The Queen's Speaks

Wednesday, May 9, 2012 The Queen's Speech To Feature Family Friendly Policies, Lords Reform The government will signal it intends to press ahead with reform of the House of Lords in today's Queen's Speech - a key Liberal Democrat demand but the focus for anger among many Tory MPs, including senior figures. Other measures expected to be unveiled later this morning are a package of "family-friendly" policies as the coalition Government steps up its bid to recover from a catalogue of problems and a local election mauling. More flexible leave for parents, speedier adoptions, better help for special needs pupils and improved access arrangements for divorced fathers will all be included in a wide-ranging Bill, Downing Street sources indicated. The day should be a chance to inject new life into the coalition, but ministers will be hoping it is better received than yesterday's rather tense relaunch press conference in a tractor factory. In other news this morning it has been alleged that David Cameron texted Rebekah Brooks telling her to "keep her head up" in the week that she resigned as chief executive of News International. Brooks is due to appear before the Leveson Inquiry on Friday and Cameron's former communications chief Andy Coulson will be before the judge on Thursday - threatening to derail the prime minister's attempts to get back on the front foot. Revealed: What David Cameron Texted Rebekah Brooks Witchcraft Branding 'Definitely Under The Radar' In Britain Will Her Majesty Struggle To Stay Awake Tomorrow? Tristram Hunt: 'Lords Reform's A Bit Like Vietnam' Britain Is Facing A 'Crisis In Politics' BLOG POSTS William Hanson: The Dummies' Guide to the State Opening of Parliament Her Majesty is not known to like public speaking, but sees it as a duty that she must perform. The government of the day writes the words of Her Majesty's speech, and as 'head' of the government she simply reads them - regardless of whether she agrees with the finer details. Martin Schulz: Europe's Opportunity in Hollande Rarely has an election resonated so widely across the European Union as the French presidential ballot has done. Rarely has a leadership change in one EU member state created expectations of a real policy shift. Lynne Parker: Winning Is No Joke, Boris In a world seemingly gone mad, a comedian now rules one of the greatest capital cities in the world for a second term. I am not amused. Tom Hunt: Will Labour Achieve a Commons Majority in 2015 Because of Ed Milliband, Not Despite Him? Whatever Ed Miliband's flaws, the British people love an underdog, especially when they feel like underdogs. Simon Chapman: Plain Tobacco Packs Awaken a Sleeping Tobacco Industry Just one disease caused by smoking - lung cancer - was rare before 1930. Over the next 50 years, it rose to become the world's leading cause of cancer death. In countries like Australia it is now on the wane. Plain packaging will accelerate its eventual demise as a major cause of death.

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