The Queen’s Speech (translated) – brief words signifying so much harm

A true pro: It is a testament to the Queen's skill that she is able to get through her speech at the annual opening of Parliament without either laughing at the stupidities or choking in horror at the implied threats to her citizens.

A true pro: It is a testament to the Queen’s professionalism that she is able to get through her speech at the annual opening of Parliament without either laughing at the stupidities or choking in horror at the implied threats to her citizens.

Today the Queen made her speech at the official opening of Parliament. Her words were, as always, written by the government of the day, and therefore it seems appropriate to provide a translation, as follows:

“My government’s legislative programme will continue to focus on building a stronger economy so that the United Kingdom can compete and succeed in the world.” Focus on it, but do nothing about it.

“It will also work to promote a fairer society that rewards people who work hard.” If you haven’t got a job, you’re shafted.

“My government’s first priority is to strengthen Britain’s economic competitiveness. To this end, it will support the growth of the private sector and the creation of more jobs and opportunities.” There is no intention to take any action in this regard; the government will simply applaud actions taken by others.

“My ministers will continue to prioritise measures that reduce the deficit – ensuring interest rates are kept low for homeowners and businesses.” Interest rates are nothing to do with the government. It is easy to make promises when no action is required.

“My government is committed to building an economy where people who work hard are properly rewarded. It will therefore continue to reform the benefits system, helping people move from welfare to work.” My government is committed to building a low-wage economy where people have to work hard simply to keep what they’ve got. It will therefore continue to erode the benefits system, forcing people to move from welfare to destitution as a warning to those who’ve got jobs, that this will happen to them if they make a fuss.

“Measures will be brought forward to introduce a new employment allowance to support jobs and help small businesses.” A bung for our friends.

“A bill will be introduced to reduce the burden of excessive regulation on businesses. A further bill will make it easier for businesses to protect their intellectual property.” Deregulation worked so well with the banks in 2007, we thought we’d give other businesses a chance to ruin the economy. And it’s not enough that Facebook now owns everybody’s photographs – corporations want everything else as well.

“A draft bill will be published establishing a simple set of consumer rights to promote competitive markets and growth.” The rights of the consumer will be restricted to what we say they’re allowed, to protect corporate freedoms.

“My government will introduce a bill that closes the Audit Commission.” We don’t want the public to know the facts about our spending and where it goes (into our pockets).

“My government will continue to invest in infrastructure to deliver jobs and growth for the economy.” But we’re not saying where the money will go (into our pockets).

“Legislation will be introduced to enable the building of the High Speed Two railway line, providing further opportunities for economic growth in many of Britain’s cities.” Future economic growth, of course – we won’t see the benefit for many, many years.

“My government will continue with legislation to update energy infrastructure and to improve the water industry.” At huge cost to everybody who has to pay the bills.

“My government is committed to a fairer society where aspiration and responsibility are rewarded.” This is meaningless.

“To make sure that every child has the best start in life, regardless of background, further measures will be taken to improve the quality of education for young people.” This is meaningless.

“Plans will be developed to help working parents with childcare, increasing its availability and helping with its cost.” Private childcare organisations, starting cheaply but costing more as they get a grip on parents.

“My government will also take forward plans for a new national curriculum, a world-class exam system and greater flexibility in pay for teachers.” We’re going to stamp on teachers hard. And the new national curriculum means nobody from state education will be able to compete with our children at Eton.

“My government will also take steps to ensure that it becomes typical for those leaving school to start a traineeship or an apprenticeship, or to go to university.” We’ll shoehorn the state-school mob into something under threat of destitution, and save university for people who can pay for it (like us).

“New arrangements will be put in place to help more people own their own home, with government support provided for mortgages and deposits.” More second homes for Tory voters, as set out in the Chancellor’s Budget speech in March.

“My government is committed to supporting people who have saved for retirement.” If they have savings, they won’t need the national pension and can give it back, like Iain Duncan Smith suggested.

“Legislation will be introduced to reform the way long-term care is paid for, to ensure the elderly do not have to sell their homes to meet their care bills.” They can die there instead.

“My government will bring forward legislation to create a simpler state pension system that encourages saving and provides more help to those who have spent years caring for children.” It’ll encourage saving because it won’t be enough; and carers can have the kids taken away from them.

“Legislation will be introduced to ensure sufferers of a certain asbestos-related cancer receive payments where no liable employer or insurer can be traced.” Otherwise we’ll get the blame for abandoning them.

“My government will bring forward a bill that further reforms Britain’s immigration system. The bill will ensure that this country attracts people who will contribute and deters those who will not.” We’re scared that UKIP is taking our voters away.

“My government will continue to reduce crime and protect national security.” We will privatise the police, MI5 and MI6.

“Legislation will be introduced to reform the way in which offenders are rehabilitated in England and Wales.” If you thought our prisons were schools for criminals before, we’re turning them into universities.

“Legislation will be brought forward to introduce new powers to tackle anti-social behaviour, cut crime and further reform the police.” We will privatise the police and introduce curfews.

