talented as her, can teach the party opposite anything when it comes to constantly changing from one contorted position to another. my honourable friend also mentioned, taking advice and inspiration from a certain parliamentary sketch writer, and if she is hoping that one day he might make her the target of a his acerbic wit, be careful what you wish for, because i've been called many things in my time but i'm not sure i will everforget many things in my time but i'm not sure i will ever forget being branded the titch in vacuum packed underpants. but on a serious note, she has only made a huge impact in her short time in this place and nowhere more than in herfantastic campaign to improve childcare provision inspiring the chancellor to announce 30 hours of free childcare a week for under fours in the march budget which is a landmark policy which will make an enormous difference to families around the country and she should be very proud of her part in making that happen. she overcame great odds to reach her place today, growing up on free school meals, she left home as a teenager and worked her way up as a family lawyer without attending university, before becoming the first female mp of stroud in 2019. sometimes people say to me, what is being a conservative all about, and i can think of no greater example than that, she's a remarkable person, a dedicated mp, someone with a huge future and her speech was in the finest traditions of this house. let me also thank the leader of the opposition for his contribution to 0pposition for his contribution to this debate and indeed his first u—turn and as a former republican used to think this country should not even have a king's speech but at least that is when you turn the whole country will welcome. he is prone to changing his position and in fairness prone to changing his position and infairness in prone to changing his position and in fairness in his speech struck a few consistent notes, more immigration, higher borrowing, more strikes, and the plan of the party to unnecessarily borrow £28 billion more every year and give into inflation busting pay demands from their union paymasters, is dangerous, inflationary, and the british people would pay the price in a high interest rates and higher taxes. in truth, labourwill in a high interest rates and higher taxes. in truth, labour will borrow anything, the money of people, people's ideas and now their copy and paste chancellor is happy to borrow other people's work as well. but she is not the only member opposite to get unstuck by a book and earlier this year the leader of the opposition and had to abandon writing his own book, return the deposit, it was supposed to be his vision for the uk, but his publishers discovered what the british people already know, he simply doesn't have one. while he stands for the same old ideas, we are focused on the long—term decisions that will provide a better and brighterfuture decisions that will provide a better and brighter future for everyone. that is what this king speech will deliver. that change begins by changing our economy and we have already delivered the largest fall in inflation since the 80s, a faster recovery from the pandemic than germany, france and japan, and tens of billions of pounds of new investment from around the world. we believe the role of government is to create the conditions for the private sector to thrive and that is where new growth and jobs comes from and that is why we have given business a £27 billion tax cut on investment and launched legislation investment and launched legislation in this speech so that we can confirm our membership of the trading pact with the fastest growing region in the world. of course, and i hearfrom the party opposite, that it will make no difference, we can only do that because of our new freedoms outside of the eu, freedoms that the leader of the eu, freedoms that the leader of the eu, freedoms that the leader of the opposition wants to abandon and instead lock the uk into a new european deal that would tie us into eu rules and regulations that we have no say over and open our borders 200,000 additional eu migrants every single year. —— open up migrants every single year. —— open up our borders to 100,000. they will also fail to secure our energy supplies and we know economic growth requires energy security and we have invested record amounts in renewables like offshore wind and we have back sizewell c, the first new nuclear in decades and we have introduced new legislation for north sea oil and gas supporting hundreds of thousands of british jobs. compare with the opposition, compare and contrast... compare with the opposition, compare and contrast. . ._ and contrast... people have the riaht and contrast... people have the ri . ht to and contrast... people have the right to intervene. _ and contrast... people have the right to intervene. if _ and contrast... people have the right to intervene. if the - and contrast... people have the right to intervene. if the prime | right to intervene. if the prime minister— right to intervene. if the prime minister wishes _ right to intervene. if the prime minister wishes to— right to intervene. if the prime minister wishes to give - right to intervene. if the prime minister wishes to give way, i right to intervene. if the prime . minister wishes to give way, that right to intervene. if the prime - minister wishes to give way, that is fine, _ minister wishes to give way, that is fine, if— minister wishes to give way, that is fine, if you — minister wishes to give way, that is fine, if you wishes _ minister wishes to give way, that is fine, if you wishes not _ minister wishes to give way, that is fine, if you wishes not to, - minister wishes to give way, that is fine, if you wishes not to, that - minister wishes to give way, that is fine, if you wishes not to, that is. fine, if you wishes not to, that is also _ fine, if you wishes not to, that is also fine~ — fine, if you wishes not to, that is also fine. prime _ fine, if you wishes not to, that is also fine. prime minister. - fine, if you wishes not to, that is also fine. prime minister. the i fine, if you wishes not to, that is- also fine. prime minister. the prime minister_ also fine. prime minister. the prime minister is _ also fine. prime minister. the prime minister is not — also fine. prime minister. the prime minister is not giving _ also fine. prime minister. the prime minister is not giving way. _ also fine. prime minister. the prime minister is not giving way.