Queen's speech 2009: live blog

Updated on 18 November 2009

By Channel 4 News

Read the analysis, comment and tweets and watch video extracts from Channel 4 News online's live coverage of today's state opening of parliament.

10:22 AM: cathynewman About to arrive in manchester to see what the mumsnet vote makes of the queen's speech...
10:26 AM: channel4news We're standing by for the final Queen's speech before the general election - the chance for the government to set out which legislation they intend to bring into being.
10:31 AM: channel4news Our political editor, Gary Gibbon, reports from a briefing with Business Secretary Peter Mandelson. Mandelson says the Queen’s speech is not about “dividing lines” but about “the people” - and, appropriately for such an event of pomp and majest, admits that he is looking forward to changing into his robes later. Read more on Gary Gibbon's blog: bit.ly
10:37 AM: channel4news The streets around parliament are closed off to traffic and heavily police-cordoned. The Queen will make her way from Buckingham Palace to parliament by carriage, and is due to arrive at - appropriately - the Sovereign's entrance at around 11.15am.
10:43 AM: channel4news Her majesty is expected to speak, in the House of Lords, shortly after 11.30am. The Lords benches are already full of peers wearing their red ceremonial robes. Margaret Thatcher and Alan Sugar are among those in attendance. We'll get a pic up shortly.
10:47 AM: channel4news
10:48 AM: frasere Queens Speech liveblog up and running on www.Channel4.com
10:48 AM: channel4news Pomp aside - what's the Queen actually expected to say? The contents has been pretty widely trailed - tougher rules on bankers' bonuses, a promise to halve the budget deficit in four years, and free social care for the needy among the law list.
10:51 AM: channel4news
10:51 AM: channel4news The speech itself normally takes around 20 minutes - pretty swift given all the ceremony around it.
10:51 AM: channel4news Here come the guard (pic below)
10:53 AM: channel4news Last year's Queen's speech at a glance in our video Snowcloud. Worth a look: bit.ly The word "government" looms largest - as in, "My government will bring forward legislation...". Chances are, it'll be the same pattern this year - the devil's in the detail.
10:55 AM: frasere Here comes the Crown! Aww it's only a replica of Queen Victorias because they wanted a lighter one.
10:55 AM: channel4news
10:56 AM: frasere Baroness Scotland - whatever happend her cleaner?
10:57 AM: channel4news Elsewhere in the live-blogosphere, The Guardian's Andrew Sparrow is covering the action throughout the day bit.ly Give us a shout if you've seen any more blogs worth linking to - click the Make a comment button at the top of this blog.
10:57 AM: frasere Communities and Local Government Secretary, John Denham live on News at Noon straight after the Queens Speech
10:58 AM: channel4news The crown is being carried in. The interior designer in us likes the contrast between the blue carpet and the red ceremonial robes.
10:58 AM: frasere Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Philip Hammond live on Channel 4 News at Noon after the Queens Speech
11:00 AM: frasere Hugh Edwards interviewing Black Rod. Must watch Sky News - they must have the helicopter up by now
11:03 AM: faisalislam Was going to liveblog the Queens speech. except im going to the UN launch of its population and climate change study instead...
11:03 AM: channel4news If Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had his way, all this would be gone. Well, for this year at least. He reckons the government has more pressing matters than setting out its legislative agenda just months before going the polls.
11:06 AM: channel4news The Queen has departed the palace and should be arriving shortly. Get ready for the full pomp.
11:06 AM: channel4news
11:07 AM: frasere I love fact there are only 33 legislative days in the Lords after Christmas before a likely election. How many bills in Queens speech?
11:07 AM: frasere Great specs - baroness Helena Kennedy
11:08 AM: channel4news Our favourite Queen's Speech fact? Four hundred-plus years on from the gunpowder plot, the cellars are still searched by the Queen's bodyguards before her majesty approaches, just in case.
11:09 AM: faisalislam on the queens speech... given that her bankers, Coutts, are part of the most bailed out bank in the world, will HM enjoy the banker bashing
11:12 AM: channel4news And the horses are off!
