0:00:11 > 0:00:14Hello, and welcome to Wednesday in Parliament.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16On the day the Queen came to Westminster for the state
0:00:16 > 0:00:19opening, unveiling the bills the Government wants to make
0:00:19 > 0:00:21into law in the next few months.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24And the day politicians began their arguments over
0:00:24 > 0:00:27the rights and wrongs of what's proposed.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31This Government does not team to understand that cuts
0:00:31 > 0:00:32have their consequences.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36We are building a greater Britain again, with a sound economy, strong
0:00:36 > 0:00:39defences and opportunity for all.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40But first -
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Her Majesty the Queen carried out the State Opening of Parliament,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47reading out a speech that contained 21 bills.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50The day began with the traditional pageantry of the State Opening,
0:00:50 > 0:00:52with the Queen travelling to Westminster.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Parts of the annual ceremony date back as far
0:00:54 > 0:00:55as the 14th century.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Her Majesty was opening parliament for the 63rd time in her reign,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02accompanied, as ever, by the Duke of Edinburgh,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06but also by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08As the Royal party made its way to Westminster,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11in the House of Lords, peers in their traditional bright
0:01:11 > 0:01:14red robes, had taken their seats.
0:01:14 > 0:01:19Some familiar faces could be spotted among the sea of ermine, including
0:01:19 > 0:01:22the former leader of the Commons, Sir George Young,
0:01:22 > 0:01:24former health secretary Andrew Lansley and TV presenter
0:01:24 > 0:01:28and Lib Dem, Floella Benjamin.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31With the Lords in place, the Queen arrived at the
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Sovereign's Entrance at Parliament.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36In Parliament's Central Lobby came the familiar command,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39shouted by a police inspector.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Hat's off, strangers.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46The words that signal the start of the Commons Speaker's Procession.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48The Speaker went through the members' lobby,
0:01:48 > 0:01:49with MPs looking on,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52and into the Commons chamber.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Then, the fanfare by the trumpets, and the Queen, now wearing her robes
0:01:55 > 0:01:59of state and crown, moved through the Royal Gallery
0:01:59 > 0:02:02to the House of Lords.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh took their places
0:02:05 > 0:02:10on the thrones in the Lords.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13And so Black Rod was sent to summons MPs from the Commons
0:02:13 > 0:02:14to hear the speech.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Then the traditional slamming of the Commons door
0:02:17 > 0:02:19in the face of Black Rod, a symbol of the supremacy
0:02:19 > 0:02:24and independence of MPs.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Black Rod knocked three times and was then let in.
0:02:32 > 0:02:33Black Rod summoned the MPs.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36And there was the now traditional heckle from veteran Labour
0:02:36 > 0:02:38backbencher Dennis Skinner.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41Hands off the BBC!
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Then that walk through from the Commons to the Lords.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Usually there's some chat between the party leaders,
0:02:49 > 0:02:55but this year Jeremy Corbyn avoided any small talk with David Cameron.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58The many MPs slowly funnelled into the Lords, some familiar
0:02:58 > 0:03:02figures very visible, such as Hilary Benn, Boris Johnson
0:03:02 > 0:03:07and the SNP's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10And with MPs gathered at the bar of the Lords,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12the Lord Chancellor Michael Gove handed the Queen her copy
0:03:12 > 0:03:14of the speech to read.
0:03:14 > 0:03:19And the contents of the Speech revealed.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22To spread economic prosperity, my Government will continue
0:03:22 > 0:03:31to support the development of a Northern Powerhouse.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32to support the development of a Northern Powerhouse.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36In England, further powers will be devolved to directly elected mayors,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38including powers governing local bus services.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42My Government will continue work to deliver NHS services over seven
0:03:42 > 0:03:46days of the week in England.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Legislation will be introduced to ensure that overseas visitors pay
0:03:50 > 0:03:55for the health treatment they receive at public expense.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58A bill will be introduced to ensure that children can be adopted
0:03:58 > 0:04:04by new families without delay, improve the standard of social work
0:04:04 > 0:04:08and opportunities for young people in care in England.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13My Government will legislate to reform prisons and courts,
0:04:13 > 0:04:17to give individuals a second chance.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22Prison governors will be given unprecedented freedom,
0:04:22 > 0:04:28and they will be able to ensure prisoners receive better education.
