So, the Queens speech with the details of the plans for the parliamentary year has been given. Normally this is no usual from the last year with some bills carried over from the last year, and some new ones signalling the governments intentions. The key difference about this one is that by the end of the parliamentary year, there will be a new Labour premier. This means that the speech was designed to show the governments intention for the year, give TB his legacy and bind the Labour government to the Blairite ideals when he goes. So will it work? Well the intention for the next year is largely about security, the environment and tying up loose ends from before. The legacy he intends to be environmental, he wants to be remembered as the man that started the saviour of the environment by reducing emissions, sadly Iraq will be his legacy. As for binding a successor to the Blairite policy, its not just about whether the successor agrees, will the labour party let itself be bound to the Blairite policy? It seems more likely a Brown government (assuming he wins the leadership) will go for a middle point between the Left and the Blairites.

So will the speech be seen as a success? If the bills all get through yes. But before then TB needs to realise that Iraq will be his main legacy (sad when he has lead a very successful government). The bill is a strong signal of policy intention from the government at a time when people are getting fed up of waiting for a serious Cameron policy to come out. However no-one will be looking at Blair now, all will look towards his successor, he is in effect a lame duck PM!

For ref, the bills included in this speech were:

Border and Immigration Bill
Child Support Bill
Climate Change Bill
Concessionary Bus Travel Bill
Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill
Corporate Manslaughter Bill
Criminal Justice Bill
Crossrail Bill
Digital Switchover Bill
Exchanges and Clearing Houses Bill
Fraud Bill
Further Education and Training Bill
Greater London Authority Bill
Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill
Legal Services Bill
Local Government Bill
Mental Health Bill
Northern Ireland Bill
Offender Management Bill
Organised Crime Bill
Pensions Bill
Planning Reform Bill
Statistical Reform Bill
Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill
Welfare Reform Bill