Downing Street and Buckingham Palace have discussed how to prevent the leadership crisis currently engulfing Keir Starmer overshadowing the King’s Speech on Wednesday.
King Charles will travel in full pomp and circumstance for the official State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday morning before reading out the Government’s legislative agenda for the year, in a centuries’ old tradition.
But a senior Civil Service source admitted that the crisis swirling around the PM has plunged the monarch’s role into “unchartered territory”. With the leadership still unresolved – casting a doubt over the legislative agenda to be read out – the ceremony “could be very awkward for the King”, the source said.
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How would Andy Burnham become prime minister?
Andy Burnham is one of the frontrunners to replace Sir Keir Starmer if he resigns as Prime Minister. The Manchester Mayor has previously indicated he would be willing to overthrow the current Labour leader.
Caption: File photo dated 13/4/26 of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Labour Party MP and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham meet pupils during a visit to a school breakfast club at Holy Trinity C of E Primary School in Ashton, Greater Manchester. Andy Burnham “should never have been blocked” from seeking a seat in the Commons, Angela Rayner has said today. Issue date: Monday May 11, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Paul Ellis/PA Wire
Photographer: Paul Ellis
Provider: Paul Ellis/PA Wire
Source: PA
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham cannot run for the leadership unless he wins a seat in Parliament (Photo: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty)
First step – find a vacant seat
Caption: File photo dated 13/4/26 of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Labour Party MP and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham meet pupils during a visit to a school breakfast club at Holy Trinity C of E Primary School in Ashton, Greater Manchester. Andy Burnham “should never have been blocked” from seeking a seat in the Commons, Angela Rayner has said today. Issue date: Monday May 11, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Paul Ellis/PA Wire
Photographer: Paul Ellis
Provider: Paul Ellis/PA Wire
Source: PA
A vacant parliamentary seat would need to be available and finding one may not be easy.
There are two by-elections coming up in Scotland, but Burnham is unlikely to stand in these.
Caption: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham arrives for a meeting in 10 Downing Street, London, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Photographer: Alastair Grant
Provider: AP
Source: AP
Copyright: Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Caption: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 31: Labour Party MP Clive Lewis addresses hundreds of activists and campaigners in London’s Parliament Square during ‘Extinction Rebellion’ protest against the inaction of the British government in the face of climate change and ecological collapse. Protesters declared a non-violent rebellion and demanded urgent action on the ecological crisis to avoid the possibility of human extinction in the near future. October 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo credit should read Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Photographer: Wiktor Szymanowicz
Provider: Future Publishing via Getty Imag
Source: Future Publishing
Copyright: ? 2018 Wiktor Szymanowicz
MPs have indicated in the past they would step aside for Burnham, including Clive Lewis, but these suggestions have since been quashed.
Step two – Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee
If a seat were to become vacant, Burnham would need to win over the National Executive Committee (NEC), who is responsible for choosing Labour’s candidates. In January, the NEC blocked Burnham from running in Gorton and Denton. A 10-strong group, including the PM, voted to deny Burnham permission.
Caption: FILE – Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer poses for a photo outside Parliament Buildings, following a meeting with party leaders, during his tour of the UK following Labour’s victory in the 2024 general election, in Stormont, Belfast, Monday July 8, 2024. (Liam McBurney/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Photographer: Liam McBurney
Provider: AP
Source: Pool PA
Exclusive
3 min read
Step three – a leadership ballot
If Burnham were to be elected to Parliament, only then could he make a Labour leadership bid. According to the Labour Party rule book, candidates seeking to enter the ballot must be an MP.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham speaking at a Resolution Foundation event on working-age families, at the Methodist Central Hall in central London (Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Caption: Angela Rayner And Andy Burnham At The Daily Mirror Party At The Labour Party Conference In Brighton, 2021 28-September-2021 (Photo by Jeremy Selwyn/Evening Standard via Getty Images)
Photographer: Jeremy Selwyn
Provider: Evening Standard via Getty Image
Source: Evening Standard
This is because the Labour leader is the Prime Minister, therefore they would need to be a Member of Parliament. The current rules state a candidate must receive nominations from 20 per cent of their Labour colleagues in Parliament to be in the running.
