Nick Clegg’s response to the Queen’s Speech

5.07.00pm GMT Wed 3rd Dec 2008

In the debate on the Queen’s Speech, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:

"It is on this day that we celebrate our democracy and our most fundamental tradition - scrutinising the Government and holding it to account.

"With almost comic timing, the Queen's speech claims that new measures will be taken to ‘strengthen the role of Parliament'.

"How on earth can the Government justify a 26th criminal justice Bill - more tough talk, more criminal offences, yet public fear of crime still on the rise - while it doesn't mention the word ‘housing' once in the Queen's Speech, an area of policy crying out for urgent Government action?

"The Government's determination to do very little is only surpassed by the Conservative determination to do even less. Listening to the Rt Hon member for Witney, I still don't know what he'd actually do.

"The Conservatives seem to be planning to slash spending from 2010 when the recession may still be bearing down on millions of people struggling to make ends meet. And they call this ‘being responsible'.

"Mr Speaker, it's clear today it isn't just Britain's economy that's broken. Politics is broken, too.

"Today's Government programme is just political pantomime - plenty of bright colours and bad jokes, but very little substance. Labour's run out of ideas. It is clearer today than ever that Britain needs a new, different Government. A different political beginning. That's what the Liberal Democrats will deliver."