“In relation to the problem of matching internet protocol addresses, my government will bring forward proposals to enable the protection of the public and the investigation of crime in cyberspace.” We want to know how it works so we can make money off the internet.

“Measures will be brought forward to improve the way this country procures defence equipment, as well as strengthening the reserve forces.” We’ll buy the cheapest equipment we can find and ask the reservists to do it for no pay.

“My ministers will continue to work in co-operation with the devolved administrations.” Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will get even less cash.

“A bill will be introduced to give effect to a number of institutional improvements in Northern Ireland.” It’s too peaceful over there and we need something to distract the plebs from the mess we’re making in the rest of the country.

“Draft legislation will be published concerning the electoral arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales.” If we give the sheep the vote, they might vote Tory.

“My government will continue to make the case for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom.” We want their money; we want their oil.

“Members of the House of Commons, estimates for the public services will be laid before you.” Prior to privatisation.

“My government will work to prevent conflict and reduce terrorism. It will support countries in transition in the Middle East and north Africa, and the opening of a peace process in Afghanistan.” We want their money; we want their oil.

“My government will work to prevent sexual violence in conflict worldwide.” We can’t even stop it here.

“My government will ensure the security, good governance and development of the overseas territories, including by protecting the Falkland Islanders’ and Gibraltarians’ right to determine their political futures.” They’re strategically important so we’ll rattle the sabre for them.

“In assuming the presidency of the G8, my government will promote economic growth, support free trade, tackle tax evasion, encourage greater transparency and accountability while continuing to make progress in tackling climate change.” We’ll blame the other nations when none of these things happen.

“Other measures will be laid before you.”

That’s not a promise; it’s a threat.

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30 Comments

  1. beetleypete May 8, 2013 at 12:51 pm - Reply

    Perhaps you could put those subtitles on teletext, so we could read them at the time of the speech! Cheers, Pete.

    • Mike Sivier May 8, 2013 at 1:04 pm - Reply

      I’m sure some of it will be on the news later – you could just read out the relevant bits to your friends?

  2. Ros Jesson May 8, 2013 at 1:03 pm - Reply

    A concise and accurate translation. Thank you!

  3. Sally Burgess (@sillybugs55) May 8, 2013 at 1:21 pm - Reply

    Nice one Mike, you’ve said it all.

  4. ellen gibson May 8, 2013 at 1:33 pm - Reply

    the hole lot is rubbish she dont give a f***. It’s not her country anymore or her people anymore. It’s the government’s piggy bank and the people their slaves.

  5. Mick May 8, 2013 at 1:55 pm - Reply

    “so that the United Kingdom can compete and succeed in the world” means reducing wages down to or lower than those of Asia.Encouraging workfare. where people are forced to work without even a minimum salary.

  6. Steve Chapman May 8, 2013 at 2:06 pm - Reply

    They want to prevent people from being MPs at the same time as NI and Welsh assembly. As these are usually opposition MPs, you can understand why they want that.

    They are removing Health and Safety cover from self-employed workers if you take one of the many ‘jobs’ that employ people this way, then they are no longer obligated to provide a safe working environment for you

  7. […] Reblogged from Mike Sivier. Posted on 8 May 2013. With Thanks. […]

  8. Sharon May 8, 2013 at 3:35 pm - Reply

    I feel very let down by the queen, we are all done for

    • aturtle05 May 9, 2013 at 10:47 am - Reply

      It’s not the Queen, it’s Charles the First’s fault that the MPs hold the power. The Queen’s speech is nothing but Government propaganda

  9. DAVID May 8, 2013 at 3:44 pm - Reply

    Great the have brainwashed the Queen Lol Never thought i would see the day

  10. nikki May 8, 2013 at 4:37 pm - Reply

    Check out The Project Avalon forum The ‘REAL heir to the THRONE’ & KING of England dies in Australia at 71..! Very interesting .Is the Queen rightfully Queen of Great Britain

    • sparaszczukster May 9, 2013 at 11:51 am - Reply

      Check out this interesting documentary about the British monarchy, Nikki, and prepare to be shocked.

      http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/royal-babylon/

      In my view we need to get rid of royalty or at the very least apply the bedroom tax to their many State subsidised homes. They’re the recipients of the biggest welfare benefits in the country.

      • Mike Sivier May 9, 2013 at 12:36 pm - Reply

        Apparently the Independent has a terrific cartoon today of the Queen giving her speech, saying “We’re going to crack down on immigrant benefits or my name’s not Liz Saxe-Koburg Gotha!”

  11. John Wroath-Baley May 8, 2013 at 5:33 pm - Reply

    Im sorry but this is ridiculousness, you can make these statements fit anything you want them to! This article achieves nothing accept causing more division, your ‘translation’ of this speech is baseless without facts to back them up.
    People like you are the root cause for societies divisions, we need to work together to fix this country, rather than rip it apart by spreading lies with no basis.

