What time is the Queen’s Speech today, can it be voted down and what happens at The State Opening of Parliament?
THE Queen's Speech is a flagship event that sets out the Government's agenda for the next two years.
In a highly unusual move, Theresa May was forced to delay the speech by two days amid Tory disarray as they entered talks with Northern Ireland's DUP to gain their support for a minority government after the snap General Election resulted in a shock hung Parliament.
When is the Queen's Speech?
The Queen's Speech, which was tabled for Monday June 19 but had to be pushed back to Wednesday June 21 (TODAY), takes place at the State Opening of Parliament. It is due to begin around 11.30am.
Written by the PM and his or her colleagues, it outlines the Government's legislative agenda for the coming year.
It gives the best marker as to what policies will be pursued most vigorously and what plans will be put on the backburner.
Why was the Queen's Speech delayed?
After the election resulted in a hung Parliament with the Conservatives as the largest party, Government sources said the speech needed to be put back.
One excuse being mooted was that the traditional goatskin parchment paper on which the speech is written would take too long to dry.
That is because the Tories took several days to receive assurances from the DUP that they would support them in a "confidence and supply deal" before they could put pen to paper.
Such a deal promises support from a smaller party for a minority government to pass major budget legislation, allowing for the larger party to maintain power.
The right-wing DUP was expected to drive a hard bargain for their support — on issues such as guarantees over a soft border remaining between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit.
Some feared the party would try to pursue social issues such as a retreat on gay marriage and abortion.
The opposition Labour Party said: "Number 10's failure to confirm the date of the Queen's Speech shows that this government is in chaos, as it struggles to agree a backroom deal with a party with abhorrent views on LGBT and women's rights."
Can the Queen’s Speech be voted down?
The legislative programme announced in the speech must be put to a vote in Parliament.
The Tories currently do not hold a working majority in the Commons, meaning they don’t have enough MPs to push the vote through on their own.
Theresa May has been in talks with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to win the support necessary to pass votes, but a deal has yet to be announced.
And it has been reported that Labour, the Lib Dems and the SNP could work together to introduce amendments to force a vote of no confidence in May’s government.
What happens at the State Opening of Parliament?
The State Opening of Parliament sees the head of state, The Queen, mark the beginning of a new parliamentary session.
Usually happening in May or June, the event is normally a highly ornate and formal affair, but it has been toned down in 2017.
It sees The Queen address the House of Lords before the Commons are invited into the chamber by Black Rod, the Monarch's envoy in Parliament, to hear the speech.
MPs then debate the speech back in the House of Commons.
Why has the 2018 Queen's Speech been cancelled?
Theresa May has ordered a rare two-year Parliament, double the length of a normal session, by axing the 2018 Queen's Speech.
This is only the second time the Queen's Speech has been scrapped since 1949.
Labour branded the last time it happened in 2011 under the Tory-Lib Dem coalition an "abuse of power".
It is suggested not having another Queen's Speech cuts the risk of a career-ending Commons defeat with the Tories' slim majority with DUP support.
A two-year Parliament gives Theresa May time to pass laws for Brexit as discussions begin this week, including the Great Repeal Bill.
It is reported the Prime Minister hopes to get a clear run to 2019, and bide enough time to complete Brexit and find a successor.
