Queen's Speech dismissed as 'political stunt' by Labour

Boris Johnson promotes his first legislative programme as prime minister

Opposition politicians from Wales have poured scorn on Boris Johnson's plans for new laws on Brexit, crime and the environment in the Queen's Speech.

Tougher sentences for violent offenders and targets to cut plastic pollution are among the measures proposed.

First Minister Mark Drakeford called it a "political party broadcast" while Liz Saville Roberts from Plaid Cymru dubbed it a "fantasy wish-list".

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said it was an "exciting agenda".

The package of 26 bills was unveiled at the State Opening of Parliament while talks continue in Brussels to over the possibility of a Brexit agreement.

Mr Johnson has said he intends to take the UK out of the European Union on 31 October, with or without a deal.

• PM sets out 'ambitious' plans in Queen's Speech

• Could MPs reject the plans set out?

But Labour's Mr Drakeford said the prime minister's plans for new laws on Brexit, crime, health and the environment were "simply a sham".

He told BBC Wales that the Queen's Speech, where the proposals were outlined, was "a political stunt" by a "government with no majority".

"It says it wants a general election and has no plan on delivering on this Queen's Speech at all," he added.

"It was a political party broadcast on behalf of what's left of the Conservative Party."

Analysis by Felicity Evans, BBC Wales political editor

The Queen was joined by the Prince of Wales at the State Opening of Parliament

The Queen's Speech, which will be debated until next Tuesday, is one small piece in the much bigger Brexit puzzle.

Negotiations between the UK and the EU are continuing in the run up to the two-day European summit on 17 October.

Then MPs will sit in an emergency session on Saturday and what happens then will be key.

If the prime minister can agree a deal with the EU and get MPs to support it on Saturday, he will likely get the Queen's Speech through the following week.

But if he faces other outcomes on Saturday - a failure to get a deal through or having to ask for an extension - then the Queen's Speech could be completely overtaken by events.

Boris Johnson's lack of a majority not only means that the contents of the Queen's Speech might not become law, but the speech itself could be voted down.

In the past that would have meant a definite general election, but in these uncertain times nothing is clear.

The prime minister has challenged opposition parties to face him at a general election, although Labour has said it does not want one until a no-deal Brexit has been ruled out.

Ms Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru's leader at Westminster, said: "This is just an opportunity for Boris Johnson to put forward what he wants to see in his general election manifesto but he hasn't got the time and he hasn't got the numbers to bring any of this about, so in many ways it's a fantasy wish list".

She added: "To me it's obvious that we shouldn't be talking about some interesting but unworkable pieces of legislation, in all honesty what we should be talking about here and what should be on the front page of the Queen's Speech is a confirmatory referendum so that we can find a way of bringing all this to an end."

• Could there be an early general election?

• Robes, tiaras and fanfare: Inside the Queen's Speech

Welcoming the prime minister's plans, Mr Cairns said the speech showed the Conservatives wanted to get Brexit done and "highlights the exciting agenda in a post-Brexit Britain".

"The country has been paralysed for such a long time," he added. "This is our opportunity to bring the country together.

"We have an exciting platform but we have to get Brexit done in order to have the opportunity to deliver them."