In his first major Commons speech as Conservative leader, Michael Howard accused Tony Blair of squandering the "great promise and sweeping mandate" he received when first elected in 1997.

The Tory leader singled out the Asylum Bill for particular criticism. "Children of asylum seekers are to be taken into care in order to force their parents to leave the country. The prime minister and the home secretary should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves," he said.

However, the prime minister was in equally combative mood, saying: "He may want to pose as the nice Dr Jekyll. But we know that deep down he is the same Mr Howard."

Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, said at the last general election many voters felt a "sense of disappointment" about Labour.

"That sense of disappointment... is turning to a sense of despair, and there isn't much in the way of hope that's been offered to reverse that feeling as a result of the content of this Queen's Speech."

Former Labour foreign secretary Robin Cook, writing in the Independent, claims Number 10 is "pushing some deeply divisive measures".