As King Charles prepares for the State Opening of Parliament later today, Keir Starmer is battling to save his position as Prime Minister. The King's Speech is the time for the Government to lay out its plans for this parliamentary session.
Electoral Fallout Overshadows Legislative Agenda
These legislative priorities are being overshadowed by the fallout from last week's local and regional elections, which saw Labour lose more than 1,400 council seats in England, control of the Senedd in Wales, as well as being reduced to 17 seats in Scotland. Following his speech to supporters in London early on Monday, in which he pledged to silence his critics, the PM yesterday faced demands for him to step down from 80 of Labour's 403 MPs, and the resignations of four Government ministers, including safeguarding minister Jess Phillips and health minister Zubir Ahmed. Sir Keir acted quickly, replacing the four ministers.
Internal Calls for Leadership Change
Ahmed called for MPs who were unhappy to speak out: “I think people who are articulating their dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister in private, they do have a responsibility to say that in public and directly to him, because this situation is unsustainable. It is now unstable, and I think, therefore, we do need an expedient and orderly transition.”
Defending the PM's position, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told BBC Breakfast: “There is no contest for the leadership of the Labour Party. There’s a very clear way to do that under our rules of 81 people nominating an alternative candidate. That hasn’t happened. The contest hasn’t been triggered. We are moving on. I’m not saying yesterday wasn’t turbulent. It evidently was, but we are moving forward, getting on with delivery.”
King's Speech to Unveil Major Reforms
The King's Speech is scheduled for 11.30am today and is expected to unveil more than 35 bills and draft bills. These could include the renationalisation of British Steel, tighter asylum rules, leasehold reform and closer ties to the EU. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, regarded as one of the leading contenders for the PM's job should Starmer resign, visited No.10 briefly this morning but refused to be drawn on whether he was considering a leadership challenge. Streeting is among several Labour figures said to have ambitions to succeed Sir Keir.
Potential Successors and Union Pressure
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is also seen as a contender, but would first need an MP willing to stand aside so he could fight a by-election and chart a path back to Parliament, reports PA. Sources close to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband have denied reports that he is preparing to run if Streeting triggers a contest.
As the pressure builds, some of the country's biggest unions, including Unite, Unison and the GMB, have pulled their support for the PM, saying: “Labour's affiliated unions have been clear that Labour cannot continue on its current path. It’s clear that the Prime Minister will not lead Labour into the next election, and at some stage a plan will have to be put in place for the election of a new leader.”
