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Queen’s speech focuses on terror fight
A raft of new laws to tackle international terrorism, crack down on crime and combat global warming were at the core of a Queen’s Speech that set the legislative programme for Tony Blair’s final year in office.
New powers aim to provide greater security
Law enforcement and security agencies are to be given new powers to combat illegal immigration, money launderers and terrorists under a raft of laws and pledged strategies.
Missing elements point to flare-ups
It included more than two dozen bills yet the most striking aspect of this Queen's Speech was what it failed to mention.
Big businesses face carbon trading scheme
Supermarkets, hotel chains and other big businesses could be brought into a national carbon trading scheme as part of new legislation to combat climate change.
Clues to Brown's agenda emerge
In what was Tony Blair's last Queen's Speech before he leaves office, it was Mr Brown's, rather than Mr Blair's, agenda on which politicians and pundits alike were focused.
Blair urges backing for terror strategy
The government is hoping to secure parliamentary backing for a long-term counter-terrorist strategy in the face of what Tony Blair warned was a "very real" danger of Islamist terrorism in the UK lasting for at least a generation.
The battle of the billions fails to impress
Labour now takes every Conservative suggestion of lower taxes and translates it into precise job losses among teachers and nurses, writes Philip Stephens.
Law to protect City from US-style red tape
A law to ringfence the City against the incursion of US-style onerous regulations, included in the Queen's Speech, will be fast-tracked through parliament and should be in force within a year, government insiders said.
Action 'must not burden' companies
Proposed legislation to tackle climate change should not put British companies at a competitive disadvantage, business leaders have said.
Pension reform put at heart of welfare changes
Legislation for what is arguably the most sweeping state pension reform in a generation will form the centrepiece of a welfare reform package that will see the government complete its changes to incapacity benefit and introduce a replacement body for the Child Support Agency.
