BRITAIN: Tony Blair has put crime and disorder at the heart of his government's third term agenda with a promise to create "safe and secure communities" while fostering a new "culture of respect" across Britain.
However the Prime Minister was accused of showing a chronic lack of respect for British voters - barely a fifth of whom voted Labour in the general election - following a Queen's Speech yesterday trailing fresh parliamentary battles ahead over anti-terrorism laws and the government's proposal for compulsory ID Cards.
As newly-sworn MPs heard Mr Blair questioned about his planned tenure in 10 Downing Street, Liberal Democrat chairman Matthew Taylor hailed the forthcoming opportunities for the Lib Dems together with the Conservatives and Labour rebels to "clip the wings" of the Blair government.
At the same time his party leader, Charles Kennedy, vowed that "the liberal voice" would be heard if a government elected with "such a marginal mandate" proceeded to introduce what he termed "illiberal measures".
Mr Kennedy's warning came as Liberty spokesperson Shami Chakrabarti condemned the tone of the government's legislative programme, saying it promised "more tough talk and bad law in a Queen's Speech revealing a chronic lack of respect for democratic traditions."
Meanwhile, as Mr Kennedy predicted the new House of Commons would be dominated by the issue of Europe, Conservative leader Michael Howard challenged Mr Blair to name the date for the promised British referendum on the European Constitution.
The speech delivered by Queen Elizabeth at yesterday's state opening, outlining the government's programme for the next 18 months, promised legislation to effect the constitution, subject to a referendum. However Mr Howard later challenged Mr Blair, seeking assurance that the British referendum would go ahead "even if other countries say 'no'," while insisting if that was so, there was no reason why Mr Blair should not proceed to name the day.
Downing Street last night confirmed that a number of ministers were engaged in tentative planning for a referendum widely expected next March. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said they were proceeding on the assumption of a French 'yes' vote later this month, again confirming: "If there is a constitution we will have a vote."
However in his contribution to the debate on the Queen's Speech, Mr Kennedy noted that the pro-European parties had won 58 per cent of the vote in the general election, and urged the government to take the lead in putting "the positive case for Europe" in a parliament which he said "will be dominated by the European debate".
Mr Kennedy also expressed the hope that the government would be able to build a cross party consensus on two key issues - pensions and anti-terrorism laws - while promising that the Lib Dems would maintain their "consistent and principled opposition" to compulsory ID cards. With his Commons majority slashed to 67, Mr Blair signalled a probable early showdown with Labour dissidents when he told MPs this was "a manifesto commitment" which the government "will deliver".
The indications are that ministers will seek to push through the controversial legislation early in the parliament.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke confirmed the government would be prepared to use the Parliament Act to overcome predicted opposition in the House of Lords.
However in addition to ID cards, proposals for private sector involvement in city academies and plans to tighten the rules for claimants of invalidity benefit could provide troublesome flashpoints between ministers and Labour rebels in the Commons.
With a number of regular rebels keen to flex their parliamentary muscle and hasten Mr Blair's departure from Number 10, Labour MP Alan Simpson yesterday warned the Prime Minister he did not have a mandate for "a privatisation agenda" for the reform of Britain's public services.
And with a question mark hanging over the length of his tenure, SNP leader Alex Salmond asked Mr Blair if he still intended to serve "a full third term" and if there were any circumstances in which he might change his mind. With Chancellor Gordon Brown sitting alongside on the government front bench, Mr Blair curtly replied that he had "already dealt" with that issue.
Included among the 45 Bills promised yesterday is one providing a points system for economic migrants, with measures to fingerprint visa applicants and introducing penalties for employers of illegal workers. A new Violent Crime Bill will introduce tougher laws on the sale of replica firearms, raise the minimum age for knife purchases, and allow police to impose immediate 24-hour bans on pubs and clubs persistently selling alcohol to under-18s.
Other measures will seek to combat fraud in postal voting and allow 18-year-olds to stand for parliament.