six days after the UK’s scheduled Brexit date.
9am
The first Queen’s Speech of Boris Johnson’s premiership will unveil a crackdown on violent and foreign criminals.
The package of 26 bills will include legislation to keep serious criminals in prison for longer, impose tougher sentences on foreign offenders who return to the UK and provide better protection for victims of domestic abuse.
They will sit alongside measures intended to invest in the NHS, strengthen environmental protections and raise living standards through increasing the national living wage to £10.50 an hour.