— minister is not giving way. compare and contrast — minister is not giving way. compare and contrast with _ minister is not giving way. compare and contrast with the _ minister is not giving way. compare and contrast with the opposition - and contrast with the opposition energy policy and there is one word for it, naive. not my word but that of their own union paymasters. i will happily give way. i’m of their own union paymasters. i will happily give way.— will happily give way. i'm very crateful, will happily give way. i'm very grateful, bearing _ will happily give way. i'm very grateful, bearing in _ will happily give way. i'm very grateful, bearing in mind - will happily give way. i'm very grateful, bearing in mind that| will happily give way. i'm very l grateful, bearing in mind that a very— grateful, bearing in mind that a very significant proportion of people — very significant proportion of people who sleep rough army veterans and people _ people who sleep rough army veterans and people who have had a brain injuries, — and people who have had a brain injuries, does the prime minister agreed _ injuries, does the prime minister agreed with the home secretary when she says _ agreed with the home secretary when she says that homelessness, sleeping rough, _ she says that homelessness, sleeping rough, is _ she says that homelessness, sleeping rough, is a _ she says that homelessness, sleeping rough, is a lifestyle choice and if he doesn't. _ rough, is a lifestyle choice and if he doesn't, will he sack her? i�*m he doesn't, will he sack her? i'm not sure about _ he doesn't, will he sack her? i�*m not sure about the link to that to energy security but thanks to the efforts of the member for plymouth, veterans homelessness is at record low levels in this country and in fact rough sleeping overall is down by around a third since its peak thanks to the actions of this government and in particular the landmark homelessness reduction act passed by this government which has helped to relieve and prevent over 640,000 people becoming homeless. returning to energy security, the party opposite want to ban all new oil and gas licenses risking us becoming even more dependent on vladimir putin's russia in what is even more absurd is that the honourable gentleman is not against oil and gas, honourable gentleman is not against oiland gas, but honourable gentleman is not against oil and gas, butjust british oil and gas. and yes, unlike the opposition, who want to pursue net zero within ideological zeal growing even faster and further no matter what the cost and the disruption, on the side of the house we are cutting the side of the house we are cutting the cost of net zero for working people. saving british families five, ten, £15,000 and that is the choice... �* ., ., ., choice... i'm gratefulto him for aaivin choice... i'm gratefulto him for giving way _ choice... i'm gratefulto him for giving way and _ choice... i'm gratefulto him for giving way and i _ choice... i'm gratefulto him for giving way and i want _ choice... i'm gratefulto him for giving way and i want to - choice... i'm gratefulto him for giving way and i want to ask - choice... i'm gratefulto him for| giving way and i want to ask him when— giving way and i want to ask him when he— giving way and i want to ask him when he is— giving way and i want to ask him when he is going to be straight with the british— when he is going to be straight with the british public because he can pretend — the british public because he can pretend you oil and gas licences will somehow guarantee our energy security— will somehow guarantee our energy security but that oil and gas is sold _ security but that oil and gas is sold on— security but that oil and gas is sold on international markets to the highest _ sold on international markets to the highest bidder and he returns it will get — highest bidder and he returns it will get bills down about his own secretary — will get bills down about his own secretary of state for energy has said it _ secretary of state for energy has said it will not get peoples bills down _ said it will not get peoples bills down so — said it will not get peoples bills down so when is he going to stop governing — down so when is he going to stop governing by gimmick and when is he going _ governing by gimmick and when is he going to _ governing by gimmick and when is he going to start actually rolling out the home — going to start actually rolling out the home insulation programme that will get _ the home insulation programme that will get the bills down? she the home insulation programme that will get the bills down?— will get the bills down? she talks about being _ will get the bills down? she talks about being straight _ will get the bills down? she talks about being straight and - will get the bills down? she talks about being straight and it - will get the bills down? she talks about being straight and it is - will get the bills down? she talks about being straight and it is thisj about being straight and it is this party that was straight with the british people about the cost of getting to net zero which her and the party opposite would do well to follow and because we have been honest and transparent and we have cut costs we will save british families five, ten or £15,000... he families five, ten or £15,000. .. he ave families five, ten or £15,000. .. he gave way. — families five, ten or £15,000... he gave way, so at least give him the courtesy— gave way, so at least give him the courtesy of— gave way, so at least give him the