A summary of necessary steps
What is standing in Burnham’s way?
Vacant seat
NEC permission
Win election, become an MP
Meet nominations threshold
Win leadership competition, become Labour leader and prime minister
Why do the British insist on exporting their culture when they travel? (Photo: Ceri Breeze/Getty)
FOOD AND DRINK
Greggs to open international shop at Tenerife South airport
The British chain will bring its beloved range of baked goods to the Canary Islands.
Greggs last operated shops abroad in Belgium in 2008, but said Tenerife was “the ideal location to test spreading our wings in an overseas setting”.
What you need to know
Greggs will open a branch in Tenerife South airport later this month.
The usual range of sausage rolls, pasties and sweet treats will be on offer.
A ‘Spanish omelette roll’ will also be on the menu.
Around half of Tenerife’s 13 million visitors go to and from the UK each year.
OPINION
2 min read
What Greggs is saying
It’s an exciting milestone for Greggs as we bring a slice of home to the Canaries, and we’re confident our great-value offering will resonate just as well under the Spanish sun as it does on the UK high street.
Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie
Caption: Greggs sausage rolls, UK. (Photo by: Alex Segre/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Photographer: UCG
Provider: UCG/Universal Images Group via G
Source: Universal Images Group Editorial
Copyright: Alex Segre
GO DEEPER ON THIS TOPIC
Greggs has made me ashamed to be British
Caption: Bay of turquoise coloured water in Los Cristianos, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Photographer: BriBar
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+
Copyright: BW PHOTOGRAPHY
Spain – a land of excellent food, rich cultural identity and a beautiful language.
Of course, if you’re a British tourist there, odds are you won’t have noticed.
Why do the British insist on exporting their culture when they travel?
Read more here.
Polanski speaks during an election press conference in Glasgow, Scotland (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
GREEN PARTY
Everything you need to know about Polanski council tax row
Green Party leader Zack Polanski is under scrutiny over his council tax arrangements while living on a house boat in London.
Everything you need to know
What has Polanski said?
Polanski has admitted he may owe council tax from when he lived with his partner on a house boat in east London.
Polanski previously claimed he only stayed there “occasionally”.
But after scrutiny of the claim he now admits making an “unintentional mistake”.
“He has immediately taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe,” the Green Party said.
Recent controversies elsewhere
Caption: Green Party leader Zack Polanski applauds after Zoe Garbett was declared the winner for the 2026 London Borough of Hackney mayoral election at Hackney Service Centre, east London. Picture date: Friday May 8, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Photographer: Yui Mok
Provider: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Source: PA
Copyright: PA Wire
Red Cross claim
Polanksi admitted he was wrong to describe himself as a spokesperson for the British Red Cross.
Police criticism
Met Commissioner Mark Rowley reacted angrily when Polanski shared a tweet criticising officers during the Golders Green attack.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (Photo: James Manning/PA Wire)
Caption: Britain’s Green Party leader Zack Polanski speaks to the press, while he celebrates with the Green Party’s Zoe Garbett (not pictured), who has been elected mayor of Hackney, as results in the local elections are being announced, in London, Britain, May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Chris J Ratcliffe
Photographer: Chris J Ratcliffe
Provider: REUTERS
Source: REUTERS
Breast claims
Polanski claimed to be able to make women’s breasts larger while working as a hypnotherapist.
What opponents say
The Green Party leader has already been found out for fibbing over his employment history, and his hypnosis skills, and now this has emerged too. What else is Polanski hiding?
This pattern of misleading the public shows Zack Polanski simply cannot be trusted.
THE LABOUR PARTY
Polanski speaks during an election press conference in Glasgow, Scotland (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
What is causing damp? And how to fix it
In addition to being generally unpleasant, living in a damp property can lead to structural and health issues if left unaddressed for long periods of time.
Read on to find out the industry expert advice on how to cut the risk of damp forming in your home…
Start with your windows
Don’t keep them closed.
