Was the State Opening of Parliament EVER so badly mocked – by its own participants?
Perhaps we should start with Jeremy Corbyn’s TV interview, in which he asserted that Labour stands ready to form a minority government with a host of policies that have, by now, won the support of a majority of voters:
Now follows a clear and concise message from our Prime Minster in waiting, @jeremycorbyn pic.twitter.com/cUgzBewdO1
— EL4C (@EL4JC) June 21, 2017
“We have a clear programme,” he said. We were to learn that Theresa May does not.
As is now traditional, Labour MP Dennis Skinner mocked the Tory government by reminding us all that the Queen would rather be elsewhere:
The only worthwhile British tradition is Dennis Skinner trolling the #QueensSpeech. We need more like him. pic.twitter.com/lyKZXyjMtp
— Will Black 🐦🍓 (@WillBlackWriter) June 21, 2017
And then, of course, Her Majesty seemed to be commenting on the failures of Theresa May’s Brexit team in her choice of hat.
Then there was the speech itself, with 27 bills set to be put forward by Mrs May in the course of a two-year session – eight of which concern Brexit. No wonder commentators were pointing at Her Majesty’s choice of headwear and wondering.
Unmentioned were plans to scrap free school meals, ration winter fuel payments for pensioners, repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, introduce what became widely known as the “dementia tax”, bring back grammar schools, and repeal the fox hunting ban.
Note that anti-hunting campaigners remain hawkish – they don’t believe a Tory government will let the matter lie:
Whilst we are very pleased the hunting act repeal was NOT mentioned in the Queens speech. We have to be still have to vigilant of attempts. pic.twitter.com/hice3qYHf0
— Keep The Hunting Ban (@KeepTheBanUK) June 21, 2017
Also unmentioned was the plan to cap energy bills that the Tories stole from the Labour Party. Not such a welcome omission, that.
It is as though the Conservative Party has thrown away its 2017 election manifesto altogether.
What do I mean, “as though”? Look on the Tory website – they have thrown it away!
While this is perfectly legal, it does raise a serious question:
If a government can change the contents of its manifesto at will, it raises the question of what people voted for and what democracy means.
— George Monbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) June 21, 2017
Also unmentioned were the plans for a state visit by US President Donald Trump – to sighs of relief from many:
The #QueensSpeech has dropped Donald Trump's state visit. Protest works. We've won – for now @UKStopTrump ✊
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) June 21, 2017
And the proposals that did manage to make it onto the pages before the Queen received short shrift from our friends on Twitter. Here’s a sample:
I wonder if the Queen realises she's telling a pile of lies on behalf of the Conservative Party? Fair funding for schools? #QueensSpeech
— Rachael Swindon (@Rachael_Swindon) June 21, 2017
Wow #QueensSpeech includes a provision for INCREASED military intervention in Syria and the Middle East. Is it now a #DUP religious war?
— Labour Insider (@Labour_Insider) June 21, 2017
Basically, Theresa May promises to destroy the NHS, education and social security; but its ok because its done with humility. #QueensSpeech
— Amy🌱🇪🇺💙 (@thisisamy_) June 21, 2017
Today's #QueensSpeech sums up Britain in the last 7 years: we're going nowhere, fast
We need another general election to demand the future
— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) June 21, 2017
Queen's Speech is threadbare. A minority government too weak to govern & unable to deliver.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 21, 2017
On the longest day of the year the #queensspeech shows a government with the shortest of lifespans. #summersolstice
— John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith) (@Harryslaststand) June 21, 2017
Then it was Mr Corbyn’s turn:
Today was one of Jeremy Corbyn's best performances as leader of the Labour Party. He nationalised her arse. pic.twitter.com/LaisfxgzKC
— Rachael Swindon (@Rachael_Swindon) June 21, 2017
A strengthening Jeremy Corbyn tore strips off of a weakening Theresa May today. She knows her time is up. pic.twitter.com/Kz3tJYhTE8
— Rachael Swindon (@Rachael_Swindon) June 21, 2017
Our prime minister-in-waiting even took a few moments to tear strips off the proposer and seconder of the Queen’s Speech:
It was a performance that won support from interesting places!
