Summary

  • The State Opening of Parliament has taken place.

  • This marks the formal start of the parliamentary year.

  • The debate on the address took place from 2.30pm, when MPs discussed the government's proposals for the next session of Parliament.

  • The Lords also debated the proposals in the Queen's Speech and the proposed legislation.

  • The debate continues over several days, looking at different subject areas. The Queen's Speech is voted on by the Commons, but no vote is taken in the Lords.

  1. What is the King's Speech and why is it important?published at 11:52 British Summer Time 17 July

    Charles delivered the King's Speech as part of the State Opening of Parliament on 17 July 2024.

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  2. What's in the Queen's Speech?published at 23:04 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    The Prime Minister, David Cameron, told Members of Parliament on Wednesday that the Queen's Speech "combines economic security with extending life chances for all."

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  3. House adjournspublished at 22:20 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The minister brings his remarks to a close and the House adjourns for the evening.

    MPs will return at 9.30am tomorrow morning for the business statement from the Leader of the House followed by further debate on the Queen's Speech.

    Until then, good night. 

  4. 'Striking a balance'published at 22:18 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Adjournment debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Transport Minister Andrew Jones responds to the debate and says that the government recognises that noise is "a major environmental concern around airports" and also realises there are "issues of trust" between local communities and the aviation industry.

    He says that the creation of an independent noise body was recommended by the commission on airport expansion in the south east and says such a body "could indeed help to facilitate a strengthening of relationships between airports and communities".

    Mr Jones says that such a body would however have to strike "the right balance between community concerns and the legitimate needs of industry". 

    He says the government will "carefully consider the arguments before making a decision".

    Andrew Jones
  5. Background to the debatepublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Adjournment debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Edinburgh Airport ran a trial of a new flight path from 25 June until 28 October 2015.

    Edinburgh Airport has said its trial of a new flight path was a success, despite receiving complaints from residents.

    Ms Bardell says that it is "unacceptable" that UK airports outside of Gatwick, Heathrow and Stanstead are able to set their own noise levels and flight paths.

  6. Adjournment debatepublished at 21:50 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    After Sammy Wilson's speech a government whip moves to adjourn the debate on the Queen's Speech until tomorrow.

    With that Hannah Bardell of the SNP is leading the day's adjournment debate on the establishment of an independent aviation noise association due to noise complaints relating to Edinburgh airport.

  7. Prison reforms require 'considerable expenditure'published at 21:48 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The DUP's Sammy Wilson joins the ranks of Eurosceptics speaking in the debate and lambasts SNP members for bemoaning the lack of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland focused legislation, because "those powers have been devolved to the devolved administrations".

    He also says of Labour MPs that their opposition to the loss of industry in the UK is "largely down to the EU".

    On the issue of prison reform, Mr Wilson says the government have a "commendable aim" of helping those in prison but says the reforms talked about "will not be without considerable expenditure".

    Sammy WilsonImage source, bc
  8. 'A failed opportunity'published at 21:32 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Patrick Grady

    Patrick Grady, the SNP MP for Glasgow North, congratulates two powerful women for taking a leading role in the constitutional future of the UK - but reveals at the last moment each time that he is not talking about the Queen. The first he mentions is Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland and the second is Leanne Wood in Wales.

    Mr Grady does however congratulate the Queen for making "the shortest speech of the day".

    He says that the speech was a "failed opportunity on so many levels" and proceeds to list many of them as he sees it, including on the intention to renew trident and on the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act.

  9. 'Human rights not negotiable'published at 21:16 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    SNP member Deidre Brock says that the longer she spends in the chamber the longer she regrets Scotland's decision not to withdraw from the UK in 2014, and the more she worries about the "kind of shambles we might be tossed into if we are ripped out of the European Union in June".

    Speaking about the proposed plans to repeal the Human Rights Act, Ms Brock says "human rights aren't always convenient for governments - bu they are not meant to be".

    The MP for Edinburgh North and Leith says that MPs on the Conservative benches who think the human rights of prisoners and terrorists are too often protected are wrong because "unless the human rights of terrorists and criminals, of the weak and of the outsiders are protected - then no ones are".

    "Human rights are not negotiable and they cannot be given to one human and not to another" she says.

    Deidre Brock
  10. 'Vested interests' in EU debatepublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stewart Jackson

    Stewart Jackson, the Conservative MP for Peterborough, gives a relatively brief speech on the EU referendum in which he warns Labour voters of the "vested interests" who want the UK to remain, arguing that they want "unlimited immigration to push down wages and reduce working conditions in this country".

    Mr Jackson who admitted earlier in the debate that he has had a conversion to supporting reform of the House of Lords says that the current set up is "unacceptable in a modern mature democracy".

    He also says that he is pleased with the government's reversal on compulsory academisation of schools, and praises the education secretary for listening to the misgivings of members.