Take time to rest (Photo: Counter/Getty/Digital Vision/Nicolas Hudak)
Regularly opening windows – even on cold days – can improve the ventilation inside and decrease the humidity of the room.
Also wipe away the condensation that has formed overnight with a microfiber cloth to remove the dampness.
Big Read
8 min read
How to reduce the risk of damp
Woman loading washing machine in the kitchen – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Dry clothes in the bathroom
Avoid drying clothes in bedrooms or living rooms without airflow.
Avoid curtains over radiators
It can trap heat behind the fabric, reduce room warmth and cause condensation on windows.
Central heating problem at home. Woman checking heating radiator in cold apartment – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Furniture assembly in new apartment – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Nudge your furniture
Large furniture items placed tightly against cold walls can trap condensation, leading to mould over time.
Caption: Berlin, Germany – January 20: Condensation has been reflected on a cold winter morning on an old double box window on January 20, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
Photographer: Thomas Trutschel
Provider: Photothek via Getty Images
Source: Photothek
It could be the age of your home
Close to 90 per cent of UK homes with solid external walls lack insulation, making them vulnerable.
The airtight design of some new builds helps with energy efficiency but can trap moisture if ventilation isn’t properly managed, says Chad Bragg, chief technical officer at insulation company SuperFOIL.
How to reduce the risk of damp
Clear clothes out
Clothing that is packed too tightly in a wardrobe traps humidity, especially if it is slightly damp.
(Photo: Getty).
Caption: File photo dated 19/09/13 of a general view of a central heating thermostat. Households are set to learn their energy bills will fall by around 7% from April in a shake-up of costs after the Government promised they will receive an average ?150 cut. Latest predictions suggest Ofgem will reduce the energy price cap by ?117 to ?1,641 a year for a typical dual fuel household from April 1 when it makes its announcement on Wednesday. Issue date: Sunday February 22, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Photographer: Steve Parsons
Provider: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Source: PA
Heat strategically
If the heating in your home is reduced in temperature by just two degrees, humidity levels will increase by 10 per cent.
Keep lids on pans
While cooking it avoids releasing moisture into the air. A good cooker hood is most effective.
Protein doesn’t have to mean steak (Photo: 10’000 Hours/Getty Images/Digital Vision)
Planning for an extension?
Pay attention to insulation
(Photo: Pramote Polyamate/Getty).
Poor insulation creates ‘thermal bridges,’ or cold spots, where the new structure joins the old house. These cold junctions act as magnets for condensation, causing localised mould, heat loss, and discomfort.
LIFESTYLE
4 min read
HEALTH
How weight-loss drugs can help obese breast cancer patients
CARDIFF, WALES – NOVEMBER 8: A close-up of a Mounjaro KwikPen injection pen on November 8, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
Weight loss drugs could improve survival rates and lower the risk of cancer returning in breast cancer patients with obesity, a new study suggests.
Researchers said GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy “may offer protective benefits beyond glycaemic and weight control, potentially improving survival and recurrence risk in some female patients with breast cancer”.
A survival boost
Researchers from the US-based Massey Comprehensive Cancer Centre said breast cancer patients living with obesity or type 2 diabetes tend to have poorer survival outcomes.
While GLP-1 drugs are already known to help treat both conditions, researchers added that their links with breast cancer survival and recurrence “remains unclear”.
HEALTH
4 min read
LIFESTYLE
5 min read
The mystery link
With researchers unsure of the mystery link, they set out to examine the connection among breast cancer patients over a 10-year period. Here’s how it went:
The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, examined data on 841,831 US patients aged 18 and over.
They used prescription data to see whether patients had used GLP-1s before or after they were diagnosed.
They compared 1,610 patients who used, and 1,610 patients who did not use, the weight loss drugs at any point.
The weight loss drugs appeared to carry a 65 per cent reduced risk of death among women with obesity during the 10-year follow up period, researchers said.
Use of the drugs were also linked to 56 per cent reduced risk of the disease returning.
Landmark study
All-cause mortality was approximately 60 per cent lower at both five and 10 years among GLP-1 RA users compared with non-users. No study has found a survival difference this large associated with GLP-1 RA prescriptions in a population of women with breast cancer or any other cancer.
