Parliament returned to work with the ceremonial portrayal of calm and order of the State Opening and the King’s Speech floating, surreally, on top of the turbulent threat to Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.
An (over-)ambitious legislative programme then commenced the traditional five days of debate against a backdrop that provided further copious evidence of Sir Keir’s disconnection from and fundamental disinterest in political reality.
Wednesday, 20th May
Sir Keir Starmer seemed more cheerful at PMQs than he has done for many months. Perhaps the kick-off of the battle for Labour’s leadership has allowed the PM to dream of the day he can hand over the keys to No 10.
The PM came to the chamber with a nice little pre-prepared U-turn on fuel duty announcing that the proposed increase in fuel duty would be delayed in order to minimise rising energy prices. There was almost an insouciance about this a certain “No, i really don’t care – it’s going to be someone else’s problem anyway.”
Mrs Badenoch (North West Essex, Conservative) LotO, concentrated on the Government’s ridiculously illogical idea of lifting sanctions on Russian oil and gas refined in third-party countries, while continuing to block new exploration in the North Sea. (An “insane” idea in fact, Miss Badenoch suggested, warming to her task.) The Prime Minister responded that North Sea oil and gas would continue to supply a significant proportion of the UK’s energy needs for the foreseeable future, thus missing (or perhaps deliberately avoiding if one is to be kind) the Conservatives’ question about allowing NEW exploration. LotO’s best line was perhaps “Being patronising is not a substitute for understanding policy.” The PM’s line here would have convinced even the kindliest observer that although he is certain that he is correct, he simpy has not understood the question or the implications of the policy his Government has adopted. Slightly sad really.
Tuesday, 19th May
There was an intense debate in response to an Urgent Question concerning the government’s approach to redacting documents relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment in which Hapless Jones was sent out to the crease once more with a broken bat and a tin ear. Delaying the release of documents so as to allow members of the Committee to consider them in more detail is about as sensible as a zebra with spots.
However the low point of the day came in the form of Heidi Alexander (Swindon South, Labour) Transport Secretary, who had to announce that HS2 will not be operational until the late 2030s and is likely to cost about £102.7bn.
The Transport Secretary’s attempts to portray herself as incredulous, angry and upset and to blame successive Conservative mistakes for this all-too-predictable outcome was unlikely to convince anyone. HS2 has always been an absurd idea: no-one needs to get from London to Birmingham (or even vice versa) half an hour quicker: that’s what Zoom is for. Why no-one has had the gumption to can this absurd waste of public funds is mysterious.
Monday, 18th May
As the nation and the media considered the latest episode of the Andy Burnham Show, and both Mr Burnham’s and Mr Streeting’s relative position on the potential for the UK to rejoin the EU, David Lammy (Tottenham, Labour) Lord Chancellor, came to the chamber to make a statement outlining the proposed youth justice reform and delivery plan.
It was very dull.
Thursday 14th May
In a ministerial statement on national Security Dan Jarvis (Barnsley North, Labour) Minister of State, Home Department, explained that the security threat level had been raised because of a mix of factors including recent attacks on the Jewish community, but also the increased tempo of direct physical threats made by state actors including Iran.
News filtered through to the chamber that Wes Streeting had resigned from the Cabinet and some of his resignation speech was read by Saqib Bhatti (Meriden & Solihull East, Conservative):
“Where we need vision, we have vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift.”
Wes Streeting, channeling Winston
Wednesday 13th May
State Opening & Loyal Address: TM The King & Queen opened the new session of Parliament with all the traditional fol-de-rol. The fol-de-rol revealed that David Lammy seems to have dodgy knees as he almost stumbled in both directions as he presented and then collected the Government’s text from his capacious purse.
The traditions, although somewhat surreal in the circumstances, may have provided some comfort to the Prime Minister, as they provided some distraction from the tumbrils of the challenges to his leadership.
The King’s Speech set out an ambitious quantity of planned legislation, with 38 Bills listed for the next session.
Top 10
- Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill – nationalising UK steel production
- European Partnership Bill – introducing “dynamic alignment” with EU regulations
- Clean Water Bill – tightening and simplifying regulation of water companies
- Education for All Bill – altering SEND qualification process and provision
- Representation of the People Bill – lowering voting age to 16
- Police Reform Bill – amalgamating forces in to regional structure
- NHS Modernisation Bill – abolishing NHS England and centralising patient data
- Immigration and Asylum Bill – revoking refugee status and reducing taxpayer support
- Courts Modernisation Bill – reduces right to jury trial
- Conversion Practices Bill – banning changing sexual orientation or gender identity
Missing in Action
There was no sign of a Welfare Reform Bill.
Following the ceremonial State Opening, MPs began the five day debate on the King’s Speech.
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Alex
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