The Queen's Speech

[removeduser_487563287433]

For those who may not know, the Queen's speech is where the Queen takes her seat in the House of Lords and delivers the speech, written by the government, which frames the proposed legislation for the following Parliamentary session.

It's a pretty one. Now talk of an election is dead and buried this pretty much launches Brown's premiership in earnest. Here are some of the more important.. or at least interesting bills among the 32 mentioned in the speech.

Counter-terrorism
Content
New anti-terrorism powers, including the freedom to question suspects after they have been charged and banning convicted terrorists from traveling abroad. Police will also be able to draw on a new DNA database.
Analysis
Brown has signalled that he wants to extend the 28-day detention limit on terrorists suspects, probably to 56 days. Tony Blair suffered his first Commons defeat on the same issue in 2005 and David Cameron may fall foul too if the public backs tougher powers.

Human Fertilisation, Embryology
Content
Allows gay couples to become joint parents of children conceived through fertility treatment and creates framework for experiments with human-animal embryos. Backbenchers will indtroduce amendments on the abortion law.
Analysis
With "pro-life" MPs pushing to reduce the limit for abortions to 20 weeks and "pro-choice" MPs seeking to liberalise controls, this is likely to be the most controversial Bill this session.

Climate Change
Content
Sets out statutory targets of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050 and between 26 and 32 per cent by 2020.
Analysis
There is a real risk that green-minded Labour MPs may side with Tories and Liberal Democrats to vote for annual targets to cut carbon emissions, which the Government rejects as too inflexible.

EU Reform Treaty
Content
Puts into law the EU reform treaty that was finalised in Lisbon. The treaty, to be formally signed next month, creates the new positions of EU president and foreign minister, extends qualified majority voting, expands EU powers over home affairs matters and introduces a new EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Analysis
The pledge to hold a referendum on the treaty's failed predecessor, the EU Constitution, continues to haunt the Government. The Government insists that the treaty is different from the constitution and that, in any case, it has secured opt-outs from all the most controversial elements, meaning that there is no fundamental change in Britain's relationship with Brussels. The Conservatives are determined to expose what they regard as one of Brown's weakest flanks. The scene is now set for a protracted battle, the high point of which will be a vote on whether to hold a referendum.

Criminal Justice and Immigration
Content
Introduces new-style ASBOs for violent criminals, creates a new law that criminalises inciting hatred of homosexuals, limits the right to parole, bans extreme, but not obscene, pornography, creates new powers to close premises at the centre of serious disorder. May also expand the definition of self-defence.
Analysis
The stated aim of the Bill is to rebalance the criminal justice system in favour of victims. In concentrating on violent offenders it seeks to address directly voter's strongest fears. Opposition MPs will accuse the Government of gimmickry.

Political Party Funding and Expenditure
Content
Enact areas of agreement found in the cross-party review of party funding by Sir Hayden Phillips before talks broke down last month. It may extend limits of spending to periods outside election campaigns and introduce a cap on individual donations except those from trade unions. Under the draft agreement, total spending during a full parliament would have been capped at £150 million. Sir Hayden also proposed a spending limit of £20 million for general elections.
Analysis
The issue of party funding is potentially explosive. David Cameron served notice of the battles that lie ahead yesterday when he accused Gordon Brown of trying to "fix" the election.

Source: Times.

Other important proposals include several proposals to make way for a new generation of nuclear power plants and a bill that would require all teenagers to be in education, training or work until they are eighteen, and various proposals to provide new housing.

So... lots of big stuff. Clearly Brown intents to capture the political initiative.

Misc:

Did you know that the monarch takes an MP hostage at Buckingham Palace before they travel to Parliament to make the speech, to garantee safe return? Did you know the basements are searched thoroughly for gunpowder by Yeoman of the Guard? That the official who summons the Commons once the monarch is seated has the door of the House slammed in his face?

[King Edward III]

What did you guys think of Gorden Brown in the Queens Speech debate? Does Gorden Brown and David Cameron really hate each other? The insults seem to be getting..err..more targeted at each other and I keep hearing from news stations and the like they do [hate each other]..

I didn't notice it myself but Gorden Browns hand starts shacking during one of his confrontations with Cameron.. thoughts?

[removeduser_487563287433]

It is not hard to hate either of them.

[Shaun]

I thought Ferrets liked Brown ...

[removeduser_426582376423734]

I can't ****ing stand David Cameron, and that, by default, makes me like Brown. Anyway, the Queen's speech did nothing more at the time than spark poo-flinging by the opposing party leaders.

[removeduser_487563287433]

I do. I think he is a safe-hand.

[the Black Prince]

the Queens Speech would have been interesting... if it wasn't simply a run of what Brown outlined over the summer....


as for content:
i think in particular the Criminal Justice section is rubbish from start to finish. Victims are irrelevant to the Criminal Justice System, why would we want to balance the system toward them? They are so useful and important that Police/CPS can prosecute and even get a conviction when not only does the "victim" refuse to make a complaint or gives evidence, but actually gives evidence for the defence!

ASBOs have been pretty useless. CRASBOs even more so... why we need yet more of this pointless petty things is beyond me. The only way to enforce an ASBO is ex post facto. I.e. after the breach has occured. By yet more court proceedings. Its well documented that the threat of such is no deterrent whatsoever, so ASBOs don't actually serve any purpose. I mean, whats the point of serving an ASBO banning someone from a retail estate, if the only way to enforce is it for him to be caught on camera on the estate, and then prosecuted for breach? It doesn't actually serve its purpose in preventing him going to the estate.

I saw an ASBO application yesterday to prevent a young offender from Exposing His Buttocks In A Public Place and i really had to wonder why. Might as well just prosecute for indecent exposure, there's no difference.

limits the right to parole
thats rich.
labour has done everything it can to kick people out of prison early. Labour is responsible for almost all early release and parole schemes currently in existence, and the reason for it is their draconian and absurd sentencing policies have filled the prisons beyond capacity. its not logistically possible to do this. by the time they have built the prisons currently being built, the demand for new spaces will be 5 times the number of new spaces made available. pointless

As to the EU, I need not say how the Reform Treaty is the Constitution in all but name. Plenty of experts have already done so.