Dr Richard Wender, the University of Pennsylvania
Clinical trials suggest that trastuzumab deruxtecan, also known as Enhertu, can increase the amount of time patients live and gives them more time before their disease progresses (Photo: PA)
What next?
The researchers said their findings support the launch of clinical trials to further evaluate the effects of the drugs.
While the findings are promising, more work is needed before changing treatment practices for breast cancer patients.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
LIFESTYLE
7 min read
WORLD ANALYSIS
Trump faces his greatest rival this week. He needs a win
Only a few months ago, the prospect of a summit between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping looked likely to be a bruising confrontation.
Last year, after Washington had imposed tariffs on Chinese goods that reached as high as 145 per cent at one stage, rhetoric on both sides hardened sharply.
Rising anxieties
Trump has tried to navigate the rising anxiety about China, which is one of the issues that has united Republicans and Democrats in the US for the best part of 10 years.
He has consistently expressed his admiration for Jinping, even when he was out of office. To his detractors, this was yet another sign that the US President has a soft spot for autocrats and dictators.
Trump and Xi Jinping tour the Forbidden City in Beijing in November 2017 (Photo: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
OPINION
3 min read
A ‘friendly’ summit
After a meeting between the two leaders in Busan, South Korea, last October, Jinping took a similar line. “China and the United States should be partners and friends,” he said.
Caption: U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event at The Villages Charter School at The Villages, Florida, U.S., May 1, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Photographer: Nathan Howard
Provider: REUTERS
Source: REUTERS
(Photo: Nhac Nguyen/Pool/AFP via Getty).
This does not mean that the anxieties that both countries have about each other’s motivations, ambitions or capabilities have dissipated. At the moment, however, it suits both sides to make this week’s summit as friendly and constructive as possible.
Iran war pressures
For the US, the opening of Pandora’s box that has followed the attacks on Iran means that, as well as being preoccupied elsewhere, there is a need to replenish heavily depleted weapons stocks.
That means that a moratorium with China is helpful, as is a loosening of Beijing’s tight controls on the export of rare earths and critical minerals.
Trump has been messaging his intentions accordingly.
Last month, he posted on Truth Social about the summit: “President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well!”
The cost of fighting
Trump cannot afford to pick another fight at a time when the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has put pressure not only on oil supplies but also on fertiliser, helium and the global economy as a whole.
That works well for Jinping, too. The optics of Washington treating China as a peer are good for the latter’s global stature.
Caption: TOPSHOT – US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2026. The United States will prevent all shipping from entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz for “as long as it takes,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday, the fourth day of the blockade. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: SAUL LOEB
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors
OPINION
4 min read
Movement on both sides
That is why the meeting is likely to produce a set of carefully calibrated announcements designed to show that co-operation remains possible.
The United States is expected to push hard for major Chinese purchases of American goods.
China, meanwhile, will seek movement on export controls, semiconductor restrictions and investment barriers.
Analysis
4 min read
Analysis
6 min read
The World Health Organisation has warned of the risks associated with the us of sweeteners (Photo: Getty)
Environment
How climate change could put tea drinkers in hot water
The familiar taste of tea may turn bitter as climate change disrupts harvests and makes it harder to achieve consistent flavours, campaigners have warned. A Christian Aid report also warns that a warming world could cause the price of a cuppa to spike.
“As climate variability increases, achieving that consistency becomes more challenging, Dr Neha Mittal from the Met Office said.
What does the report say?
Rising temperatures and worsening weather extremes in countries such as Kenya, India and Sri Lanka could make tea more bitter and harsher, researchers say.
The issue is also hitting close to home, with tea growers in the UK warning that it is making it much harder to achieve consistent flavours .
Climate-induced disruptions to harvests could cause price spikes and unreliable supplies .
The rising price of fertiliser and fuel as a result of the US-Iran war is also expected to hit tea producers.
ENVIRONMENT
3 min read
Supporting farmers
Tea production relies on stable temperature and rainfall conditions, which are shifting in producer nations. Optimal growth conditions sit within a narrow range of between 13°C and 30°C and with adequate but not excessive rainfall.
