Queen Elizabeth II speech to parliament 2009

My government's overriding priority is to ensure sustained growth to deliver a fair and prosperous economy for families and businesses, as the British economy recovers from the global economic downturn. Through active employment and training programmes, restructuring the financial sector, strengthening the national infrastructure and providing responsible investment, my government will foster growth and employment.

My government will also strengthen key public services, ensuring that individual entitlements guarantee good services, and will work to build trust in democratic institutions.

My government will seek effective global and European collaboration through the G20 and the European Union to sustain economic recovery and to combat climate change, including at the Copenhagen summit next month.

The Duke of Edinburgh and I look forward to our visit to Bermuda and our state visit to Trinidad and Tobago and to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in this, the Commonwealth's 60th anniversary year. We also look forward to receiving the president of South Africa next year.

My government will continue to reform regulation of the financial services industry to ensure greater protection for savers and taxpayers . Legislation will be brought forward to enhance the governance of the financial sector and to control the system of rewards.

As the economic recovery is established, my government will reduce the budget deficit and ensure national debt is on a sustainable path. Legislation will be brought forward to halve the deficit.

My government will introduce a bill to enable the wider provision of free personal care to those in highest care need. Legislation will be brought forward to introduce guarantees for pupils and parents to raise educational standards.

My government will legislate to protect communities by ensuring that parents take responsibility for their children's antisocial behaviour and by tackling youth gang crime.

My government will introduce a bill to ensure the communications infrastructure is fit for the digital age, supports future economic growth, delivers competitive communications and enhances public service broadcasting.

Legislation will be introduced to support carbon capture and storage and to help more of the most vulnerable households with their energy bills.

My government will respond to proposals for high-speed rail services between London and Scotland.

Legislation will be introduced to protect communities against flooding and to improve the management of water supplies.

My government is committed to ensuring everyone has a fair chance in life and will continue to take forward legislation narrow the gap between rich and poor and tackle discrimination. The bill would also introduce transparency in the workplace to help address the differences in pay between men and women. My government will continue to enshrine in law its commitment to abolish child poverty by 2020.

My government will ensure that agency workers have a right to equal treatment with permanent staff on pay, holidays and other basic conditions.

Legislation will continue to be taken forward on constitutional reform. My government will also publish draft legislation on proposals for a reformed second chamber of parliament with a democratic mandate.

A bill will be introduced to strengthen the law against bribery.

My government will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations in the interests of all the people of the United Kingdom. My government is committed to the Northern Ireland political process and will continue to work with Northern Ireland's leaders to complete the devolution of policing and justice and to ensure its success.

In Scotland, my government will take forward proposals in the final report of the commission on Scottish devolution. My government will continue to devolve more powers to Wales.


Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.

My government will work for security, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and Pakistan and for peace in the Middle East.

Legislation will be brought forward to ban cluster munitions.

My government will work towards creating the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, including addressing the challenges from Iran and North Korea.

Draft legislation will be published to make binding my government's commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on international development by 2013.

Other measures will be laid before you.

I pray that the blessing of almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

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[vidaliasweet]

The level of opulence is staggering and grotesque.



[Medeasbiggestfan]

@vidaliasweet

It comes from a time when the UK was the richest country in the world.

[PsySwitch1983]

How sad, how completely and utterly sad that in this day and age we still have monarchy.

If monarchy is rooted in divine sanction I wonder how the queen feels about Richard Dawkins.

[Medeasbiggestfan]

@PsySwitch1983

The monarchy isn't rooted in 'divine sanction', it hasn't been for over 300 years. The Queen reigns through an act of Parliament, not divine right.

[TheSirisaac52672]

I read somewhere that the Queen is the final approving authority for appointments to Army and RAF Chief of Staff, Chief of the General Staff (Equivalent to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs) and Chief of Royal Naval Operations. She is also the approval authority for all promotions to Lieutenant General, General, and Field Marshal (wartime). Furthermore, she is the final approving authority, even over the PM, for use of Nuclear weapons. Is this really true?

[Medeasbiggestfan]

@TheSirisaac52672

The last bit isn't true. Use of nuclear weapons is the sole decision of the Prime Minister, but the other things in theory require approval from the Queen, but these days the monarch is just a rubber stamp. The power of the crown is delegated to the Prime Minister. This means that the British Prime Minister is one of the most powerful heads of government in the democratic world - in terms of control over the UK.

[lillibe91]

the crown is amazing...

[MegaSJ8]

LOVE THE QUEEN♥

[AlfredGonzales1788]

@TheSirisaac52672 The Queen also through her vice-regal may sack a prime minister in a commonwealth country as happened in Australia when Gough Whitlam was sacked by Governor General Sir John Kerr acting on behalf of The Queen. All dominion heads of government are appointed by The Queen. The English system of government and democracy is by far the best in the world.

[rday18]

@PsySwitch1983 Disguting vile republicans hate tradition! CUNT

[jamesmanortiz]

@obamasuckss Now I don't understand British politics or know anything about the queen... I just ran across this video... What is wrong with the Queen? Why is she a cuntrag?

Awesome channel name by the way

[doctorserpiente1991]

Queen Elizabeth II is reptilian alien

[o0scotland0o]

snipe that cows brains oot

[josh27JNR]

@Kampfer1445 True but parliament controls the purse strings. No money no military. Parliamentary consent IS needed to retain a standing army although this does not apply to the air force or navy which is why they are the royal air force and the royal navy but the army is not the "royal" army.

As you have stated any monarch that acted unconstitutionally was removed. Hence proving the power of parliament to contest and restrain the sovereign.

[iLikeCookie88]

Is the crown *really* necessary? lol...