Updated 13 November 2002, 15.17

The Queen paid a visit - complete with crown, golden carriage and all that stuff - to run through Tony Blair's plans for the next year.

He wants new laws on everything from graffiti to international crime, and from saving water to pub opening hours.

And schools are top of the agenda - with a crackdown on bunking off.

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But not everyone is going to like what they've heard, so it's going to be a busy year in parliament.

But that's what it's there for.

It was on 5 November 1605 that Fawkes and others had planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament while the King was there.

That's the reason we have bonfires and fireworks on 5 November.

And to this day the cellars are still searched before the Queen's Speech to MPs.

Name:
Lembit Opik
Age:
37
Where are you from?
I was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland, but my parents are Estonian (in north-east Europe, which is why I have got a funny name)
Party:
Liberal Democrats
School nickname:
Lemsip
Greatest achievement:
Potentially saving the world from an asteroid impact by getting the government to take the danger seriously.
Inspiration:
During World War II, my mum and dad had to leave Estonia to escape from the Russians, who would have killed them if they had stayed. I guess that made me angry enough to try and make the world safer so that it wouldn't happen to other people.
Last movie I saw:
K-Pax
Football team:
Leicester City
MP I admire:
Paddy Ashdown (well, he was an MP, now he's a Lord)
Were you interested in politics as a child?
Yes
Why does politics matter?
Politics will make a difference to your life whether you realise it or not. That's why it's important to vote.
What one thing would you change tomorrow?
I'd like a few less rules and a bit more freedom.