Caption: FUZHOU, CHINA – MARCH 29: Farmers harvest celery in the fields as the area enters the harvest season on March 29, 2026 in Fuqing, Fujian Province of China. (Photo by Xie Guiming/VCG via Getty Images)
Photographer: VCG
Provider: VCG via Getty Images
Source: Visual China Group
It’s raining heavily, wearing an umbrella during the rainy season – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
The flavour and quality of tea depends on a balance of compounds such as catechins, amino acids and polyphenols, the report said. However, higher temperatures increase the production of more astringent compounds while reducing sweetness – leading to a more bitter taste.
The expert view
For generations, consumers have taken for granted that a cup of tea will taste the same, day in, day out. But that consistency depends on a stable climate, and that stability is now breaking down. What we are seeing is the beginning of a shift towards a harsher brew
Claire Nasike Akello, climate adaptation and resilience lead at Christian Aid
(Photo: Matthew Vincent/PA Wire)
How to fake your way to being organised
Do you have your life together? Is your home tidy and clutter-free; your diary neatly colour-coded; your to-do list full of satisfying ticks?
If these questions feel like a personal attack don’t worry. We asked the put-together experts for their secrets.
Get to know your brain
The real magic is rarely in the system but in how your brain likes to work.
If you love analytical tasks, try making spreadsheets.
Set reminders for the things you usually forget.
Use the Notes app for the ideas you think of in the shower but never remember when you get to do it.
But if you are more likely to structure your day around how you’re feeling, a calendar isn’t the best option.
How to fake your way to organisation
Cropped image of senior woman putting car key in ignition lock – stock photo. (Photo: Kentaroo Tryman/ Getty)
Make it easier
If you hate folding, change your storage style. If you’re always forgetting your keys, put a sign by your door.
Make a launch pad
Keep a small tray or basket in the hallway for your can’t-leave-home-without essentials.
Two young children wearing school uniforms exit their front door – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Mid adult businesswoman using phone and laptop for work from home. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Use technology
After meetings use an AI tool to note down what you have to remember as a brain dump.
Create new habits
The one-touch rule
If you put your shoes straight on the rack as you take them off, instead of kicking them onto the floor and moving them later, that’s one touch. If you hang things up rather than tossing them onto the ‘bedroom chair’ it’s another one-touch win.
A woman with one foot is searching for an amputee to share shoes with – so her two bin bags full of unwanted right foot size six shoes don’t go to waste. (Photo: Emma Henson/ SWNS)
Full length of mid adult man doing chores in kitchen at home – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Talk to yourself out loud
This verbal anchor helps you remember what you have decided to do and cuts down on mental drift.
The 300-second challenge
Caption: Millennial black lady vacuuming floor while her husband watching TV, not helping her with household duties, cropped view. Unrecognizable young couple having problem with domestic chores
Photographer: Prostock-Studio
Provider: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto
Give yourself five minutes to deal with one overdue chore or task.
Using seconds rather than minutes creates urgency and gives your brain a novelty hit.
Try it when putting the laundry away, making a phone call or reading an overdue email.
LIFESTYLE
9 min read
Make it easier for yourself
Use completion cues
Drop a marble in a jar or move a sticky note across a board each time you complete a task.
To do list – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
It is the perfect time to enjoy an afternoon nap in your own home (Photo: Malte Mueller/Getty/fStop)
Support your future
Write down where you left off and the next small task to tackle to strengthen your control over every day demands.
Ask for help
Consider seeking support from loved ones, neighbours, colleagues, community groups or professionals.
‘Everyone who comes to see me assumes I am hard-up, so they either bring me gifts and treats, or if we go out together, they always insist on paying’ (Photo: Getty)
The Government’s policies are expected to include closer ties with the EU, powers to nationalise of British Steel and an enhancement of the apprenticeship scheme for young people as well as special education needs reform, as outlined by the Prime Minister in his “make-or-break” speech on Monday.
