GLITTERING tiaras, scarlet ermine-trimmed robes and trumpet fanfare – it must be the Queen's Speech.
With the UK careering towards Brexit in the midst of unprecedented political turmoil, the pomp and ceremony of the State Opening of Parliament was heralded by some as welcome relief.
Everyone else, however, wondered if the whole thing wasn’t a gigantic waste of time.
The speech itself was condemned by Boris Johnson’s opponents as a pre-election stunt, a “charade” and a “Tory party election broadcast”.
And let’s not forget the Government’s majority in Parliament melted away after Johnson’s appointment as PM.
Summing up the situation up was the SNP’s Joanna Cherry: “A meaningless and expensive distraction from the broken politics of Brexit Britain.”
🤜🎤In just one sentence, @joannaccherry exposes and eviscerates the Tory Queen's Speech for the pure electioneering that it is.
— The SNP (@theSNP) October 14, 2019
🙈 A meaningless and expensive distraction from the playbook of Boris Johnson's Brexit fanatics. pic.twitter.com/4S6xrgU0OM
The MP wasn’t the only one to be left thoroughly unenthused by the Queen’s address.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford tweeted: "The Queen's Speech was an election broadcast for the Tory Party more than anything else.
"A speech heavy on law & order from a Prime Minister willing to break the law."
LibDem leader Jo Swinson said: "This Queen's Speech is a charade."
Labour branded the event "farcical" and a "stunt".
READ MORE: Queen's Speech: MPs react to speech dominated by crime crackdown
Social media users were also unimpressed.
ITV's Robert Peston said it was: "Not really a Queen’s Speech, more Boris Johnson’s “Dear Santa.”
Journalist Ian Dunt described it as "a legislative agenda the government has no intention to pursue, no majority to pass, and no capacity to deliver".
Here are a few of the best responses on Twitter...
Two years ago, the whole occasion was pared back - no crown, no carriage - considered an acknowledgement that no one had won the election, a minority government, etc. Not sure why today gets the full pomp. We are much more screwed than we were then.
— Tom Peck (@tompeck) October 14, 2019
Slightly paradoxical bit of Queen's speech on measures "to provide dignity in old age" as said queen, aged 93, is forced to dress up as the White Witch from Narnia and read out several pages of utter guff about bills which will never happen.
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) October 14, 2019
Queen’s Speech small talk going well pic.twitter.com/nyzP6YA4SE
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) October 14, 2019
Donald Tusk, April 11: "Please do not waste this time."
— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) October 14, 2019
The UK, October 14: pic.twitter.com/0R4sD41Roh
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