King’s Speech live: All the announcements as King Charles makes first King’s Speech
The State Opening began at 9:30am, and MPs will now have four days of debate.
King’s Speech live: All the announcements as King Charles makes first King’s Speech
Key Events
- King Charles is set to announce all the legislation ministers intend to pass in the coming year at the State Opening of Parliament. The State Opening begins at 9:30am, and the speech itself will start around 11:30 am.
Babes in the wood
Westminster banter bus very much up and running now, as Tory MP Siobhan Baillie mocks how many leaders they've had.
Speaking about the role of public service, she said it gives MPs the chance to change things “for everyday families”, adding: “It also allows the hardest working Prime Minister I have known – and I have known quite a few recently.
“At one point… my baby was three months old and I think she had met three prime ministers.”
Not brilliant, but for parliament standards this is top tier.
More Starm than good
Sir Keir Starmer labels the King's speech "a plan for more of the same”.
He says: "Because what we have before us is a plan for more of the same, more sticking plasters, more division, more party first, country second gimmicks and no repudiation of the utterly discredited idea that economic growth is something the few hand down to the many.
“In fact, today we reached something of a new low because they are not even pretending to govern any more. They have given up on any sense of service.
“They see our country’s problems as something to be exploited, not solved and in doing this, they underestimate the British people because what Britain wants is for them to stop messing around and get on with the job.”
Election klaxon!
Ooooo gossip alert! Labour MPs tell me they think the King's Speech was so light because the Government is planning an early May election next year! Drama! Gossip! Guesswork!
Energy crisis
Rishi Sunak accuses Sir Keir Starmer of "not being against oil and gas, but against British oil and gas". No, me neither.
Big tent
Rishi Sunak fails to answer if he agrees with Suella Braverman's claims that being homeless is a "lifestyle choice".
In a classic bit of parliament deflection, he says: “What I can tell him is that thanks to the efforts of the member for Plymouth, Moor View (Johnny Mercer), veterans homelessness is at a record low level in this country.
“In fact, rough sleeping overall is down by around a third since the peak, thanks to the actions of this Government and in particular, the landmark homelessness Reduction Act passed by this Government, which has helped relieve or prevent over 640,000 people’s homelessness.”
Notes on a scandal
Say what you like about Stephen Flynn, and I know the comments section will, but the SNP Westminster leader never uses notes, which is particularly impressive in debates as wide ranging as this.
Douglas Ross is currently having a go, so he might disagree.
Exit from Brexit
Stephen Flynn tells MPs Brexit has broken Britain, and calls for more migration. Not sure the other parties will support him on that one.
MPs are trickling out the Commons now, leaving those left with very few people listening.
Perhaps used to it, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is speaking with great gusto about how this is all a failure for working families.
He says: “By failing to address the cost-of-living crisis, the NHS and care crisis, or the sewage crisis, and many other crises like them, this King’s Speech essentially tells families and pensioners struggling to get by to accept their fate."
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