Leadership issues raised with the ‘Golden Triangle’
Fears that the King could be dragged into questions over the Prime Minister’s future have been fuelled in Whitehall over the timing of the King’s Speech on Wednesday, coming in the wake of several ministerial resignations and more than 100 MPs urging him to step down.
With Starmer refusing to heed calls from Cabinet critics to set a timetable for his departure, it is unlikely that the PM will resign before the traditional ceremony takes place.
The source said there had been discussions within the Cabinet Office about where the leadership crisis leaves the Government constitutionally.
And The i Paper understands it has been raised within the so-called “Golden Triangle” – the trio of senior aides to the King and Prime Minister which is the main vehicle for talks between the government and Buckingham Palace.
The Civil Service source said: “There have been exchanges – on both sides – about the King’s Speech and where this leaves us constitutionally.
“This is unchartered territory and could be very awkward for the King given how quickly things seem to be moving. This is exactly the kind of thing the civil service [and the Golden Triangle] should be and would be preparing for.”
The Golden Triangle comprises the King’s private secretary, the cabinet secretary and the PM’s principal private secretary.
The trio normally have regular discussions to keep channels open between Downing Street and the Palace.
Monarch needs to be protected
A separate Whitehall source said there had been discussions among officials to consider any procedural issues that could arise if the PM was forced to resign before the State Opening, but the view was because it was the Government’s speech, not the Prime Minister’s, it would be able to proceed as planned.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment. A No 10 source said they were “not aware” that there had been discussions about the tone of the speech.
But Politico reported that the Palace privately asked whether the King should proceed as planned with the State Opening on Wednesday.
Citing people familiar with the matter, it said a senior aide to the monarch asked top government officials, including Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, whether the state occasion should go ahead.
The King’s team made clear in conversation with the PM’s officials of the importance of protecting the monarch from any impression he is being used for political ends, Politico reported.
However The i Paper understands that at no point did anyone ever suggest that the State Opening might not go ahead.
A constitutional insider said the Golden Triangle holds talks all the time and the issue of Starmer’s leadership is likely to have been raised to avoid any awkwardness for the King.
Speech written on vellum
The King’s Speech itself is still written on vellum – or goatskin – and has to be finalised the week before the State Opening to allow the ink to dry, meaning no changes could have been made to the speech itself since last week, before the local and devolved elections triggered a crisis for Starmer.
The insider said Palace officials will have pored over the original draft of the speech from No 10 anyway, to ensure that the King does not have to say anything too slogan-heavy or political.
This means that the speech – which will set out the Government’s legislative agenda – will already be fairly neutral in tone.
However the leadership row throws a question mark over that agenda and whether it will be torn up if a new prime minister is in place within weeks.
The constitutional insider said the Golden Triangle would be “keeping abreast of the leadership issue” but added that the “Palace will be very good at keeping the King clear of this”.
King’s Speech details revealed
The Government will aim to “restore hope” in the King’s Speech on Wednesday as Sir Keir Starmer faces a battle to stay as Prime Minister.
Policies on immigration, green energy and reforms to special educational needs and disabilities (Send) schooling will be part of the King’s Speech, which will lay out the Government’s legislative priorities for the next Parliamentary session.
The speech, which will be read by the King in the House of Lords before MPs and peers, will also include new laws to make it easier to take action against state-backed groups such as the proscription of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
It follows attacks on the Jewish community in London in recent months.
On immigration, legislation is expected on restricting the use of Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, an element that guarantees the right to respect for private and family life, which some migrants who do not qualify for a visa or asylum rely on.
New laws could be mentioned that would deny appeal rights to more people and establish an independent appeal body to hear claims currently considered by judges.
Leasehold reforms are expected to be in the speech as the Government said it wants to “give people more control over how they live in their own homes”.
The Government said the package of policies would amount to an “ambitious programme to break with the status quo”. More than 35 Bills are expected to be unveiled, including one to give the Government powers to renationalise British Steel.
Starmer said: “Britain stands at a pivotal moment: to press ahead with a plan to build a stronger, fairer country, or turn back to the chaos and instability of the past.
“My Government will deliver on the promise of change for the British people.”