As the Queen read out her speech today, there were few surprises. We had seen many of the bills in draft form already and there is a clear focus on two core issues we have come to expect - to steer our economy back on track and to involve the public more in public services. So alongside a Banking Bill, the Savings Gateway Bill will, as expected, aim to promote financial inclusion, by encouraging p...

The economy dominated clashes between David Cameron and Gordon Brown in this afternoon's debate on the Queen's Speech.

Senior figures in Government and the Labour Party are still pressing Gordon Brown to hold an election in the summer next year. They are adamant that the economy is going to get worse not better in 2009.

This time on the Labour side where Huw Lewis has taken exception to yesterday's much-heralded announcement by the Plaid Cymru Economy and Transport Minister on roads and trains. On his blog Huw writes: 'It was with deep dismay that I looked over the Trunk Road announcement made by Ieuan Wyn Jones yesterday. There's no surprise that the Minister has been dodging questions on the Head...

My government will introduce legislation to abolish workplace discrimination against women. My government will introduce legislation to abolish child poverty. My government will introduce legislation to ensure the public sector works perfectly. My government will introduce legislation to ensure the economy grows steadily for ever. My government will introduce legislation to make everything good. *...

The Queen announced the government's plans to aid families and businesses during the economic downturn by creating a fairer and more secure economic climate.

With the UK economy in crisis and with the unfolding drama of the Damian Green arrest, the CDU annual conference (or Parteitag) in Stuttgart might seem an unlikely destination for me in the last few days, but the CDU is...

The Queen has outlined the government's programme for the year ahead, with economic support and banking reform the centrepieces of the plans.

Nothing especially exciting to report on State Opening day yet.  The Queen's delivered her Speech, leading with the line that "My Government's overriding priority is to ensure stability of the British economy during the global economic downturn" (see full text here).  And Dennis Skinner's delivered his traditional "joke", asking whether there ...

Measures to combat the economic crisis were at the heart of the Queen's Speech today.