Chris Mason: Why the King’s speech is being overshadowed by a coffee59 minutes agoChris MasonPolitical EditorIt is amazing that two men having a cup coffee can generate more headlines than the King visiting parliament for the main ceremonial occasion of the parliamentary year. Both of these things are happening today. The King was in Westminster to read out the government’s new laws. This was planned for this week because the government anticipated a rough election result and political turmoil. They got that part right. They hoped it would help Prime Minister to relaunch and reboot his Premiership again. There’s no shortage of plotting.Follow Live: Keir’s Starmer latestStarmer’s King’s Speech preparations as he faces a leadership crisisThe potential challenges to Keir’s StarmerWes streeting: Ambitious Minister at the centre of leadership speculationWhat’s the King’s Speech?And what happens during State Opening of Parliament?” So where are we now? We’re in a bit of a holding position. The authority of the prime minister has been repeatedly slammed, but no one has yet to come forward with 81 MPs required for a challenge to his leadership. And the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham still hasn’t found a seat in parliament. “Wes does not have the numbers, and Andy doesn’t have a place, for all the noise,” a supporter of the Prime Minister told me. “Wes has botched it and caused massive damage and instabilities in the process. Some believe that after the State Opening, Wes Streeting may go for it. Some of his supporters certainly hope so, after publicly declaring that the prime minister was finished. Meanwhile, the Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation has released a statement today saying “it is clear that the prime minister will no longer lead Labour to the next election.” There are also disagreements among unions as to what to do next.