11:12 AM: frasere Here come the Life Guards!
11:13 AM: frasere Here comes the Queen
11:13 AM: channel4news Lots of red and gold finery.
11:14 AM: channel4news
11:14 AM: channel4news Her maj gives a regal wave, from inside the carriage.
11:15 AM: channel4news The coach is clearing the gates - time for the fanfare.
11:15 AM: frasere Staggering array of facts you need to hand if you're a royal expert for the Queens Speech. Diamonds, boxes, dates, medals, garters zzzzz
11:15 AM: channel4news The Queen, robed in white, is inside the building.
11:15 AM: channel4news Mandelson and Jack Straw lead the procession in.
11:16 AM: frasere RT @defencehq: News: Soldiers attacked near Helmand mosque bit.ly
11:16 AM: channel4news
11:16 AM: channel4news Video of the queen's arrival - below.
11:18 AM: channel4news "I wonder if the Queen's aware that the government has put a loud hailer on the roof and plastered the carriage with election stickers?" our political editor wonders. (Note: he's thinking figuratively rather than literally). More musings on his blog shortly.
11:18 AM: frasere Sir Alan Sugar looks right at home in Ermine and robes
11:18 AM: channel4news
11:18 AM: channel4news The Queen is in the House...
11:19 AM: frasere Oh no Sky News nightmare. Their usual royal expert Alastair Bruce (ex Scots Guards) is actually in the House of Lords presiding over events
11:19 AM: channel4news The streets outside parliament are suddenly looking rather 19th century. Transport only of the hooved variety. We could get used to this...
11:21 AM: channel4news
11:22 AM: channel4news Sparsely attended Commons benches - stark contrast to the red-robed splendour of the Lords. MPs will be summoned to hear the Queen's address shortly - first her majesty has to get robed (and crowned) up.
11:23 AM: channel4news
11:23 AM: channel4news "Hats off, strangers!" comes the shout. The Speaker processes through the lobby.
11:23 AM: frasere RT @Jon_Bernstein: RT @simonmayo Much pagentry here. Just waiting for David Dimbleby's coach to go past now...
11:25 AM: channel4news It's the first Queen's speech for new Speaker Jon Bercow - he's in a slightly dressed-down version of the Speaker's robes, but would still attract some funny looks on Oxford Street.
11:25 AM: frasere Oh god - hugely detailed descriptons of the Mace and its history I could do without. Isn't that what wiki is for?
11:27 AM: frasere Why isn't Speaker Bercow in his regular suit and tie mode?
11:27 AM: channel4news Cue trumpets - the Queen enters, crowned, robed and escorted by the Duke of Edinburgh.
11:28 AM: channel4news All the red and sparkles are making us feel positively festive. Time for a quick carol?
11:28 AM: channel4news The procession enters the Lords chamber.
11:28 AM: channel4news
11:28 AM: channel4news Video: Speaker arrives first... followed by camera crew.
11:29 AM: channel4news A party political broadcast, or the Queen's speech? As promised, Gary Gibbon's take in full: bit.ly
11:30 AM: channel4news
11:31 AM: channel4news And Black Rod makes his way to the Commons. The door is slammed in his face - to show the supremacy of the Commons over the monarch - and he knocks three times.
11:32 AM: channel4news MPs now milling over to hear the Queen's speech.
11:32 AM: frasere Gary Gibbon says it’s a time for a cash-strapped political party to get some free political advertising. bit.ly
11:33 AM: channel4news Leading the throng: Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, David Cameron, George Osborne...
11:34 AM: frasere RT @gavin_bernard: @frasere Do you reckon he has the tights under the morning suit?
11:35 AM: channel4news So, what will the Queen's government do?
11:35 AM: channel4news Seek effective global collaboration for the economic recovery, and to combat climate change.
11:36 AM: frasere The Queen looks forward to her visit to Bermuda. Can anyone come?
11:36 AM: benjamincohen Queen sounds like she'll be getting some nice trips this year!
