The Queen's Speech Live

Summary

The Queen has delivered her speech setting out the government's plans for the year ahead
An EU referendum, a tax freeze and an extension of right-to-buy were included
David Cameron said the speech was a "clear vision for what our country can be"
Labour's Harriet Harman attacked proposals to give housing association tenants the right to buy their homes as "uncosted, unfunded and unworkable"
The SNP said it was "the only real opposition to the Tories in Westminster"
Sources confirmed Tony Blair is to stand down from his role as Middle East envoy representing the US, Russia, the UN and the EU

Live Reporting

Tom Moseley, Nick Eardley and Natalie Miller

The road to the referendumpublished at 15:56
Mark Urban
Newsnight Defence and Diplomatic Editor
Image source, AFP
Momentous politics can sometimes be dealt with by a few words in a Queen's Speech but today's phrasing on Europe showed the ambition of David Cameron's policy platform.
The operative sentences read out by the Sovereign were: "my government will renegotiate the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union. And pursue reform of the European Union for the benefit of all member states. Along side this, early legislation will be introduced to provide for an in/out referendum on membership of the European Union before the end of 2017"
Of these provisions, the last, requiring a short act of Parliament for the Brexit vote itself, will be the easiest to deliver. It was clearly a policy central to the victorious Conservative campaign, and nobody seriously contemplates frustrating the enabling legislation.
Read Mark's full blog
SNP votespublished at 15:56
House of Commons
Parliament
The SNP will review every piece of legislation and decide whether it impacts Scotland before deciding whether to vote on it, says Angus Robertson.
SNP leader in Westminsterpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 27 May 2015
Political Editor, The Sunday Times, tweets...
Call for reformpublished at 15:54
House of Commons
Parliament
Angus Robertson tells MPs the SNP still wants to see electoral reform - despite the first-past-the-post system benefiting the party at the election (it took almost all of Scotland's seats on just over 50% of the vote).
The forgotten manpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 27 May 2015
Bloomberg UK politics reporter tweets...
'Effective opposition'published at 15:51
House of Commons
Parliament
Angus Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, is up next. It's the first time the party has been called as the third party in the Commons. He says the party intends to be "effective opposition" to the government. He congratulates the PM on his for his election success - "in England".
New MPs can't intervenepublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 27 May 2015
The Sunday Post's James Millar tweets...
'Avoiding questions'published at 15:50 British Summer Time 27 May 2015
Labour MP for Walthamstow tweets...
Human rightspublished at 15:50
House of Commons
Parliament
On human rights reform, David Cameron says MPs should be in no doubt legislation will be introduced.
'Worse deal'published at 15:48
House of Commons
Parliament
The SNP advocates a worse deal for Scotland than the rest of the parties in the Commons, says David Cameron. The PM says he is proud to lead the Conservative and Unionist party, with emphasis on the latter.
EVEL votepublished at 15:47
House of Commons
Parliament
David Cameron tells the house there will be a vote in the Commons on English Votes for English Laws.
Called to the bench?published at 15:47 British Summer Time 27 May 2015
The Times parliamentary sketchwriter tweets...
'EU has changed'published at 15:46
House of Commons
Parliament
The EU has changed a great deal since 1975 and it's time the British people once again have their say, says David Cameron. He tells MPs he wants the bill to approve the referendum to move through the Commons quickly.
Not good enough?published at 15:42
House of Commons
Parliament
The PM challenges Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham on free schools, claiming he supports them locally in his own area but not more widely.
Mr Cameron asks if the schools are good enough for Mr Burnham's constituency, why are they not good enough for everyone?
'How to go further'published at 15:42
House of Commons
Parliament
Helping people get a job is the best way to get them out of poverty, David Cameron says. He lists a number of achievements from the last Parliament, saying the challenge for next five years is how to go further.
Free schoolspublished at 15:40
House of Commons
Parliament
At the heart of education reforms will be to create 500 new free schools, David Cameron tells MPs. Almost half so far have been set up in deprived areas, the PM says, and the scheme is the fastest growing and most successful schools programme in recent history.
NHS protectionpublished at 15:39
House of Commons
Parliament
David Cameron tells MPs the best way to protect the NHS is to make sure the Conservatives are in government.
Skinner 'silenced'published at 15:30
Amid the usual pomp and ceremony of the Queen's Speech, one light-hearted fixture of the occasion fell noticeably silent.
Labour MP Dennis Skinner has become synonymous with the State Opening of Parliament for shouting dry jokes once Black Rod has instructed MPs into the House of Lords.
Read more here.
'Aspiration'published at 15:27
House of Commons
Parliament
Referring to John Prescott saying he doesn't know what aspiration means, the prime minister says he is happy to spend the next five years showing him.
'Right choice'published at 15:25
House of Commons
Parliament
The tax lock to be introduced by the government is the "right choice", says David Cameron. He is listing a number of the measures his government will introduce, as listed in the Queen's Speech earlier.