Britain:David Cameron and Gordon Brown clashed over Europe and Scotland yesterday after the British prime minister's first queen's speech promised to "respond to the rising aspirations" of the people.
A parliamentary battle also appeared in prospect over new anti-terror laws, with the government edging toward doubling the 28-day detention period for questioning suspects, while the Conservatives press instead for the admission of intercept evidence in courts and the creation of a "proper" UK border police force.
There were no surprises in the list of Bills and draft Bills unveiled earlier by Queen Elizabeth at the official state opening of parliament. But the subsequent Commons exchanges between prime minister Brown and Mr Cameron signalled a long, personal and bitter political battle in the run-up to a general election not now expected before 2009.
Mr Cameron won cheers from his backbenchers when again mocking Mr Brown for the cancellation of the "snap" election originally planned for last week.
There was no let-up in the Tory leader's assertion that Mr Brown "cannot be the change Britain needs".
Mr Cameron declared: "there is only one black hole in British politics, and that is the gap where the prime minister's credibility used to be".
Contrasting the "new" prime minister with his predecessor, Mr Cameron said: "say what you like about Tony Blair, at least he was decisive".
With the European Reform Treaty set to dominate the Commons for months, Mr Cameron characterised Mr Brown as "tired and cynical" while renewing his demand for a referendum. Mr Brown appeared to win an advantage when he challenged Mr Cameron to say whether a Tory government would hold a referendum after parliament had ratified the treaty. Mr Cameron declined to clarify his position.
A constitutional renewal Bill promises to "rebalance power" between parliament and the executive, increase accountability and give MPs powers to ratify treaties and, within limits, decide whether British troops should be deployed.
However, an intervention from the Labour benches during Mr Cameron's speech revealed the widening gap over the unresolved "English" question arising from Labour's devolution settlement. Mr Cameron declared himself in favour of "English votes on English laws". That gave Mr Brown the opportunity to cast Labour as the "unionist" party, reminding MPs that "only one-third" of voters in Scotland had voted for the separatist SNP while accusing the Conservatives of pandering to nationalism. Dismissing a Tory proposal for an English grand committee of MPs to decide on 'English only' legislation as "a ludicrous proposition", Mr Brown insisted there could be only "one chamber" to which the Executive was answerable.