"Ohhhhh Jeremy Cooorbynnnn" #Glastonbury2017 pic.twitter.com/ZHvs5DLk3T
— NME (@NME) June 21, 2017
… along with our usual Twitterati friends:
Superb speech by @jeremycorbyn in response to the Tories opening on queens speech,while they joke, Labour concentrates on issues that matter
— Angela Rayner 🌹 (@AngelaRayner) June 21, 2017
. @jeremycorbyn going absolutely all in on this ramshackle government. Calling time on austerity, it's been utterly found out #queensspeech
— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) June 21, 2017
Jeremy Corbyn is currently tearing the Tories' disastrously failed agenda to shreds. The looks on Tory faces alone makes it all worthwhile.
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) June 21, 2017
And Mrs May’s response?
#May claims they are a party for everyone except the sick, disabled, single parents, low paid, public servant, top 10% yes #QueensSpeech
— michelle maher (@mmaher70) June 21, 2017
Yes indeed – the Conservatives are a party for everyone who is rich – as this recent Vox Political article will attest.
Not only that – Theresa May actually lied to Parliament, or at least brutally distorted the facts:
Even when debating the Queen's speech Theresa May couldn't help twisting the facts on police cuts! It's clear she's learned nothing! pic.twitter.com/yY9wif9y6Z
— Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) June 21, 2017
In summary:
Do Tory supporters know or not that their party has turned Britain into an international laughing stock? Genuine question here.
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) June 21, 2017
Perhaps the perfect end for this article is a tweet exchange involving blogger Jon Worth, who wrote:
I am on German TV news tomorrow morning to explain #QueensSpeech to a German audience, in German. How to best explain this mess?
— Jon Worth (@jonworth) June 20, 2017
The response:
Bit of giggling should do it. Europeans already think we are a joke. https://t.co/qweVoKnDZj
— Jeannie Mackie (@feliciamackie) June 21, 2017
Indeed.
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Here is another way the programme is even thinner than it looks.
You have two bills in there, the Courts Bill and the Civil Liabilities Bill, which between them make up about one half of the single Prisons and Courts Bill that fell when the election was called.
One omission that has not been commented on in the media is that the prisons part of that bill has not returned, which is a shame because it was actually quite a progressive measure.
well. The highlight for me was Dennis Skinners remark/ as always spot on the mark/ this time he had me in tears of laughter and i know others feel the same. Jeremy Corbyn was on top form as you say. but did anyone else feel that the “PM” had nicked a good few of his policy’s? i wasnt the only one in my circle to think so. we know she wont stick to them anyway.
Union leaders should be calling for an all out 1 day generl strike and a demo on the streets of London on that day. Time to put the Tory party into the realms of the History book, they are not going to change one bit.
I’m loving this! May n co all look depressed! I hope they all take a long look at themselves in the mirror.
Excellent article. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite understand what Dennis Skinner was saying.
I hear him saying, “Get your skates on, her trace is half past two.”
If I misheard can some tell me what he actually said. If not, then what does a trace mean?
I agree with the tweeter, we definitely need more people like Mr Skinner, especially in parliament.
“Get your skates on; first race is at half past two.”
Definitely not happy with the continued support of war in Syria. Russia is on top of things and with USA actually defending retreating ISIS forces by shooting down syrian plane they obviously have a world war three agenda that the UK should have no part of. Thankfully with diddly squat support in the house and far more sensible MPs seeing through the USA agenda in the middle east ….. this should not happen.
I watched this live on tv yesterday & I’ve noticed how confident Jeremy’s become and is giving a good pasting to the tories…
And when hag May went into one screeching out we got more votes than you etc etc blah blah
(I thought well yes as she had the msm behind her & her buddy murdock)
Keep up the good work Jeremy & I can’t wait to see you as our PM
One point I have noticed is the amazing number of times that a certain I.D.Smith appears on (BBC) television. Is this the same person that attacked anyone who was not in work, for ANY reason? Caused so much anguish to so many people? It cannot be! Or, can it?
was thinking same thing myself. has he seen the light? had a vision from above?
btw Mike, theres a comment of mine from June 22, 2017 at 8:56 a.m. still not been accepted by you,
There are quite a few comments from a lot of people still awaiting moderation. I had an issue with my mouse, which made it hard for me to do anything quickly.
I have a new mouse now. Will get to your comment soon.
ok. no problem. just thought it might have been missed. been a lot going on lately. to keep up with after all..
Sorry for that. I can only hope that, just because I am suffering from just three little things, I’ll be forgiven my outburst. Must be the onset of Dementia. So sorry, I’m not like this usually and, I do hope I havn’t annoyed anyone. goodbye.