0:04:28 > 0:04:34Old and inefficient prisons will be closed, and new institutions built
0:04:34 > 0:04:39where prisoners can be put more effectively to work.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Action will also be taken to ensure better mental health provision
0:04:43 > 0:04:48to individuals in the criminal justice system.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51My Government will continue to work to bring communities together
0:04:51 > 0:04:55and strengthen society.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59Legislation will be introduced to prevent radicalisation,
0:04:59 > 0:05:06tackle extremism in all its forms, and promote community integration.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10My ministers will invest in Britain's Armed Forces,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13honouring the military covenant and meeting the Nato
0:05:13 > 0:05:20commitment to spend 2% of national income on defence.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23They will also act to secure the long-term future
0:05:23 > 0:05:26of Britain's nuclear deterrent.
0:05:26 > 0:05:32My Government will hold a referendum on membership of the European Union.
0:05:32 > 0:05:40Proposals will be brought forward for a British Bill of Rights.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43The Queen, giving the speech written for her by the Government
0:05:43 > 0:05:45and setting out the bills ministers plan to introduce over this session.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48When the Commons reassembled a couple of hours later,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52the Labour Leader gave his response, rounding on David Cameron's claim
0:05:52 > 0:05:56to be striving to make a more equal society.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Still this Government do not seem to understand that
0:05:58 > 0:06:05cuts have consequences.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08When you cut adult social care, it has an impact on National
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Health Service accident and emergency departments.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14When you saddle young people with more debt,
0:06:14 > 0:06:16it impedes their ability to buy a home or start a family.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19When you fail to build housing and cap housing benefit,
0:06:19 > 0:06:21homelessness and the number of families in temporary
0:06:21 > 0:06:23accommodation increase.
0:06:23 > 0:06:29When you slash local authorities budgets,
0:06:29 > 0:06:31then leisure centres, libraries and children s
0:06:31 > 0:06:32centres close.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35When you close fire stations and cut firefighters jobs,
0:06:35 > 0:06:37response times increase and more people are in danger
0:06:37 > 0:06:40of dying in fires.
0:06:40 > 0:06:46This austerity is a political choice, not an economic necessity.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50It is a wrong choice for our country, made by a Government
0:06:50 > 0:06:52with the wrong priorities.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Mr Corbyn spoke at length, going through the measures in the speech,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59with Conservatives becoming increasingly restless and noisy
0:06:59 > 0:07:02as Mr Corbyn refused to give way.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07Point of order, Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10On a point of order, Mr Speaker, am I not right in thinking
0:07:10 > 0:07:14that it is a customary courtesy within this House for people,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17though they do not have to, to give way in speeches that last
0:07:17 > 0:07:21over 20 minutes?
0:07:21 > 0:07:25The essence of the honourable gentleman s point was encapsulated
0:07:25 > 0:07:32in that first sentence - customary, but it is not required.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Mr Corbyn pressed on, turning to the measures on prisons.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39We will scrutinise carefully proposals to give prison
0:07:39 > 0:07:42governors more freedom.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45It seems the policies of this Government have been to give greater
0:07:45 > 0:07:49freedoms to prisoners.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51That is the consequence of overcrowding prisons and cutting
0:07:51 > 0:07:55one third of dedicated prison officer positions.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00We welcome proposals to give greater time for education and reform
0:08:00 > 0:08:02and to reduce reoffending rates.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06He moved onto the counter-extremism proposals.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Everyone in this House understands the risks
0:08:08 > 0:08:10posed by terrorism.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14This city, London, has experienced it before,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17as have other cities around the world.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21We will of course support strong measures to give the police
0:08:21 > 0:08:25and security services the resources they need, but we will also support
0:08:25 > 0:08:30checks and balances to ensure that powers are used appropriately.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32And he concluded.
