Harriet Harman MP, Labour's Deputy Leader, responding to Nick Clegg's pointless political posturing on the Queen's Speech today said:

“Nick Clegg is wrong to say it's "a waste of everyone's time" to help carers, make the banks more responsible, and secure Britain's economic growth and jobs.

“Instead of this pointless political posturing, the Liberal Democrats should back our plans for a National Care Service in this week's Queen's Speech.

“Now is a time for optimism, not pessimism.

“Just as we built the NHS after the Second World War, so today, we can lay the foundations for a new National Care Service; raise standards still further in our schools; and renew our politics - true, as always, to the values of fairness and responsibility for which our party stands.

“Of course it’s right that we should rebuild public trust and confidence after the concern about expenses but Nick Clegg seems to be somewhat behind the curve here.

"We’ve already passed legislation which became an act of parliament in the summer which will make sure that MPs no longer set our allowance system or run it and there’s a payback system which is already happening.”