courtesy of hearing _ gave way, so at least give him the courtesy of hearing the _ gave way, so at least give him the courtesy of hearing the answer. i gave way, so at least give him the . courtesy of hearing the answer. that is the simple — courtesy of hearing the answer. is the simple choice. a government on the side of hard—working people or in opposition and the honourable lady on the side of the ego xanax. if we want to truly change our country we need a stronger —— zealots. it will free the nhs to support others. it is the most significant public health intervention by any government for generations and historic change from a historic kings speech but that is not all we are doing for the nhs. the government has invested record sums and created 50 million more primary care appointments and brought more beds and ambulances and to the first ever long—term workforce plan, we will recruit more doctors and nurses and dentists than ever before. that is what the nhs needs, not the damaging strike action that labour refuses to condemn, even though it is adding tens of thousands of people to waiting lists every single day. the party opposite opposed our plans to provide a minimum safety level during the strikes, and as the party opposite think that patients do not deserve life saving health the conclusion is clear, you can't trust labour with the nhs. now to the most important part, education, this is the most thing i am proud of, and only two thirds of schools were rated good or outstanding under the party opposite but now it is around 90% and they took us down the international league tables and we are now soaring up them. they backed rip—off degrees and we are ending them. and we are introducing the new advanced british standard so everyone will study maths and english to 18 and learn a broader range of subjects with more hours in the classroom and finally break down the classroom and finally break down the barriers between academic and technical education. more teachers, higher standards and more apprenticeships, and a stronger society is an opportunity in this conservative government is delivering. we can only build the stronger society with stronger communities and that is what this kings speech does. we are reforming the housing market to empower leaseholders to give renters more security, establishing a new independent football regulated to give fans a greater voice in their clubs and delivering our promise to level up with record investment in local areas. we are building a million more homes, while protecting the green belt, unlike the charter we see from the party opposite and that brings me to transport. every single penny that would have been spent on hs2 is repeatedly delayed, that failed to deliver real needs is now being invested in the north, in the midlands, and right across the country, £36 billion of investment in projects that people really need and actually want. network north is the most ambitious scheme for northern transport any government has developed ever yet the leader of the opposition was against it first of all, and then he was for it, now he is not really sure, but thing is for sure. you simply cannot trust a word he says. none of those important changes will mean anything if people do not feel safe in their communities. and the facts are clear, it is this government that is on the side of law and order. we will better support victims as well as new measures against the scourge of anti—social behaviour, building on a proud record of tackling crime, 20,000 more police officers on the streets, more police on the streets than ever before, and we have heard a lot about 13 years, but since 2010, crime has been hard, violent crime halved, burglary halved and anti—social behaviour down by 70%. tougher sentences for rapists and sex offenders, something the party opposite voted against, and for the worst offenders, life finally means life, all while the leader of the opposition and the front bench 0pposition and the front bench campaign to stop the deportation of dangerous foreign criminals. we are just days away from a rumour on sunday so let me close by paying tribute to our armed forces —— remembrance sunday. i was 7000 servicemen and women are deployed overseas and from the frozen wastes to the streets of kosovo, they are the best of us, and we owe to our veterans a debt of gratitude and i'm proud of the work led by the member for plymouth north to make this the best country in the world to be a veteran. that is what you get with this government. we on the side of the armed forces and we are investing record amounts in defence and we are an unwavering ally to the ukrainian people and we are proud to be one of the largest contributors to nato. but in contrast, what you get with the party opposite, they tried to install... they tried to install as prime minister a man who wanted to abolish the armed forces and withdraw from nato and back the uk's anna meares, labour cannot be trusted with our nation's security —— back the uk's enemies. the kings speech builds on the economy being well on its way to recovery and it rejects big government and backs people and businesses to thrive and it strengthens society with historic measures with health and education and secures our streets and borders with tougher sentences for criminals and powers for police and above all at the kings speech delivers change in the economy and in our society and a change in our communities and it takes long—term decisions for a brighter future it takes long—term decisions for a brighterfuture and i commend it to this house. brighter future and i commend it to this house. ., . brighter future and i commend it to this house. ., , , this house. stephen flynn, the leader of the _ this house. stephen flynn, the leader of the snp. _ was it something i said? laughter i want to pass _ was it something i said? laughter i want to pass on _ was it something i said? laughter i want to pass on my _ was it something i said? laughter i want to pass on my thanks - was it something i