0:08:32 > 0:08:38Mr Speaker, if anyone want to deliver a more equal society,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Mr Speaker, if anyone wants to deliver a more equal society,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43an economy that works for everyone and a society in which there
0:08:43 > 0:08:46is opportunity for all, it takes an active Government,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50not the driverless car heading in the wrong direction that we have
0:08:50 > 0:08:53with the present Government.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Then it was the turn of the Prime Minister,
0:08:56 > 0:08:57who focused on improving life chances.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00When I became Prime Minister, some social workers were refusing
0:09:00 > 0:09:03to place black, mixed race or Asian children with
0:09:03 > 0:09:05white adoptive parents.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07I think that that is profoundly wrong and we changed
0:09:07 > 0:09:08the law to prevent it.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11As a result of that change and the other things we have done,
0:09:11 > 0:09:16adoption is today up 72%, but there is still a lot more to do.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Believing in opportunity means never writing anyone off.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22For too long the young offender institutions and prisons in our
0:09:22 > 0:09:26country have not been working.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29They give the public the security of knowing that offenders are locked
0:09:29 > 0:09:32in, but they are not doing enough to turn around the lives of people
0:09:32 > 0:09:34who will one day be let out.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36So in our prisons, we are going to apply the lessons learned
0:09:36 > 0:09:39in other public service reforms - publishing results, giving
0:09:39 > 0:09:42the people who run the services proper control over them,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45encouraging innovation, rewarding success, and not
0:09:45 > 0:09:47tolerating persistent failure.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50I give way to the honourable from Brighton.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52I'm grateful to him for giving way.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54If the Prime Minister is serious about prison reform,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57why have prison budgets been slashed by a third since 2010,
0:09:57 > 0:09:59at exactly the same time as the prison
0:09:59 > 0:10:01populations are growing?
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Given that 47,000 prisoners are currently incarcerated
0:10:04 > 0:10:07for offences linked to drug use, is not it time to review
0:10:07 > 0:10:10a policy that treats drug addicts only as criminals,
0:10:10 > 0:10:14rather than as people who need our support as well?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16I would make a number of points to the honourable lady.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19First, I really think that we need to get away from the idea
0:10:19 > 0:10:22that you only measure progress in public services by the amount
0:10:22 > 0:10:24of money that is spent.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27The whole aim here is to try to do more with less.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29That is what we have done with so many parts
0:10:29 > 0:10:34of the public sector.
0:10:34 > 0:10:35For decades, we have been cramming people
0:10:35 > 0:10:36into crumbling prisons that
0:10:36 > 0:10:39were built for a different age, many of which, frankly,
0:10:39 > 0:10:40are now unfit for human habitation.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42These buildings do not help rehabilitation.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Indeed, they are rife with bullying, intimidation and violence.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46So we have made a ?1.3 billion commitment to get rid
0:10:46 > 0:10:48of ageing prisons and build nine new prisons with
0:10:48 > 0:10:50modern, fit-for-purpose facilities.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Once again, this is bold reform from a progressive,
0:10:53 > 0:10:55one-nation Conservative Government.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57I give way to the honourable gentleman.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00I'm grateful to the Prime Minister, but could he explain to the House
0:11:00 > 0:11:05why figures for suicides in prison, attacks on prison staff
0:11:05 > 0:11:07and contraband going into prison have gone up?
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Could it be anything to do with the fact that there are 7000
0:11:10 > 0:11:14fewer prison officers than there were in 2010?
0:11:14 > 0:11:16As we were discussing this morning, one of the reasons for these
0:11:16 > 0:11:19problems is the availability of legal highs in our prisons,
0:11:19 > 0:11:24which we need to deal with, but I do not think that it is right
0:11:24 > 0:11:26simply to lay this at the door.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31What we need is prisons that are run well, where the management
0:11:31 > 0:11:34are in control, and where they are able to turn around
0:11:34 > 0:11:36the lives of the people who are there.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39It is all very well for Labour to ask questions, but they had
0:11:39 > 0:11:4213 years to reform our prisons.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46It took a reforming Tory Government to put it on the agenda.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49While a Conservative intervened to ask about the counter-extremism
0:11:49 > 0:11:52proposals in the speech.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55Extremists are adept at grooming and brainwashing our young people.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Does the Prime Minister agree that we should be even bolder
0:11:58 > 0:12:01in offering greater support and encouragement to the brave
0:12:01 > 0:12:05Muslims in our community who seek to stand up and challenge
0:12:05 > 0:12:10the intolerance and hatred that is exported by Daesh?
0:12:10 > 0:12:13My honourable friend is absolutely right.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Why what she says is so important is this -
0:12:15 > 0:12:20if we give in to the idea that spokesmen who are extremist
0:12:20 > 0:12:24but not violent can somehow represent their communities,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27we completely disempower the moderate voices who want us
0:12:27 > 0:12:30to stand up for the liberal values that we should champion
0:12:30 > 0:12:31in this House.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33And he concluded.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Mr Speaker, Britain has come a long way since the depth
0:12:37 > 0:12:38of Labour s recession.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43We are building homes again, with over 700,000 more since 2010.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46We are creating jobs again, with over two million more
0:12:46 > 0:12:48people in work.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51We are investing in our NHS again, with almost 10,000 more doctors...
