Yesterday I was in the Lords for an historic ceremony. The PM decided he wanted to end the long first session of this Parliament and start again on May 14 th with a State Opening by the King of a new session. This ancient practice allows the PM a breathing space, the chance to relaunch the government with a new legislative programme with the theatre of royal ceremony to back the government.
The event takes us back to the medieval hierarchy of King, barons, knights, burgesses. The Lord Privy Seal, the senior Cabinet Minister who is Leader of the Lords, presided alongside the Lords Speaker. She told Black Rod to summons the Commons to hear the prorogation by standing at the bar of the Lords. Once their representatives led by the Speaker were assembled the Clerks read out recent Bills that have passed both Houses and announced royal consent. Then the Leader read a speech on behalf of the King summarising the government’s view of its legislative successes and main policies. At the end the Commons departed and the Lords session ended.
All was done in the name of the King, though all was of course decided by tge PM and cabinet. What was disappointing was the content of the speech the Leader had to read. Whilst it obeyed the rule of not making any party political points, it wallowed in complacency , often departing from reality.
It stressed the government’s commitment to growth, skipping over the reality of little growth achieved. There was no understanding of how anti growth many if its policies have been. It stressed nationalisation of rail, steel and parts of energy, without seeing how these changes will mean big losses, big taxpayer bills and disappointing results. It talked about the UK helping solve world crises without seeing the lack of engagement with either Iran or Russia busy prolonging their wars.
I will talk about the next Kings speech nearer its delivery. The old session dies with Labour at a historic low in the polls for a governing party, with growth stuttering, worklessness and benefits soaring, illegal migrants still coming and the cost of living squeeze still bad.