"The King's Speech has been pencilled in for May 12 or 13 next year, the BBC has been told, just days after elections across Britain on 7 May. The elections in May cover the Scottish parliament and the Welsh Senedd as well as thousands of council seats in England and a handful of directly elected mayoralties. Labour is braced for a bad night at the polls, which many Labour MPs believe could precipitate a challenge to Sir Keir's leadership."
"One government source told the BBC: "It will be much harder for somebody to challenge the PM and say we need to go in a different direction when the King is about to come to parliament to announce what we're doing for the next year." Others dispute that there is any connection between the threat to Sir Keir's leadership and the date selected for the King's Speech."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will present his government's post‑May legislative agenda in the King's Speech pencilled for 12 or 13 May, shortly after nationwide elections on 7 May. The May contests include the Scottish parliament, the Welsh Senedd, thousands of English council seats and several directly elected mayoralties. Labour expects a poor electoral performance and some MPs fear a leadership challenge. A government source said the timing makes an immediate leadership challenge harder, while others note previous King's Speeches have also occurred in May. The King's Speech inaugurates the parliamentary session and lists bills the government intends to bring forward. Ministers began bidding for inclusion in October and most now know which bills will feature.
Read at www.bbc.com
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