0:12:51 > 0:12:55Over 10,000 more nurses on our wards than in 2010.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59We are building a greater Britain again, with a sound economy,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02strong defences and opportunity for all.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05These are the actions of a progressive, one-nation
0:13:05 > 0:13:06Conservative Government, and I commend this
0:13:06 > 0:13:09speech to the House.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Well, it wasn't what was in the Queen's Speech but what wasn't
0:13:15 > 0:13:18that seemed to exercise most the speakers that followed
0:13:18 > 0:13:21the Prime Minister in the first day of debate on the Government's
0:13:21 > 0:13:24new legislative programme.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26The SNP's leader at Westminster began by noting that nearly
0:13:26 > 0:13:29all of the bills set out in the speech only affected
0:13:30 > 0:13:32England and Wales.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34They relate to education, to adoption, to reforms
0:13:34 > 0:13:35to democratic processes.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38So when the Prime Minister talks about this being a one-nation
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Queen's Speech, we on these benches know which nation
0:13:41 > 0:13:43he's talking about.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47Mr Robertson then set out some of the things that he would rather
0:13:47 > 0:13:48have heard and seen.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51A Scotland Home Rule Bill, a replacement for the House
0:13:51 > 0:13:54of Lords, tough new rules on arms sales.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56But most of all...
0:13:56 > 0:13:58At the top of our list of what we have proposed
0:13:58 > 0:14:01in advance of today's Queen's Speech, is a need
0:14:01 > 0:14:03for an emergency summer budget.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Why?
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Because it would give the Government an opportunity to put
0:14:10 > 0:14:11about an end to austerity.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13It could bring about an inclusive, prosperous economy through a modest
0:14:13 > 0:14:17investment in infrastructure and vital public services.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19The proposals are detailed.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21It would be to boost investment and halt
0:14:21 > 0:14:25the austerity programme that has strangled economic progress.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28And the Lib Dems had a wishlist too.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31An ambitious plan for housing that actually builds homes that
0:14:31 > 0:14:33are genuinely affordable.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35And rather than tinkering with Parliament,
0:14:35 > 0:14:39let's replace the other place with a fully elected second chamber,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43as the honourable member rightly pointed out moments ago.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48Governments do sometimes get tired and clapped out
0:14:48 > 0:14:50and run out of ideas.
0:14:50 > 0:15:01But it usually takes 12 years, and not 12 months.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Others focused on the issue of the moment.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09At the heart of this gracious speech is the statement,
0:15:09 > 0:15:14"My ministers will uphold the sovereignty of Parliament."
0:15:14 > 0:15:17In my humble submission, the only way in which that can be
0:15:17 > 0:15:23delivered is by leaving the European Union.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Because our very membership of the European Union undermines
0:15:27 > 0:15:32the sovereignty of our Parliament.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37I feel provoked by the honourable member for Christchurch.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39To firstly declare my firm support for remaining in Europe.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42But to be clear that that is for the security of citizens.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45I spent three years negotiating on home affairs for the then
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Labour Government for security and safety issues.
0:15:49 > 0:15:54And it is my firm belief that if you're at the table,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57you can make a difference, as we have done and continue to do.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00But if you are not there, you cannot influence.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03And if we vote out, the very next day, we will be
0:16:03 > 0:16:05out for the discussions that are necessary.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07One measure that was in the Speech, which many considered
0:16:07 > 0:16:10to have been put on hold, was the promise of a consultation
0:16:10 > 0:16:20on a Bill of Rights.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23This idea of a British Bill of Rights has been knocking around
0:16:23 > 0:16:25the lampshade like a demented moth for some little while.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29And it may well be that if it got an armour-plated head it could carry
0:16:29 > 0:16:31on knocking itself around the lampshade
0:16:31 > 0:16:32for a good while longer.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35I really do think it's a waste of intellectual and political energy
0:16:35 > 0:16:43for this - to mix my metaphors - dead horse to be revived.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Ditching the Human Rights Act would be a comfort to would-be
0:16:45 > 0:16:49tinpot despots around Europe, and I think should be resisted.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51And this party certainly will be doing so.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53We're not talking about this country withdrawing from
0:16:53 > 0:16:55the Convention of Human Rights.
