Queen's Speech: A programme to transform Britain?
By Iain Watson
Political correspondent, BBC News
The political message is clear - that the government will help "working people" but not those claiming benefits who, in the words if the prime minister, are "sitting at home".
The Conservatives' own polling highlighted that this was a powerful message especially in the Midlands and southern marginals seized from, or defended from, Labour.
The intention is to try to recreate the coalition, not with the Lib Dems, but with people who don't traditionally back the Conservatives, but whose parents may well have voted for Mrs Thatcher before deserting the party for Tony Blair.
The prime minister is even using the language of 'One Nation' - briefly favoured by Ed Miliband.
So there are measures to extend free child care, and the right to buy to housing association tenants, and to ensure those who work thirty hours a week for the minimum wage won't pay income tax.
But it's also interesting to note what isn't in the Queen's Speech.
Labour warned that VAT would have to rise. There will now be a bill to freeze the rate until the end of the parliament. There were warnings from the opposition, too, that child benefit might be cut further, or limited to the first two children.
There is no mention of this. But some of the detail of the welfare cuts may not become apparent until the Chancellor delivers a fully Conservative Budget in just over a month's time.
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