"The first thing I want to talk to you about today is the Queen's Speech. I've read it, but I can't tell you what's in it - as I would be arrested."

So an "upbeat" David Cameron joked at a meeting of Tory MPs ahead of today's debate on the Queen's speech and, more newsworthily, the Speaker's statement on the police raid on Damian Green's Commons office.  Dizzy may not be impressed; he's already worried that last night's Tory video is in danger of belittling the seriousness of the Green affair.

Benedict Brogan blogs that the Tory whips are determined to stop "hotheads" from getting too excited today:

"Various big beasts gathered with David Cameron last night to discuss tactics for today, and agreed that the hotheads should be locked up and kept out of sight, leaving the way clear for calmer heads to take the lead this afternoon."

It is widely reported that two of those calmer heads will be Michael Howard and Ken Clarke.  They are expected to lead questioning of Michael Martin when he makes his 2.30pm statement should Mr Speaker not provide a satisfactory explanation and announce a debate on what happened.  The latest buzz is that he'll find time for a debate tomorrow.

Meanwhile The Times' Sam Coates suggests that The Speaker had no powers to prevent the police from entering the parliamentary estate.

And from the red corner Lord Mandelson is leading a Labour fightback, more-or-less accusing the Conservatives of a conspiracy to break the law.  Iain Dale has the story.

ConservativeHome will be liveblogging the Speaker's statement at 2.30pm and, later in the afternoon, David Cameron's response to the Queen's Speech.  Stay tuned!

Comments

[Sally Roberts]

Her Majesty has just read out "Her Government"'s intention to strengthen Parliament!

God Help Us - the hypocrisy of this Labour shower is beyond belief!!!

[rugfish]

I can't reply in case I'm arrested for thought crime unforunately Number 1.

Regards,
Number 66101-78765, Northern Division of Ingsoc

[John F Aberdeen]

The State Openings "Moment of the Day"
Prince Phillip joking with some friends,,reaching into the royal purse, which contains the Speech, and pulling it out quickly and making a show of throwing away the contents,,,
Well done Sir, My sentiments exactly,, I salute you.

[GB£.com]

Wonderful Matt cartoon in the Telegraph today with two coppers reading out the speech instead of the Queen.

[rugfish]

The State Openings "Moment of the Day"
Prince Phillip joking with some friends,,reaching into the royal purse, which contains the Speech, and pulling it out quickly and making a show of throwing away the contents,,,
Well done Sir, My sentiments exactly,, I salute you.

Posted by: John F Aberdeen | December 03, 2008 at 11:57

--------------------------------------------

WHAT A HOWLER !!!
PMSL

[Sally Roberts]

John F - I missed that particular little gem but I echo your comment. Well done Sir indeed! The Late Queen Mother likewise would have had no truck with this shower!

[resident leftie]

Luckily it's not the monarchy that gets to decide how the country is governed, nor is it their place to make political comments, or in this case, gestures. So do the monarchist cringe all you like, but it's just Philip making an arse of himself once again. We'll just add it to his "slitty-eyed" list.

[Patrick Ratnaraja]

Did any one realise that it was a very short speech and therefore an election could be called earlier than expected?

[Dontmakemelaugh]

"The first thing I want to talk to you about today is the Queen's Speech. I've read it, but I can't tell you what's in it - as I would be arrested."

Cameron should leave the jokes to Boris Amnesty Johnson, the Tory Court Jester is much better at it. Sam Coates, a former joint editor of Conservative writes this in the Times:

"Why the Speaker was right
It's not what the Tories want to hear, and I'm wearing my tin hat, but Michael Martin had no powers to stop the police entering Damian Green's office in the House of Commons. Jill Pay, the Searjant at Arms, could not have turned the police away
The chest swelling arguments about parliamentary privilege are - deep breath- rubbish.
Much has been talked about the sanctity of Parliament, but overnight research by the House of Commons library has been unable to find any laws, statutes, sessional orders or precedents to suggest Parliamentary privilege gives MPs or their offices additional protection from the law within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster".

Good on yer, Sam. Nice to see that you new job has led you to live in fantasy land.
Best wishes

[Dontmakemelaugh]

Should read: joint editor of ConservativeHome

[Paul J]

Resident Leftie

It may not have been his place, but he was certainly expressing the views of very large numbers of people about this exhausted, discredited and thoroughly sad excuse for a Government.

[GB£.com]

RL, it is just one unelected leadership mocking another.

An elected PM. What a revolutionary thought...

[Norm Brainer]

Meanwhile The Times' Sam Coates suggests that The Speaker had no powers to prevent the police from entering the parliamentary estate.

He has powers the same as everyone else has powers in that they can physically block them and inform other MPs that it is going to happen for them to do the same.

Had to go out this morn so going to watch the speech back shortly but did catch a few secs on live iplayer and thought that I had misheard when she read that her government will strenthen parliament.

[StevenAdams]

This was hardly a political gesture... a light 'gag', maybe!

If I was to make the choice of Prince Philip – benevolent but perhaps a little bumbling – or Brown – malevolent, misguided, self-serving and self-righteous – I know who I'd choose.

[Peter O]

Mandelson has made a direct claim that Galley leaked the documents on the understanding he would get a job with CCHQ. He hasn't singled out Green but rather accused the whole "opposition". Surely we should demand that he either presents evidence to support the claim OR resigns? This is outrageous!!

[Sally Roberts]

It isn't OUR Sam Coates!