11:36 AM: channel4news Continue to reform the financial services industry, reduce the budget deficit and ensure debt takes a sustainable path...
11:36 AM: frasere The govt will halve the deficit - how?
11:37 AM: channel4news The personal care for the most needy promise, plus the promise of guarantees for those in school.
11:37 AM: channel4news
11:37 AM: channel4news Video (below): the arrival of Black Rod and the calling of the MPs - who can't resist a bit of heckling...
11:37 AM: frasere Carbon Capture and storage legislation says the Queen
11:37 AM: benjamincohen Queen says Digital Economy bill will give more access to broadband and public service broadcasting. #state09
11:38 AM: channel4news Carbon capture legislation coming forward. The government will also "respond" to high speed rail plans - long grass alert?
11:38 AM: benjamincohen Queen says Equality Bill will make employment fairer and more protection for minorities #state09
11:38 AM: channel4news Equal pay legislation... and a continued law to enshrine govt's commitment to abolish child poverty by 2020.
11:38 AM: frasere Child Poverty will be abolished by 2020.
11:39 AM: benjamincohen Like the way it's possible to legislate to "abolish" child poverty #state09
11:39 AM: channel4news Still, the govt will miss its target to halve child poverty by 2010 - shouldn't they be focusing on this rather than 2020?
11:40 AM: channel4news
11:40 AM: frasere RT @MichaelWhite: #queensspeech legislation to protect communities from flooding ? How ?
11:40 AM: frasere RT @MichaelWhite: #queensspeech oh dear, does HM Have a cold ? She is 83
11:40 AM: channel4news Similarly, deficit-reduction plans were set out in the budget - what difference does making them legally-binding have?
11:41 AM: channel4news Promises on international development spending.
11:41 AM: frasere Apparently Iran and North Korea are challenges? Why didn't she go the full way with the Axis of Evil?
11:41 AM: benjamincohen Short and sweet with lots of coughing lords #state09
11:41 AM: frasere 6minutes - is that the shortest Labour government Queens Speech ever? Factcheck?
11:41 AM: channel4news Well, that was short...
11:45 AM: channel4news
11:45 AM: channel4news News from earlier - we hear a wind-blown horse got a bit too close to one of the camera crews. Hopefully no one was hurt.
11:46 AM: channel4news Video (below): the Queen's trip to Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago. Full speech to come shortly.
11:46 AM: frasere RT @MichaelWhite: #queensspeech It's over. So short. Amazed she agreed to turn up for that. A strong sense of duty
11:46 AM: channel4news So what now? MPs start debating the speech at 2.30 this afternoon; debates in the Commons and the Lords will take place for the next few days.
11:47 AM: channel4news The pre-budget report - due on 9 December - will likely be our next big taste of the detail of what the government actually plans to do.
11:48 AM: frasere Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham and Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Phillip Hammond on C4 News at Noon next
11:49 AM: channel4news Viewing-wise, just 11 minutes to wait until Channel 4 News at Noon - analysis agogo.
11:49 AM: frasere Full Queens Speech analysis from our political editor Gary Gibbon on Chanel4 News at Noon - bit.ly
11:50 AM: channel4news The royals shake hands with Mandelson, and chat to Jack Straw - it's a bit like a wedding line-up.
11:53 AM: frasere Marks & Spencer name Morrisons boss Marc Bolland as its new chief executive
11:54 AM: channel4news The Queen's carriage rolls away. We're enjoying the aerial shots of the horses.
11:55 AM: channel4news The person may be gone, but the symbols live on - the crown is escorted back to the coach.
11:57 AM: channel4news We'll have video of the full speech shortly - and then it's time for our liveblog to come to and end. More analysis on News at Noon shortly, plus Gary Gibbon's blog (channel4.com/garygibbon) on our website. Thanks for reading.
11:58 AM: frasere Queens Speech - "A labour party press release on Palace parchment" claim the Tories
12:00 PM: frasere RT @rlwjones:Does this mean Twiggy will be replaced by Nick Hancock? RT @frasere: Marks & Spencer name Morrisons boss Marc Bolland new chief