The Queen will miss the state opening of Parliament, and Prince Charles will deliver a speech instead
The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge will open Parliament on behalf of the Queen in a historic, unprecedented move in which Charles will read the Queen’s speech.
The 96-year-old monarch reluctantly withdrew from the grand ceremony for the first time in 59 years on the advice of his royal doctors, as he continued to experience “episodic mobility problems”.
This will be William’s first state opening – and the royal function of opening a new parliament has been delegated to both Charles and William by the Queen.
The Duchess of Cornwall, the Queen’s future husband, will also accompany Charles, but the Queen’s main throne will remain vacant in the House of Lords.
The Queen last missed the state opening of Parliament in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and then with Prince Edward. Her speech was read by the Lord Chancellor.
Elsewhere, Labor sources have been described as “confident” that they can prove that Sir Keir Starmer did not break the blockade rules after promising to resign if fined by police and the party has prepared a dossier with evidence in support his case.
Key points
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Beergate – Tory Minister does not think Labor leader should lose his job if fined
Police Secretary Keith Malthaus said he did not see why anyone should lose their job when asked about Sir Keir Starmer’s promise to resign if he was fined for an alleged Covid breach.
Asked if the Labor leader was right to say he would step down, Mr Malthaus told GB News: “This is his job. You see, my opinion is that this was a very difficult situation with complex rules that often changed quite quickly. Mistakes have been made and they are recognized and fixed penalties are paid.
“I don’t see why anyone, be they so tall or so modest, should lose their job.
Mariam Zakir-Hussein10 May 2022 09:25
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70 facts about the queen to celebrate her platinum anniversary
Although the queen’s health is not good enough for today’s state opening of parliament, it is hoped that she will recover in time for her platinum jubilee celebrations in June.
My colleague Laura Hampson also has:
Mariam Zakir-Hussein May 10, 2022 09:20
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Speech by the Queen – Tesco President hopes to announce contingency tax for energy companies
The Tesco chairman said there was a “huge need” for an unforeseen tax on energy companies after seeing supermarket customers “extremely stretched”.
Asked what he would like to see in the Queen’s speech, John Allen told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “First, I think the action will help people cope with the very, very sharp rise in energy prices.
“It is more difficult for people to soften energy than with food, and I think there is a huge argument for an unforeseen tax on profits from these energy producers, returned to those who need help most with energy prices.
“I think that would be the biggest thing that can be done.
He added that he believes that energy companies “expect” it and doubts that “they would actually be very worried about it.”
He said he had recently seen Tesco customers begging cashiers to stop scanning items once their bills reached a certain threshold.
“So I think a lot of people feel, you know, something like a pinch and a lot of people actually feel extremely stretched.”
Mariam Zakir-Hussein May 10, 2022 09:15
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The queen’s speech will include “new drastic measures” to help boost the economy, the interior minister said
Police Secretary Keith Malthaus said the Queen’s speech would include “firm new measures” to help both the people and the nation pay their bills.
He told GB News: “As we move to the budget in the autumn, I think you will see in today’s speech some really strong new measures to boost our economy to move it forward so that we can pay our bills in the medium term. both at home and as a nation. “
Mariam Zakir-Hussein 10 May 2022 09:05
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“Above my salary”: Emergency budget to deal with the cost of living crisis, not excluded by the Minister
An emergency budget aimed at tackling the cost of living crisis was not ruled out by a government minister, who suggested the decision was above his “pay rate”.
Interior Minister Keith Malthaus also said the government could not “spend its way” out of the crisis, as it downplayed the prospect of an ambulance in the Queen’s speech later today.
Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:
Mariam Zakir-Hussein May 10, 2022 08:55
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Occasional mobility problems: Why the Queen lacks state opening of parliament
The Queen’s “episodic mobility problems” – which led her to miss today’s state opening of parliament – lasted until last autumn and led to a number of canceled commitments over the past seven months.
“The queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems and, after consulting with her doctors, reluctantly decided not to attend the state opening of parliament tomorrow,” the palace said in a statement.
“At the request of Her Majesty and with the consent of the relevant authorities, the Prince of Wales will read a speech by the Queen on behalf of Her Majesty, with the participation of the Duke of Cambridge.
In October 2021, the monarch used a cane to serve at Westminster Abbey – the first time Her Majesty made it to a major event.
My colleague Peony Hirwani has more:
Mariam Zakir-Hussein May 10, 2022 08:42
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Beergate – Former Labor Adviser Says Labor Leader Takes “Big Gamble”
Ayesha Hazarika, a former labor adviser, said Sir Keira Starmer’s promise to resign if fined for Beergate was a “big gamble”.
Speaking to Sky News, she said: “He is really threatening his career, putting his political ambitions at stake.
“I think it’s quite unusual to see someone say ‘No, I’ll take responsibility if I’m found to be wrong – I’ll fall on my sword.’
Mariam Zakir-Hussein May 10, 2022 08:35
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The Queen’s speech before Parliament – what to expect and what bills will be discussed
The government will set out its plans for new laws in a speech by the Queen to lawmakers and colleagues this week.
The Prince of Wales, on behalf of the Queen, will deliver a speech on the agenda as part of the official state opening of Parliament.
The speech was written by ministers and detailed the government’s plans for new laws.
My colleague David Lynch takes you through everything you need to know about what to expect in today’s speech:
Mariam Zakir-Hussein May 10, 2022 08:32
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The police minister says that “with great sadness” the queen will miss today’s speech
Interior Minister Keith Malthaus said “with great sadness” the queen would not be able to deliver her speech today at the state opening of parliament.
He told LBC this morning: “We hope that her temporary mobility problems will be overcome in time for the anniversary and indeed for the Queen’s speech at the next session, which will be in about a year.”
Mariam Zakir-Hussein10 May 2022 08:25
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Beergate Labor MP says Starmer’s promise to resign if fined shows a difference between him and the prime minister
Labor MP Bridget Phillipson said Sir Keira Starmer’s promise to resign if he was found to have broken the blocking rules was “the right thing to do”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today program, the shadow education secretary made a contrast between the Labor leader and the prime minister.
She said: “I just think that’s the right thing to do.
Keir Starmer is a man of principle, a man of decency and integrity, and he made his position very clear that if he is found to have broken the law, and I do not believe he will be found to have broken the law, but in case that this happens, he will resign.
“Then look at Boris Johnson, the prime minister who has been found to have broken the law and continues to walk as if nothing had happened.
Mariam Zakir-Hussein 10 May 2022 08:17
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