said? laughter i want to pass on my thanks to - was it something i said? laughter i want to pass on my thanks to king | i want to pass on my thanks to king charles— i want to pass on my thanks to king charles and — i want to pass on my thanks to king charles and the queen for their most gracious— charles and the queen for their most gracious speech and it was a very momentous occasion for them both. i have been— momentous occasion for them both. i have been goaded about my flower a bit but _ have been goaded about my flower a bit but notwithstanding that, i intend — bit but notwithstanding that, i intend to offer some consensus across — intend to offer some consensus across the _ intend to offer some consensus across the chamber because i think that is— across the chamber because i think that is very— across the chamber because i think that is very important in these times — that is very important in these times. firstly in relation to ukraine _ times. firstly in relation to ukraine because it is fast approaching the two—year anniversary of vladimir— approaching the two—year anniversary of vladimir putin's decision to enter— of vladimir putin's decision to enter ukraine in an extremely forcible — enter ukraine in an extremely forcible manner, to start a war to kill civilians — forcible manner, to start a war to kill civilians and track ukraine's democracy and building on the footsteps he laid in 2014 by invading and annexing crimea. it has been _ invading and annexing crimea. it has been said _ invading and annexing crimea. it has been said that the resolve of the west— been said that the resolve of the west is— been said that the resolve of the west is shaking in the face of the fact that — west is shaking in the face of the fact that the conflict continues but we are _ fact that the conflict continues but we are all— fact that the conflict continues but we are all united across this chamber— we are all united across this chamber and across parties that we are stuck— chamber and across parties that we are stuck fast in our commitment to the ukrainian people and their fight to protect _ the ukrainian people and their fight to protect their democracy against that most— to protect their democracy against that most abhorrent of tyrants and we say _ that most abhorrent of tyrants and we say that because these are our values, _ we say that because these are our values, this— we say that because these are our values, this is what we believe, in peace _ values, this is what we believe, in peace and — values, this is what we believe, in peace and protecting civilians and we believe in democracy. that view that we _ we believe in democracy. that view that we have extends beyond ukraine and extends to the situation in israel— and extends to the situation in israel and _ and extends to the situation in israel and gaza and i know i'm at risk of— israel and gaza and i know i'm at risk of repeating myself as indeed many— risk of repeating myself as indeed many of— risk of repeating myself as indeed many of us do in this chamber from time _ many of us do in this chamber from time to— many of us do in this chamber from time to time — many of us do in this chamber from time to time but i think it is important to repeat that everyone in this chamber is united in our unequivocal condemnation of what hamas— unequivocal condemnation of what hamas did exactly a month ago, and there _ hamas did exactly a month ago, and there can _ hamas did exactly a month ago, and there can never be a justification for the _ there can never be a justification for the senseless killing of men, women — for the senseless killing of men, women and children in the way that the terrorist organisation did. what we have _ the terrorist organisation did. what we have seen on the back of that on our streets — we have seen on the back of that on our streets is — we have seen on the back of that on our streets is of course as concerning, the rise of anti—semitism and the fear that so many— anti—semitism and the fear that so many people have, being able to walk the streets _ many people have, being able to walk the streets of these aisles, which is something we have grave concerns about, _ is something we have grave concerns about, and _ is something we have grave concerns about, and i— is something we have grave concerns about, and i want to send my heartfelt _ about, and i want to send my heartfelt support to those in the jewish— heartfelt support to those in the jewish community and to make it very clear if— jewish community and to make it very clear if it _ jewish community and to make it very clear if it needed to be clear, that we all— clear if it needed to be clear, that we all oppose anti—semitism, no ifs and buts _ we all oppose anti—semitism, no ifs and buts. and finally on that point, what _ and buts. and finally on that point, what we _ and buts. and finally on that point, what we all— and buts. and finally on that point, what we all so urgently want to see is diplomacy in action in order to see the — is diplomacy in action in order to see the release of the hostages who are still— see the release of the hostages who are still in— see the release of the hostages who are still in control by hamas and there _ are still in control by hamas and there can — are still in control by hamas and there can be nojustification for that and — there can be nojustification for that and we all want to see those people _ that and we all want to see those people returned to their families as quickly— people returned to their families as quickly as— people returned to their families as quickly as possible and i wish the prime _ quickly as possible and i wish the prime minister well in that diplomatic pursuit. of course, the conflict _ diplomatic pursuit. of course, the conflict in — diplomatic pursuit. of course, the conflict in israel and gaza cannot be forgotten without mentioning what we are _ be forgotten without mentioning what we are seeing in gaza itself and thousands upon thousands of people have been— thousands upon thousands