Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly ordered the next King's Speech to be held in the week immediately following the critical local elections scheduled for May next year. The move is seen as a strategic attempt to launch a new phase of the government's agenda and potentially deflect from any poor electoral performance.
Election Jitters and a Strategic Calendar
The State Opening of Parliament, featuring the King's Speech, is now expected to take place on 12 or 13 May 2025. This follows just days after voters across Britain go to the polls on 7 May for a major set of elections. These will decide the composition of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd, several high-profile mayoralties, and thousands of council seats in England.
Current polling paints a grim picture for the governing Labour Party. According to the latest YouGov survey, Nigel Farage's Reform UK leads with 27 per cent of voting intention, putting it a significant ten points ahead of Labour's 18 per cent. This has led to widespread anxiety among Labour MPs, with many reportedly bracing for substantial losses and anticipating a potential challenge to Sir Keir Starmer's leadership in response to the party's ailing national support.
The King's Speech as a Political Shield
A government source suggested to the BBC that the timing of the speech is a deliberate tactic to consolidate the government's direction after the elections. "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," the source stated.
However, this theory may be somewhat undercut by precedent, as the King's Speech has been held in May several times in recent years, including in 2016, 2021, and 2022. Sir Keir Starmer is understood to have already decided which bills will be included in the May address.
What the King's Speech Means for Government Agenda
The King's Speech marks the formal start of a new parliamentary session, typically lasting a year. While delivered by King Charles III from the throne in the House of Lords, the content is written entirely by the government. It outlines the legislative programme for the coming session, detailing the specific bills ministers intend to pass.
For example, last year's speech laid out plans for the Renters' Rights Bill, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the Employment Rights Bill, and bringing train operators into public ownership – all of which are now in progress. The process for May's speech is already underway, with cabinet ministers having begun 'bidding' for their preferred legislation in early October.
The upcoming event will be the third such speech delivered by King Charles III since his accession. With the political stakes exceptionally high following the May local elections, all eyes will be on Westminster to see if this traditional ceremony can successfully reset the government's narrative.
