The Queen's Speech: did Gordon go far enough?
Eight minutes and six seconds: that’s how long it took to set out the government’s plans to square up to our “rising aspirations” in the new parliamentary year.
In a speech notable for its brevity more than its bravery, Gordon Brown’s vision for Britain’s future was presented to Parliament on Tuesday by a bespectacled monarch in dreary tones (think Shakespeare being read by the speaking clock).
But the Queen’s apparent indifference belied the momentousness of the occasion, for this was the prime minister’s Big Moment – a chance to fight his way out of political No Man’s Land after losing ground virtually since the day he took over number 10.
The battle for supremacy began before Her Majesty was even seated: Brown found himself shoulder-to-shoulder with David Cameron on the red carpet and had to make (presumably polite) conversation with his Conservative nemesis.
Relations between the two are far from cosy. The two main parties are almost parallel in the opinion polls, and whether Labour will be able to secure a historic fourth term – or be unseated by the resurgent Tories – is anyone’s guess. In short, Game On.
Today, therefore, was a day for guerrilla government: a merciless attack on the opposition that would reduce them to a bloody smear on the battlefield, simultaneously winning the hearts, minds and votes of an awe-struck electorate.
The necessary weapons were armed and fully operational: counter-terrorism, climate change, citizenship and a housing crisis. These are trying times, marked by troublesome issues – perfect rocket launcher fodder for warring ideologies.
Brown wasn’t hesitant in leading the charge. The counter-terrorism bill extends the powers of the authorities to protect the UK from attack and bring to justice anyone inclined to commit atrocities in the name of religious freedom; people who use reasonable force to protect themselves and their property are at long last being offered the full protection of the law; the school leaving age will be raised to 18, and Britain is to become the world’s first nation with a legal framework for cutting carbon emissions.
But has that charge gone far enough? If Cameron’s gleeful display later in the Commons is anything to go by, probably not. “Not Flash, Just Gordon” seems to have stopped short – albeit only by a fraction – of declaring political warfare via his policies, a cautionary strategy that may yet cost him dearly.
Barely had Jack Straw shuffled backwards down the throne steps than experts and opposition MPs were claiming efforts to cut carbon emissions are too conservative (note the small ‘c’), the bid to clean up Britain’s hospitals is too bureaucratic, and measures to simplify the planning process are playing into the hands of unscrupulous developers.
The fact everyone had effectively heard the speech before didn’t exactly maximise its impact. Brown set out most of his plans in a pre-Queen’s Speech several months ago, which meant the only big surprise during the event proper was the lack of big surprises.
Worse was yet to come. When the Commons reconvened a few hours later, the prime minister himself raised the spectre of Cameron’s charismatic party conference performance (you know, “that” speech), claiming it was good on jokes, but bad on policy. Duly provoked, Cameron promptly upstaged said performance – and, indeed, his antagoniser – even inviting Labour MPs at one point to “come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough.”
Pigtail-pulling aside, this betrays a more serious problem. Brown likes to present himself as a heavyweight, turning Cameron’s frivolity to his own advantage, but seems to stop just short of the killer blow – both in his public persona and in his policies. And simply glowering at someone across the despatch box doesn’t win wars, or friends, or even influence people. So Gordon, unlace those gloves, raise your metaphorical fists and let's see what you're really made of.
by Laura Snook, MSN UK News Editor
November 6, 2007