of people have been killed. people don't have access— have been killed. people don't have access to _ have been killed. people don't have access to food, they don't have access — access to food, they don't have access to — access to food, they don't have access to clean water, they don't have _ access to clean water, they don't have access to fuel and they cannot turn on _ have access to fuel and they cannot turn on the — have access to fuel and they cannot turn on the lights and they don't have _ turn on the lights and they don't have access to medicine. many instances, _ have access to medicine. many instances, the hospitals they go to no longer— instances, the hospitals they go to no longer exist in the schools they once _ no longer exist in the schools they once went — no longer exist in the schools they once went to no longer exist and universities they once went to no longer— universities they once went to no longer exist. what we are seeing and ithink— longer exist. what we are seeing and i think this _ longer exist. what we are seeing and i think this is — longer exist. what we are seeing and i think this is perhaps where the agreement across the floor perhaps .oes agreement across the floor perhaps goes away, what we are seeing is collective — goes away, what we are seeing is collective punishment. what we so badly— collective punishment. what we so badly need to see is a humanitarian ceasefire _ badly need to see is a humanitarian ceasefire. not a humanitarian pause which _ ceasefire. not a humanitarian pause which feels — ceasefire. not a humanitarian pause which feels people both make bellies to then _ which feels people both make bellies to then be _ which feels people both make bellies to then be blown up again in the days— to then be blown up again in the days to — to then be blown up again in the days to follow, what we believe in unequivocally is a humanitarian ceasefire — unequivocally is a humanitarian ceasefire and i sincerely hope that members — ceasefire and i sincerely hope that members across the chamber willjoin us in coming — members across the chamber willjoin us in coming to that position in the not too _ us in coming to that position in the not too distant future because those are our— not too distant future because those are our values but we believe in peace _ are our values but we believe in peace and — are our values but we believe in peace and we believe in the protection of civilians. to the kings — protection of civilians. to the kings speech itself, i was listening very carefully and i heard the term economic— very carefully and i heard the term economic growth used and that intrigued — economic growth used and that intrigued me because we all know that the _ intrigued me because we all know that the uk is broke and brexit broke — that the uk is broke and brexit broke it — that the uk is broke and brexit broke it but we so obviously need economic— broke it but we so obviously need economic growth and for those of us on these _ economic growth and for those of us on these benches there is an obvious solution, _ on these benches there is an obvious solution, three or four things... we solution, three or four things. .. we will leave solution, three or four things... - will leave events in the house of commons, after watching mps debating comments of the kings speech which was delivered by king charles this morning marking the state 0pening was delivered by king charles this morning marking the state opening of parliament. it is the first time the king has made the speech in his role as monarch. he has been here many times before. we have heard all the debates as mp5 look at the contents of the speech and it was a very wide ranging speech outlining the plans of the government for the coming year but of course lots of questions about the government's ability to deliver on those promises. time is short before the general election next year and we know the general election has to take place before january of 2025 and when that will be, exactly, we do not know. some suggesting in the spring but others are saying it could be autumn by the time the country goes to the polls. so what were the issues on the agenda? they were proposed laws that would include tougher sentences for some crimes and a phased ban on smoking and licensing for oil and gas fields in the north sea. pretty wide ranging but the big question is, it is enough? labour says it is more of the same and not a radical or ambitious proposal, but the conservatives and we hope sunak saying that these are the immediate priorities, they are not the limit of our ambition priorities, they are not the limit of ourambition —— priorities, they are not the limit of our ambition —— we heard her rishi sunak saying. the conservative say this is their mission for a better britain. we can speak to helen who is in westminster central lobby. are we any clearer about whether any of these plans and proposals can be delivered before a general election? it proposals can be delivered before a general election?— general election? it was a wide-ranging _ general election? it was a wide-ranging kings - general election? it was a | wide-ranging kings speech general election? it was a - wide-ranging kings speech and general election? it was a _ wide-ranging kings speech and there wide—ranging kings speech and there were 21 bills in there in total covering all sorts of different issues and what mps will spend the next few days doing is debating all of the content of that and it takes several days and they will look at each of those policy areas in much more detail as we go forward and then that should start to give a sense of what happens with those next. this is the legislative programme for the next year so the intention certainly is that these are the bills it will be prioritising to try and get through before parliament is dissolved for the general election and it covers a whole range of different subjects and topics, a lot on crime and housing and energy and we started to get a flavour of the sort of debate we are going to see in the next few days from those initial speeches from keir starmer and steven finn, the leader of the snp, and rishi sunak and some of the others —— stephen flynn. abs, sunak and some of the others -- stephen flynn-— stephen flynn. a quote that will rinu in stephen flynn. a quote that will ring in the _ stephen flynn. a quote that will ring in the ears _ stephen flynn. a quote that will ring in the ears of— stephen flynn. a quote that will ring in the ears of many - ring in the ears of many conservative mps ring in the ears of many conservative mp5 is from chris bryant, he said labour could do this in a fortnight, he said this is a sign of a government that has run out of steam. criticism that this is not ambitious enough but others say it is realistic and this is laying out what can be achieved before a general election.