Boris Johnson's Queen's Speech passed by MPs as he demands December general election

Fears of defeat on legislative plans – the first since 1924 – melt away as Democratic Unionist Party swings behind

Boris Johnson has received the boost of passing his first Queen's Speech through the Commons – moments after demanding a general election on 12 December.

Government fears of a defeat on its legislative plans – the first since 1924, if it had happened – melted away, as the Democratic Unionist Party dropped hints it would vote against.

Instead, the Queen’s Speech was approved by 310 votes to 294, although criticism that it is a “charade” is certain to grow with the renewed Downing Street push for a snap election.

The package – likely to be brought back if there is an election and the Conservatives win – is dominated by six other bills to fully implement Brexit, as well as the “paused” withdrawal agreement bill.

Also among 26 pieces of legislation, unveiled by the Queen at last week’s state opening of parliament, were measures for tougher sentencing of serious and sexual criminals, as well as an environment bill with increased powers to tackle air pollution and introduce new charges on single-use plastic items.

The programme also includes controversial legislation to require voters to show picture ID at polling stations, which opposition parties and campaigners warn will exclude thousands of people – particularly the vulnerable, disadvantaged and elderly – from taking part in elections, while doing little to counter fraud.

And there are also promises of future bills to accelerate improvements to the NHS, reform adult social care and modernise the treatment of people with mental health problems, at potentially huge financial cost.

But the prime minister was accused of betraying private tenants after shelving Theresa May’s promise to end the misery of ‘no-fault evictions’.

The absence of a housing bill cast doubt on a raft of measures pledged by the last prime minister – also including help for leaseholders and a regulator to enforce new homes of a higher-standard.

With the government 23 MPs short of a working majority, it is likely that Mr Johnson’s programme can be implemented if he wins an early election.

Earlier, the new Tory chairman of the Treasury select committee joined criticism of his own government for refusing to publish an analysis of the likely economic damage from the Brexit deal.

Mel Stride said he would press Sajid Javid, the chancellor, to release economic assessments of the consequences for the country “as early as possible”.

“It seems to me that there is plenty of sound and fury around the issue of Brexit, but what we need is some illumination and light,” he told ministers.

"And we are never going to all collectively agree in this House, or indeed in the Treasury select committee, on exactly where we want to end with Brexit or indeed how we are going to get there.

“But what I think what we all can agree on is that information is important, that we need to know what the data is.”