The real speech
Updated on 03 December 2008
Inside the morning meeting. Looking ahead to the Queen's speech and the equally anticipated speech by the speaker of the house over the home office leaks.
The state opening of parliament today and the Queen's speech will be overshadowed quite considerably by the Speaker of the House Michael Martin's speech on the arrest of Damian Green.
In an act of defiance, there is even the prospect of his speech being "interrupted" by senior MPs protesting over the whole affair. It's clearly building up a head of steam for the speaker. It will also be interesting to see if he will allow a debate on the matter.
Jacqui Smith is expected to talk about in the wake of her extraordinary strong letter to David Cameron about it.
"Expect political theatre today."
The Queen's speech also focuses on the government's tightening of the banking code. Will it pave way for more nationalisation of the banking industry?
"From a viewer's perspective, what the government can force banks to do is really interesting."
"This new legal code won't stop 125 per cent mortgages."
Over to Zimbabwe the team are digging away at the story there. In the wake of the looting which Jonathan Miller talked about in his live last night, there was a union protest that was broken up by police. There is no picture yet of the rioting but it's expected later today.
"It's the common solders on the ground who are not getting paid, versus the elite squad getting favours."
"Does anyone have a contingency plan if the government does fall over and disintegrate?"
"People are saying it's the end, but Mugabe's got out of it before."
"We've never seen soldiers mutinying before. And they're doing so because there's nothing left to pay them."
Back in London the Olympics come under further scrutiny as the UK Sport body announces the 2012 funding for the athletes.
The problem is that the anticipated amount of cash received by private businesses for sponsorship has been halved.
Which means more money from government coffers and less money going to the sports we have a slimmer chance of winning medals for.
"There is mounting anger over this over compensated ludicrously expensive exercise. Especially in times of a recession."
"By 2012 we'll be out of that recession and we'll all be feeling good about ourselves."
Finally there's the Kangaroo story - the joint venture that will provide on demand video online from BBC, ITV and Channel 4. The Competition Commission rule today on whether it can go ahead.
"This is a very important story as it represents the future of television."
"It must be terrifying for Sky, as we're moving to a stage where you don't need a satellite dish."
"No-one will have TV sets soon anyway..."
