𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

These are dangerous times, according to the King. “An increasingly dangerous and volatile world threatens the United Kingdom,” he told the House of Lords.

Issuing an ominous warning, he added: “Every element of the nation’s energy, defence and economic security will be tested.” But of course, these are not really his words. The speech read out by the King in Parliament was written for him by the Government.

Charles sat on his throne, accompanied by the Queen, as ermine-clad peers of the realm listened attentively. Behind the pageantry, however, lay raw politics. This was Keir Starmer sending a message to the world, and especially to his critics.

In this period of uncertainty, the message went, Britain needs strength and stability – not the chaos of a Labour Party civil war and leadership election.

Many years ago, former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown saw off a potential leadership challenger with one simple phrase. “This is no time for a novice,” he said.

Sir Keir was trying a similar ploy, but he had the King say the words for him.

And documents accompanying the speech set out no fewer than 37 pieces of legislation that the Government hopes to introduce, either in final form or draft form, over the next year.

They include votes at 16, a new Northern rail network, more social housing, a national police force, immigration reforms, more nuclear power stations … the list goes on.

Who knows if any of this will actually happen? Minutes before the King entered the Lords Chamber, news emerged that the coup against Sir Keir is very much on.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is set to resign from the Cabinet and trigger a leadership contest. At least, that’s what he hopes – it depends on whether he can convince 80 fellow Labour MPs to sign his nomination papers (he needs 81, but can sign it himself).

It follows a 16-minute meeting between Mr Streeting and the PM, which does not appear to have resolved their differences.

We can only guess whether any sort of leadership contest will take place and who the candidates will be. Even if a vote is held, Labour’s internal party rules state that Sir Keir will be entitled to stand in it. It’s perfectly possible that Labour activists will simply elect him as leader a second time.

But if the Prime Minister clings on, his authority at Westminster will be destroyed. Many of his own MPs will refuse to support him if he attempts anything controversial, such as significant reforms to immigration or to the benefits system.

And he may not cling on. He may be turfed out of Downing Street, either in the next few weeks, or in the months to come if leadership rival Andy Burnham makes a return to Parliament in the future.

For now, Sir Keir is leading a zombie government. He can set out big plans for the future, but it’s all talk. He cannot say with any confidence that his plans will come to fruition.

And the Prime Minister has used the King to do his talking for him. Perhaps it was inevitable, as cancelling the King’s Speech would have been the final nail in the coffin and a public admission that Sir Keir’s Government is finished. But it was still deeply unedifying to watch.