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/torydiary/2007/03/sam_coates_and_.html

[David_at_Home]

Resident Leftie,

"We'll just add it to his "slitty-eyed" list"

Mrs_at_Home has "slitty eyes" and she found nothing offensive in the Duke's remark; in fact, in the context of British students spending a long time in China, she thought it was quite funny.

And yes, she is a Monarchist too (in two countries).

Neither were our partly “slitty eyed” adult children at all offended. None of us could even see why anyone should be offended

Why are your sort so bossy/humourless /politically correct? Or was it just an excuse to have a hack at the Monarchy?

Tony Blair for President? Urghhh!

[Michael McGowan]

If Mandelson knows all these terrible things, how come? Labour claim on the one hand that this is an independent police investigation taking its course, yet they seem to have an inside track on the so-called evidence. Either they are making it up as they go along (JK Rowling is one of their main donors) or Mandelson has special access to a supposedly independent investigation. Damian Green should demand to be prosecuted and the defence should then force Mandelson and Jacqui Smith to testify.

[Sally Roberts]

Peter O - does this mean that Plod will now turn up to arrest every Conservative Member of Parliament?! That should prove rather interesting....

[Andrew S]

I think it would be fair to award Resident Leftie the prestigious title of 'Everybody's Favourite Joke'.

[pp]

At the very least, having a monarch keeps our PM from beng head of state.

In America their presidents tend to have been state governers etc - so have had considerable 'practice' before taking the top job. Here we have nothing similar.

I was against having a london mayor for the same reason - there is no way of ensuring a reasonable stock of suitable candidates...

[resident leftie]

Posted by: StevenAdams | December 03, 2008 at 13:00

This was hardly a political gesture... a light 'gag', maybe!

If I was to make the choice of Prince Philip – benevolent but perhaps a little bumbling – or Brown – malevolent, misguided, self-serving and self-righteous – I know who I'd choose.

You'll have a chance to decide what happens to Brown in a couple of years, Philip we are stuck with until he pops his clogs, and that's the difference. He and Charles should keep their mouths shut and get on with their jobs, instead of making political gestures.

Funny or otherwise the "slitty-eyed" remark was reported around the world and caused great offence in China, particularly when he added he thought that Peking was "ghastly." The Queen was mortified. It was a crass, idiotic remark; but then he was born, not elected and we have to put up with whatever crawls out of the genetic cess pool which is the European royal family.

Posted by: Andrew S | December 03, 2008 at 13:31

I think it would be fair to award Resident Leftie the prestigious title of 'Everybody's Favourite Joke'.

I would be very happy to add it my list which includes Mandy's Muppet (my favourite so far), Bolshevik Rat in the Basement, nincompoop and Stalinist in the Basement.

As for humour, all the best comedians with open political affiliation are left wing. You have Jim Davidson and Bernard Manning, we have everybody else.

I'm taking this horribly off-topic so I will shut up.

[Sally Roberts]

"I think it would be fair to award Resident Leftie the prestigious title of 'Everybody's Favourite Joke'."

I second that Andrew!

Tim, have we ever thought about having an "Everybody's Favourite Joke of the Day" award? Then all the UKIPPERS as well as Leftie, Comstock, Gloy Plopwell and all our friends could have a turn!

[Mark Fulford]

Surely we should demand that he either presents evidence to support the claim OR resigns? This is outrageous!!

Peter O, Mandy's words, as reported by the BBC, were:

"in an attempt to pursue his ambitions in the Conservative party, allegedly".

All Mandy's got to do is point to anyone, even a humble blogger, alleging this conspiracy and he is factually correct. It's simple PR and adds nothing new.

[P.S. Note to BBC editors: it's “Conservative Party”, not “Conservative party”.]

[rugfish]

The police search was conducted under "consensual search" on an ordinary police warrant.

A police warrant doesn't appear to give sufficient authority ( unless the occupant consents ).

If the Sergeant at Arms had declined to permit a police search, the the officers would have had to of 'gain a bench warrant' or a warrant from the Home Office.

There hasn't been any reason disclosed as to whether there were any reasons urgent enough for the search to be conducted without seeking a formal warrant.

[Tony Makara]

So, who wants to bet that Purnell's welfare reforms will not take people off benefit? The problem with welfare reform is that it is only aimed at managing welfare. To get people off benefits a government has to create jobs, yet the best this government cam come up with is a miserly three million jobs over an eleven year period, a large part of those being in the state sector, part-time or transient. Its not good enough and its not going to get people off welfare.

James Purnell's welfare reforms will be a good thing in a way though, because they will finally expose the David Freud approach as being flawed. Hopefully when we see that Purnell's reforms haven't taken people off benefit the Conservative party might take a radically different approach and build a waged works-programme into the benefits system.

[Geoff Middleton]

You have Jim Davidson and Bernard Manning, we have everybody else.

I'd rather listen to Bernard Manning than "funnyman" Marcus Brigstocke, Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross, and their ilk.
You are welcome to your po-faced, unfunny, PC, lefty establishment "comics".

[griswold]

Campbell-Mandelson have been dripping their poison into the body politic for more than a decade. There is no smarter operator than Mandelson - every word carefully chosen to sow doubt and suspicion, to deflect and obfuscate, to create confusion all the while with a user friendly tone and nuance. Sadly our politicial reporters and opinion formers treat him seriously and accept his words at face value. He has never ever uttered a word that was not designed to advance his personal agenda. He is the most immoral politician of his and any other generation.
He epitimises all that is corrupt in NuLab - short cuts, incompetence, governing as a PR operation employing calumny and detraction as standard weapons.
I will not comment on his personal habits and financial arrangements.