0:16:55 > 0:17:02We're talking about this House asserting that the final arbiter
0:17:02 > 0:17:04in terms of decision-making will be this sovereign parliament.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07So that the sovereign parliament cannot be overridden,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10especially when it comes to decisions which are clearly
0:17:10 > 0:17:16and utterly opposed by the vast bulk of people of the United Kingdom,
0:17:16 > 0:17:21right across the board.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23In the Lords, Peers started their debate
0:17:23 > 0:17:24on the Queen's Speech too.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Labour's Leader in the Upper House reflected on the LAST session,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29which saw 60 government defeats and looked to the year ahead.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34For your Lordship's House to do its job well, it
0:17:34 > 0:17:37requires Noble Lords to
0:17:37 > 0:17:39use their expertise, their knowledge and skills
0:17:39 > 0:17:42to work effectively and
0:17:42 > 0:17:44cooperatively to scrutinise legislation that often takes much
0:17:44 > 0:17:48time and a lot of stamina.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51Can I thank all the Noble Lords who engage
0:17:51 > 0:17:54in many hours debate on bills, propose amendments and engage in
0:17:54 > 0:17:59seeking to resolve a process that the Government should,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01for the most part, find valuable and helpful.
0:18:01 > 0:18:07We respect and will continue to respect
0:18:07 > 0:18:09those well-established conventions that have served this House well.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11I can pledge that we will continue to
0:18:11 > 0:18:14be a good and effective and the responsible Opposition.
0:18:14 > 0:18:21With a note to the reference in her speech to
0:18:21 > 0:18:23the privacy of the Commons.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27That is right, but let us not confuse that
0:18:27 > 0:18:31over the laws which is very much the issue
0:18:31 > 0:18:33and it is the importance of
0:18:33 > 0:18:35the legislature, standing up to the Executive and holding
0:18:36 > 0:18:43the Executive to account.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46This House improves legislation.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Every minister will agree that their bill is better
0:18:49 > 0:18:50for the scrutiny it receives here.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53And our scrutiny served an important purpose.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Yes, to hold the Government to account, and to help give the
0:18:56 > 0:19:06public confidence in the laws parliament makes.
0:19:10 > 0:19:15So upholding our role in the chamber is important to me.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18But if we want to be legitimate as an elected House, we do have to
0:19:18 > 0:19:20be mindful of the limits of that role.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23And I believe it must always be the elected House who have the
0:19:23 > 0:19:24final say.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26But there was plenty of humour, too.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27A former Conservative Cabinet
0:19:27 > 0:19:28Minister opened this debate.
0:19:28 > 0:19:29He said it had been
0:19:29 > 0:19:32"brave" of the Leader of the Lords to let him do this,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35without having the slightest idea what he was going to say!
0:19:35 > 0:19:38As a young light infantry squaddie, I was given a day off from
0:19:38 > 0:19:41the training camp and coming up to London and finding we could slip
0:19:41 > 0:19:44into the back row of these stalls for a brand-new American musical
0:19:45 > 0:19:48that had arrived in London.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52And I remember particularly one
0:19:52 > 0:19:53part of it.
0:19:53 > 0:20:02"101 pounds of fun, that's my little honeybun.
0:20:02 > 0:20:08"Get a load of honeybun tonight!
0:20:08 > 0:20:13"Speaking of my sweetie pie, only 60 inches high and
0:20:13 > 0:20:18"every inch was packed with dynamite."
0:20:18 > 0:20:20And I have to say, whatever her
0:20:20 > 0:20:23height, she has grown in stature, as a member
0:20:23 > 0:20:25now, a full member of the
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Cabinet and one of the toughest jobs there is,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30obviously coping with the
0:20:30 > 0:20:32difficulties of the composition of your Lordship's House, and I pay
0:20:32 > 0:20:34tribute to her and her leadership.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Then it was a new Peer's turn to speak.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38The former
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Scottish Conservative Leader said she wasn't sure why
0:20:40 > 0:20:42she'd been chosen.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47I do recall when attending one of the
0:20:47 > 0:20:49delightful soirees, so charmingly hosted by the Leader of the House,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52my noble friend, Baroness Stowell, making myself useful.