  11. 'Less ceremony' in the state openingpublished at 20:35 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP David Winnick says that he hopes he will not be considered a radical by saying that he does not see why we cannot "somewhat reduce the ceremonial aspect of the state opening of parliament".

    He says that his comments are not meant to be any form of disrespect to the Queen.

    He joins other MPs in paying his respects to deceased Labour members Michael Meacher and Harry Harpham, saying about Michael Meacher that although people often accuse parliamentarians of changing with the times "there was no change in Michael Meacher".

    In a wide ranging speech, Mr Winnick talks about the Conservative campaign in London which he calls "a disgraceful campaign".

  12. New apps for Worcesterpublished at 20:22 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Conservative MP for Worcester Robin Walker is dedicating a good part of his speech to the issue of transport, especially in his constituency.

    He says that for it to take two and a half hours to get to London from his constituency is "an absurdity" and also tells MPs he would like to see similar real-time bus checking apps that are available in London to be available in Worcester.

  13. 'The traditional Plaid Cymru response'published at 20:07 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams says that the speech was "pretty thin fare" and says that he suspects "the prime minister and his friends might be preoccupied with something else".

    Mr Williams says that he does not wish to disappoint the Welsh media and especially the BBC and so says he will repeat the traditional Plaid Cymru response to the Queen's Speech: "a bit of a slap in the face for Wales and not a lot in it for Wales".

    He says that prison reforms do not address women prisoners in Wales and also points to the lack of any real increases in powers for the National Assembly for Wales.

    Hywel Williams
  14. A helping handpublished at 19:39 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir David Amess

    Sir David Amess is caught by a coughing fit mid-speech and is saved by his colleagues Robin Walker and Stewart Jackson who intervene in his speech while he receives a glass of water.

    Sir David tells MPs they will be "disappointed to hear I wasn't about to choke - I have hay fever which I was told 50 years ago I would grow out of".

  15. UK 'fortunate to have a monarchy'published at 19:29 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The MP for Southend West Sir David Amess says that the Queen's Speech today shows "just how fortunate we are to have a monarchy rather than a presidency", saying that the Queen is above party politics "and we should celebrate the fact".

    He also says that the state opening of parliament demonstrates "how hard fought our democracy is" and says it is therefore a shame that there is a low turnout in so many elections.

    On the hot topic of prison reform, Sir David says that Conservatives are often accused of having a "hanging and flogging" attitude to punishing criminals.

    He says that he is keen to see reform because "to send people to prison to learn more crime or to fuel drug addictions is crazy".

  16. Prison shake-up in Queen's Speechpublished at 19:26 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    The Queen unveils planned new laws including a shake-up of prisons in England and Wales and plans for driverless cars and a spaceport - but a British Bill of Rights is put on hold.

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  17. Defending western valuespublished at 19:14 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Democratic Unionist Party's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds says that at "one of the most dangerous times in our history" he is pleased to see the government committed to meeting Nato defence spending targets of at least 2% of GDP.

    Mr Dodds warns that "if we don't step up to the plate then we will fall further and further behind in protecting our citizens".

    Picking up the anti-EU argument that several members have pushed this afternoon, Mr Dodds argues that many nations who "extol European integration" are often those who "fall down" when it comes to the defence of western values.

    Nigel Dodds
  18. Industrial disputespublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Sir Peter Bottomley begins his remarks by thanking Sir Brendan Barber and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) for their role in arbitrating an agreement between junior doctors and the government.

    He says that he believes the new deal is "good and better for doctors, and good and better for patients".

    The MP for Worthing West also speaks about current industrial disputes on Southern Rail - saying that he does not believe that strike action is justified as people who earn "far less than railway workers" are dependent on the service.

    Sir Peter Bottomley
  19. Farron: Speech should have 'looked to the future'published at 18:44 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tim Farron

    Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron is now speaking in the debate on the Queen's Speech.

    Mr Farron says that he is "most excited" to learn that the modern transport bill will enable the development of the UK's first commercial space port - which he says will allow Conservative MP John Redwood "to go home more often".

    He says that the prime minister's speech began with a false statement - arguing "there is no growing economy".

    The Lib Dem leader says that instead of just looking at the difficult decision directly in front of them "ministers should have been looking to the future".

    He calls the announcement "a speech devoid of vision".

  20. 'The four Es of the enterprising economy'published at 18:44 British Summer Time 18 May 2016

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative David Rutley notes that life chances featured "very prominently" in the Queen's Speech.

    He says he wants to ensure that more young people achieve "the four Es of the enterprising economy: entrepreneurs, employers, exporters and employees".

    He continues by saying that he wants to help people achieve ambitions that have never before been achieved in their family.

    David RutleyImage source, HOC