Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to set out the next stage of his government’s plans shortly after May’s major elections, with the King’s Speech scheduled for mid-May.
The speech has been pencilled in for 12 or 13 May, according to BBC reports, just days after voters go to the polls on 7 May. Those elections include contests for the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, thousands of council seats in England and several directly elected mayors.
Labour is preparing for difficult results, and some MPs believe a poor showing could prompt questions over Sir Keir’s leadership. One government source said holding the King’s Speech so soon after the elections would make it harder for critics to argue for a change of direction.
“It will be much harder to challenge the prime minister when the King is about to come to Parliament and announce what the government plans to do for the next year,” the source said.
Others, however, dismiss suggestions that the timing is linked to internal party politics, noting that the King’s Speech has often taken place in May in recent years, including in 2022, 2021 and 2016, all shortly after local elections.
The King’s Speech forms part of the state opening of Parliament, a ceremonial event that marks the start of a new parliamentary session. While sessions usually last around a year, the current one has been longer than usual, having begun after the general election in July 2024.
Although delivered by the Monarch from the House of Lords, the speech is written by the government and outlines the legislation it intends to bring forward in the coming session.
Cabinet ministers began formally submitting proposals for new laws in early October, and most now know which bills the prime minister wants included in the post-May legislative programme, according to a government source.
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