— general election. yes, that is certainly what _ general election. yes, that is certainly what labour - general election. yes, that is certainly what labour and - general election. yes, that is| certainly what labour and the general election. yes, that is - certainly what labour and the lib dems are suggesting, that this is a government that has run out of ideas, because there is a grand vision which is lacking, they are reaching the end of the line on this, and it shows a lack of ambition, but there is the reality of the time constraints and we know that by january 2025 there needs to be a general election which does not leave a lot of time to get a lot of bills through parliament. a third of the bills that are in this kings speech have already been published in some form or carried over from the last session so they are not entirely starting from scratch on everything and the government would push back on the idea it is not showing sufficient ambition and rishi sunak tried to paint himself as a candidate of change and he says these are measures that will prove that he is the person to change things and you also heard the response from keir starmer, he suggested it was a missed opportunity and he said there are all sorts of things that should have beenin all sorts of things that should have been in the speech that were not and he talked about a modern industrial strategy and employment bill but we also saw keir starmer and rishi sunak during those lines ahead of the general election and some of the key areas in which they are doing that are on things like housing so you had measures from the government talking about bringing the renters reform bill back which was promised in the last queen's speech to end no—fault evictions although that will not happen until the court processes are sped up sufficiently and also the ban on new leasehold houses although not leasehold flats. keir starmer talked about housing and said, you need to accelerate house—building, so that's an indication of where the dividing lines lie. . indication of where the dividing lines lie. , ._ lines lie. the dividing lines laying out what happens _ lines lie. the dividing lines laying out what happens in _ lines lie. the dividing lines laying out what happens in the - lines lie. the dividing lines laying out what happens in the coming l lines lie. the dividing lines laying - out what happens in the coming year as we prepare for the general election stop this is a electioneering 101, election stop this is a electioneering101, giving a sense of if you vote for us, this is what you get, and it comes back to the argument about what is deliverable in the time that is available, and labour pointing out they would do a lot more in the time they have got. 0f lot more in the time they have got. of course, it is the last session on a five year parliament which does not give you an enormous amount of time to get big things through. the questions would be, why haven't bigger things been done in previous sessions? there is the argument about being realistic and also a sense that this is about setting the dividing lines and laying the groundwork to the general election and trying to convince voters that you are the right choice on the issues they care about so part of the kings speech was a lot of focus on crime and they were measures we had heard the government say they were going to introduce before so things like, the whole life orders for murders that have a sadistic or sexual content and forcing prisoners to appear in the dock for sentence stage which feels like an attempt by the government to claim the ground for law and order ahead of the general election so it will be interesting to see how these themes start to come out in those debates. thanks forjoining us. very best wishes to her daughter, tilly. start to come out in those debates. thanks forjoining us. in westminster, we are covering the state 0pening westminster, we are covering the state opening of parliament where king charles has carried out his first official engagement is monarch for the opening of parliament, signifying a new parliamentary year. now, the speech was written by the government and it sets out the plans for the year ahead. in it, all sorts of things, but proposals that include tougher sentences for some cravings, face a ban on smoking, more licensing for oil and gas fields in the north sea. a wide—ranging speech. —— for some crimes. criticism that it is not ambitious enough, the conservatives pointing out this is what is achievable before the country goes to the polls next year. this is the latest. just before 11.15, the royal carriage drew into the sovereign's entrance, carrying — for the first time in seven decades — a king, to formally open parliament. while the monarch had changed, the pageantry remained the same. as is tradition, black rod went to the commons and had the door slammed shut against her by mps... ..before she summoned them to the lords. 0n the way, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition appeared to be having a friendly chat, but this speech — written by the government — was in part about drawing dividing lines between them, ahead of an election.