The King’s Speech – opening the new parliamentary session – is on 13 May, just days after the Local Elections on the 7th of the month. Guido hears the government is considering an early prorogation of parliament – potentially as early as Tuesday…
Briefings fired at the time the State Opening of Parliament was confirmed for 13 May speculated that the week commencing 27 April would see parliament prorogued. That would leave a standard length gap of 16 days…
To prorogue a week earlier would leave a longer gap of 22-23 days. All to miss one PMQs…
There are numerous reasons Labour would want to the need to deal with Parliament as the local elections approached. Escaping parliamentary proximity to local elections by shuttering earlier than required would be gross hypocrisy from a party which screamed permanently at the top of its lungs about previous governments’ attempts to restart Commons sessions the same way. In case anyone still thought Labour had principles…
Douglas Alexander – a friend of Starmer’s – was asked on Sky News if the PM will be in post at the next election. He wasn’t so sure himself:
“I think he will. There are no certainties but of course I think he will lead and I think he should because, frankly, on the biggest call in this parliament he’s exercised the right judgment, which is to keep us out of someone else’s war.”