- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 25 May 2010 17.17 BST
George Osborne, David Cameron and William Hague in the Commons after the state opening of parliament today. Photograph: PA
David Cameron used his first major speech at the Commons dispatch box today to attack the former Labour government for leaving the country in "an appalling mess".
Speaking in the Commons after this morning's Queen's speech, the prime minister adopted a combative tone as he began his address by rounding on Labour for leaving the country with a deficit bigger than that of crisis-hit Greece.
Cameron more than once referred to the handover note left to his ministers by Liam Byrne, the former chief secretary to the Treasury, who quipped that there was "no money left".
The prime minister's comments followed acting Labour leader Harriet Harman's response to the Queen's speech, in which she outlined how Labour planned an "effective" opposition role following the monarch's unveiling of the coalition government's 18-month legislative programme earlier today.
Based on the principles of "freedom, fairness and responsibility", the programme includes plans for a wholesale reform of schools, a shake-up of the welfare system and measures to "accelerate" the reduction of the budget deficit.
Cameron took to the dispatch box to quip that there was "something missing" from her speech: "Not one word of apology for the appalling mess that has been left in this country. Nothing to say about leaving Britain with a deficit that is bigger than Greece's. Not a single idea for getting to grips with it. Until they learn what they got so badly wrong I'm not sure people are going to listen to them again."
The prime minister said the note from Byrne was "13 words that sum up 13 years of complete cavalier arrogance with the taxpayers' money".
He rounded on David Blunkett, the former cabinet minister and MP for Sheffield Brightside, when challenged on how the new government's decision to scrap child trust funds for poorer children squared with the coalition's commitment to fairness and social responsibility. In a nod to the many millionaires in the cabinet, Blunkett asked if it was fair for a government that was "asset rich" to take away funds from those who were "asset poor".
Cameron fired back that the decision was Labour's fault: "You broke the nation so badly that it's schemes like this that can't be continued with."
Labour meanwhile had the novel experience of sitting on the opposition benches for the first time in 13 years in the Queen's speech debate.
Harman promised "effective" opposition to the government's legislative plans as she poured scorn on the coalition forged between Cameron and Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader and deputy prime minister.
Labour's acting leader said that her party would not oppose for the sake of opposing during debate on the measures put forward by the Conservatives and Lib Dems.
But she warned that neither would the opposition "pull our punches" in showing where ministers are going wrong.
Harman mocked the coupling of the Conservatives and Lib Dems, just weeks after the two parties had set out manifestos made up of conflicting policies. She also suggested the leadership's backbenchers were sceptical about the alliance. "While the happy couple are enjoying the rose garden, the in-laws are saying they are just not right for each other."
Harman promised Labour's support for measures that would help to secure the economic recovery, endorsed waste-cutting measures and supported planned voting reforms. But she rounded on a number of proposals outlined today, including the plan to elect "individuals" to hold police forces to account.
She also made clear Labour's opposition to plans to change the law so that 55% of MPs – not just a plain majority – would be needed to bring down a government and trigger an election.
Harman added that it was "morally unacceptable" to cut the number of parliamentary seats and redraw constituency boundaries on the basis of an electoral register "from which three and a half million people are missing".
Harman concluded by saying that the new government had a "great privilege and a heavy duty".
Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat MP for Southwark North and Bermondsey, asked Cameron for an assurance that "his government" would do better than Labour in building council housing and affordable housing.
Cameron joked to the MP, regarded as being on the left wing of the Liberal Democcrats: "I hope before long he will be referring to it as "'our government' rather than 'his government'," before giving the requested assurance.
On international affairs, Cameron committed the government to the military mission in Afghanistan. In comments that appeared to override claims by his defence secretary, Liam Fox, that Britain was merely in the country for national security reasons, Cameron said: "This is a vital year for Afghanistan's future. We have had a troop surge in southern Afghanistan; there are now about 44,000 American forces fighting alongside around 9,000 British soldiers. What we need now is a political surge with more effective and accountable government, a reformed Afghan police force and proper reconciliation at the centre. This government will play a leading role in helping to bring that about."
Cameron also made clear he intended to increase the pressure on Iran amid evidence of Tehran's intention to acquire a nuclear bomb.
"For the last six years we have pursued a twin-track policy offering engagement but being prepared to apply pressure. I believe it is time to ratchet up that pressure and the timetable is short. This government has a clear objective to ensure stronger UN and EU sanctions against Iran."
He said measures ought to include restrictions on trade finance, asset freezing and action against banks holding funds for the regime in Tehran.
The new government was also given notice by the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, that key statements by ministers should be made to the house "before they are made elsewhere".
"If they do otherwise, then I, and I'm sure the house, will expect to hear explanations and apologies as necessary," Bercow said.
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