The Queen wore a day dress instead of the usual robes and crown for the State Opening of Parliament. Photo: ReutersPrime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to "level up" Britain by tackling inequality and driving an economic recovery from the pandemic with a raft of laws presented to parliament by the Queen. At her first major public appearance since the death of her husband Prince Philip last month, the Queen travelled to parliament by car rather than the traditional horse and carriage, addressing socially distanced ermine-clad lords. "We must use this opportunity to achieve a national recovery so that jabs, jabs, jabs becomes jobs, jobs, jobs," said an upbeat Johnson who drew laughter as he mocked Labour. Much of Tuesday's " Queen's Speech" comprised policies and proposals already flagged, prompting the Labour Party to challenge the government to turn its "rhetoric into reality".

Source: Otago Daily Times May 11, 2021 22:07 UTC