Speech contained 'policy gold nuggets'

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Shortly after I had updated my Facebook status on Tuesday night, a quite innocuous line referring to the Queen's Speech, friends posted responses which in themselves seemed of little significance.

Yet as the 83-year-old monarch Queen presided over the state opening of Parliament for the 55th time, I pondered how the nature of Facebook might serve to inform both Labour and the Conservatives about the shape of the political discourse during the months leading up to the general election.

Just as Facebook has over an extremely short period transformed the way large numbers of people connect and communicate, Labour, consistently behind in the polls, needs to reconnect with voters, and very quickly.

We know the Conservatives are undoubtedly favourites with the overwhelming majority of press "experts" to form the next government.

However, David Cameron does need to hone a message that is of genuine significance to the voter between now and June.

Simply showing the public that his party is not Labour will not necessarily guarantee victory and a mandate to govern.

Yesterday's Queen's Speech contained several key potential "gold nuggets" on fundamental policy areas covering the economy, child poverty and social care that certainly have the potential to galvanise Labour.

Of greater importance though was the opportunity for Labour to paint a clear divide between themselves and the opposition, offering voters a genuine choice at the election.

The Queen's Speech featured 13 bills including a Bribery Bill developing a comprehensive UK strategy for tackling foreign bribery, strengthening work with international partners, establishing a clear legal, regulatory and policy framework.

Also a Digital Economy Bill will ensure a competitive digital communication infrastructure, protect intellectual property, and maintain plurality in regional news.

Not too much here to excite voters? Hold the front page!

Labour hope that some meaty and high profile public pronouncements on a Fiscal Responsibility Bill committing the government to halving its budget deficit within four years, a Child Poverty Bill which will enshrine in law Labour's ambitious pledge to abolish Child Poverty by 2020, a Social Care Bill for the first time providing a new national care service with free personal care in their own homes for those with the highest need, and promising parents new rights to demand their children receive a high quality education, will all serve to help restore confidence and trust in the Government and its battered image.

Does any of this matter though?

With only 33 legislative days left in the Lords until the last date for an election, Labour's critics dismiss yesterday as a sham.

Michael Gove complains it's simply aspiration when it should be fact and substance. The Sun simply says it's a waste of time.

Like the bottom two contestants in the X Factor nervously awaiting their fate, Gordon Brown must wait for the public to cast their votes.

As for my Facebook status, in ten years time I hope my post might read:

"While Gordon Brown didn't win the X Factor, he shunned personality politics and restored values to the political discourse.

Over to the public to decide.

Richard Robinson is parliamentary researcher to Andy Reed MP.