0:20:52 > 0:21:02I trotted round with plates of canapes.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09I thought I carried that off with some style, so this would
0:21:09 > 0:21:10commended me the powers that be.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13But if so, I have an uneasy sense of deception.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15I would like to say that I was on that
0:21:15 > 0:21:18occasion motivated to assist by social mores and a good Scottish
0:21:18 > 0:21:20upbringing, but that would be disingenuous.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Quite simply, I had worked out it was the only way I
0:21:23 > 0:21:25could obtain a regular and discreet access to the food.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28This stratagem was entirely pragmatic.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Having been exposed to Edinburgh during 17 years
0:21:31 > 0:21:39in the Scottish Parliament, I had no desire to find that the Edinburgh
0:21:39 > 0:21:41custom, "You'll have had your tea!"
0:21:41 > 0:21:43had been exported to
0:21:43 > 0:21:46the Baroness's soirees!
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Let's end the programme with the two MPs who spoke first
0:21:48 > 0:21:49in the House of Commons.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Conservative Caroline Spelman opened the day's debate and
0:21:51 > 0:21:56in keeping with tradition, she proposed the humble address
0:21:56 > 0:21:58to the Queen to mark Her Majesty's speech to both Houses.
0:21:58 > 0:22:04Kicking off the debate is considered a big honour and the job is always
0:22:04 > 0:22:05given to a Government backbencher.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Ms Spelman reflected on the changing face of Parliament.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13And that has changed since my first day here 19 years ago.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I was often the only woman in meetings.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17I was one of very few women around a
0:22:17 > 0:22:23Cabinet table with school-age children.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27This could prove awkward.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Such as the Shadow Cabinet meeting interrupted by the news that one
0:22:30 > 0:22:32of my sons
0:22:32 > 0:22:35had fallen off a drainpipe at school.
0:22:35 > 0:22:40In 1997, only 18% of MPs were women.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43This has now risen to a total of almost 30%.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45Not yet parity,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47but we are heading in the right direction.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49The speech was seconded by another Conservative who wondered
0:22:49 > 0:22:56whether it was his experience in PR that had won him the honour.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58As the House knows, I am a practising doctor.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Unfortunately, Mr Speaker, in a medical context, PR
0:23:01 > 0:23:06does not stand for public relations.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08But is shorthand for a type of examination
0:23:08 > 0:23:10that involves putting on
0:23:10 > 0:23:19rubber gloves, applying gel and asking a man to cough.
0:23:29 > 0:23:35If I may give my right honourable friend the Prime Minister
0:23:35 > 0:23:40a little advice, Mr Speaker?
0:23:40 > 0:23:44If in the future he finds himself speaking
0:23:44 > 0:23:47at a medical profession dinner, under no circumstances should he
0:23:47 > 0:23:54tell the audience that in his life before politics, he was into PR and
0:23:54 > 0:24:00that he found the work very stimulating.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03If colleagues don't think I delivered the speech very
0:24:03 > 0:24:05well today, just be grateful that we are not holding this
0:24:05 > 0:24:08debate at a weekend, when I understand from some that
0:24:08 > 0:24:18doctors don't perform as well.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Mr Speaker, I had hoped my medical background would be an
0:24:22 > 0:24:27advantage in politics, but I have been disappointed.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31My first came when I stood for election
0:24:31 > 0:24:32as the Conservative party's candidate in Gwent.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I am not sure he is with us today, the current
0:24:35 > 0:24:38member, but I'm sure he would agree that sporting a blue rosette
0:24:38 > 0:24:43outside Kwik Save takes a certain type of character.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Mostly delusional.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52Perhaps even masochistic.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54In fact, the president of my consituency's
0:24:54 > 0:24:55association, Mr Rob Stanton,
0:24:55 > 0:24:58was elected to Wokingham Borough Council with more votes I received.
0:24:58 > 0:25:04I was however able to comfort myself with the fact that my modest 816
0:25:04 > 0:25:10votes nevertheless represented the biggest swing to
0:25:10 > 0:25:12the Conservative Party of any candidate in Wales
0:25:12 > 0:25:16that night.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19In retrospect, I should have taken more note of the lady in the
0:25:19 > 0:25:23market who when I asked her why she supported labour, she replied,
0:25:23 > 0:25:28"Don't you get complicated with me!"
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Philip Lee with his prescription for a life in politics.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37And that debate on the Queen's speech continues for the rest
0:25:37 > 0:25:38of this week and into next.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42So do join me tomorrow at the same time for the best of the debate
0:25:42 > 0:25:44in the Commons and the Lords.
0:25:44 > 0:25:50But until then from me, Alicia McCarthy, goodbye.