The government will today announce a mammoth programme of legislation in a Queen's Speech expected to contain about 50 Bills.

Ministers hope the vast number of proposals will show voters that Labour is not running out of steam and is living up to its manifesto pledges.

The Bill introducing identity cards, while expected to spark backbench unrest, will be reintroduced before the Commons breaks for the Whitsun recess at the end of next week.

But leaks suggest that the long-awaited law on corporate manslaughter has not made it into the speech.

Instead it will be announced "alongside" it, giving it a lower priority in the legislative timetable.

The new session, which will stretch through until November 2006, will feature flagship Bills on crime, immigration and asylum, welfare reform and education.

Ministers are braced for defeats when sufficient numbers of Labour rebels combine with the opposition parties.

Party sources say there is a group of around 25 Labour "irreconcilables" who oppose Tony Blair's programme, and can be expected to oppose the government on most key issues.

One whip said yesterday: "This will be the knife-edge parliament. The press will like it but it will be hard work for us."

Vera Baird, the MP for Redcar who rebelled over the Terrorism Bill and has persistently challenged ministers over their legal reforms, has been selected to kick off the Queen's Speech debate.

The role is reserved for rising stars on the backbenches heading for ministerial office.