    • Mike Sivier May 8, 2013 at 8:07 pm - Reply

      No, mate, this article isn’t causing the division.
      It’s the Tory-led government that’s doing that – as much as it can manage, anyway.
      Of course there are facts to support much of what the article says, and the rest is a little innocent satire, without which no society is free.
      I’m bringing society together – look how many of your fellow commenters have enjoyed and appreciated the article!
      We do need to work together to fix the country, though – I’ll agree with you on that. But it depends how you define ‘fix’, doesn’t it? I would fix the country by mending or correcting what has been broken or gone awry; I fear the government is trying to influence it dishonestly. And you seem to be trying to attribute blame. Those are all dictionary definitions of the word ‘fix’.
      I prefer my choice.

  12. Jess May 8, 2013 at 5:43 pm - Reply

    yep look after those in this country who do not need help and screw ev1 else. well my parents both passed away before they got anything back from all their life long hard work. so maybe i want to make a claim to the government for my mother’s funeral that i am still paying for 10 years later because i could not get any help with it.

  13. karen Smith May 8, 2013 at 7:29 pm - Reply

    Excellent… What a corker…

  14. simon May 8, 2013 at 7:31 pm - Reply

    The queen dont need brain washing, she has to go along with the government as it involves the royal purse as well, cant have them poor souls suffering (much) ??

  15. J .algar May 8, 2013 at 9:40 pm - Reply

    Well as far as I’m concerned we don’t need a monarchy .The government are ruleing and killing our country.

  16. sibrydionmawr May 8, 2013 at 10:05 pm - Reply

    It’s fine to be critical Mike, but will Labour be any better? Sheep in Wales are more likely to vote Labour, just like most of the rest of the population, for what good it does. We may get a Labour government in Cardiff Bay, but it doesn’t mean squat when there’s a Tory or ConDem government in Westminster, especially when the Welsh Labour Welsh Assembly Government shows itself only too willing to implement this evil government’s policies.

    Only when we get a proper government of our own in an independent Wales, a republic, that doesn’t need the pomp and (expensive) ceremony of a visit and speech by Mrs Windsor will thing start to improve.

    I would truly love to see Labour coming out with a radical response to this speech, with soundly argued ideas to counter the damage this present government is causing, but I fear that Labour will use it a crib sheet for their own draconian and disastrous version of Tory policies.

    All the Labour Party can be described as is as Tory Lite!

    • Mike Sivier May 8, 2013 at 11:26 pm - Reply

      I seem to recall having to correct you, quite recently, on your claim that the Labour Assembly Government was willing to implement the Coalition’s policies.

      As for Labour’s radical response to the speech: I don’t know about radical, but Labour did produce an alternative Queen’s Speech, and you can read it here: http://hhgrahamjones.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/labours-alternative-queens-speech.html

    • Charles Batten May 9, 2013 at 1:30 am - Reply

      By the way, IF you did NOT know, she isn’t Mrs “Windsor”. Her LEGAL,
      (is meant by, THAT which applies to EVERYONE else), surname IS, or
      SHOULD be, “MOUNTBATTEN”.

      Equally, ALL of her MALE ‘heirs’.

      Am NOT aware of ANY deed poll for name change to “Wales”

      NOT only is ‘Prince’ Charles a divorcee. He IS married to one.

      Henry the 8th, (who founded the church of England in order to separate
      from Roman dictate concerning HIS multiple wife MURDERS and divorces),
      and Edward the 8th who consequently abdicated in order to do so,
      set precedents.

  17. Michael Cawthorn May 8, 2013 at 11:52 pm - Reply

    It’s as simple as this; Whoever needs to be in power at the time to take your minds off the fact that they’re raking it in “That is the monarchy with the help of the government and the government with the help of the monarchy” will be selected into power whether you vote for them or not. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, it’s already decided.

    • Mike Sivier May 9, 2013 at 12:13 am - Reply

      So what do you advocate as the solution, Michael?

  18. aturtle05 May 9, 2013 at 10:50 am - Reply

    Sorry Mike, but your translator got overloaded in the middle, mine came up with:

    “My government is committed to a fairer society where aspiration and responsibility are rewarded.” They will make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

    “To make sure that every child has the best start in life, regardless of background, further measures will be taken to improve the quality of education for young people.” We will be increasing the paperwork for teachers and make sure that the NHS mdwifery service is privatised so that every child gets put in a lottery for care.

  19. June Allison May 9, 2013 at 5:09 pm - Reply

    Can I download this and keep it for future reference please?

    • Mike Sivier May 9, 2013 at 6:07 pm - Reply

      Sure – download it, propagate it around the Internet if you like, but please make sure you tell anyone else where you got it!

  20. SluicePup (@sluicepup) May 9, 2013 at 6:00 pm - Reply

    “In relation to the problem of matching internet protocol addresses, my government will bring forward proposals to enable the protection of the public and the investigation of crime in cyberspace.”

    really means “currently its not possible for us to be absolutely sure who we are spying on, we want to fix that”

    • Mike Sivier May 9, 2013 at 6:05 pm - Reply

      Thank you so much for saying that! It was the one part of the speech that was genuinely incomprehensible to a techno-bluffer like me!

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