Best Reads<\/p>\n
Jade Wilson – 3 minutes ago<\/p>\n
SNP plans to hold no confidence vote in Starmer <\/p>\n
The SNP has said that it will table an amendment to the king\u2019s speech proposing no confidence in Starmer. <\/p>\n
Dave Doogan, the new SNP leader at Westminster, said: \u201cThis farce has to end now, so parliament can focus on the issues that really matter. It\u2019s clear the only way that can happen is for Keir Starmer to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has lost the confidence of voters and his own MPs, and there\u2019s no coming back from that. The Labour party must stop dragging this crisis out and put an end to it now. If the Labour cabinet ministers don\u2019t have the decency to do the right thing \u2013 then parliament must.\u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless they put an end to this chaos now, the SNP will table a motion of no confidence in Keir Starmer to draw things to a close,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Streeting leaves No 10 after talks with Starmer last just 16 minutes<\/p>\n
Starmer met with Wes Streeting, the health secretary who wants to replace him, this morning. <\/p>\n
Yesterday Starmer in effect challenged Streeting to \u2018put up or shut up\u2019 and, although some of Streeting\u2019s allies have resigned from ministerial jobs, and others have joined the long list of Labour MPs publicly calling for Starmer\u2019s resignation, by last night Streeting had still not launched a formal leadership challenge. <\/p>\n
Streeting arrived for the meeting at Downing Street at 8.24am. He was out again 16 minutes later. <\/p>\n
Streeting allies have indicated that they don\u2019t intend to brief on what happened until the king\u2019s speech is over. <\/p>\n
But it does not seem likely that a meeting that swift was cordial. What we don\u2019t know is whether or not Streeting said he would launch a leadership challenge.<\/p>\n
As Wes Streeting left No 10, reporters shouted questions at him, asking if he had resigned. He did not reply.<\/p>\n
Jade Wilson – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n
Labour-supporting unions predict Starmer will not lead party into next election<\/p>\n
Labour-supporting unions have predicted Starmer will not lead the party into the next election, in an intervention that threatens to further destabilise the UK prime minister after a damaging few days.<\/p>\n
The 11 Labour-affiliated unions \u2013 which include Unite, Unison and the GMB \u2013 are expected to issue a joint statement on Wednesday saying \u201cat some stage\u201d the party will have to put a plan in place to elect a new leader.<\/p>\n
In a leaked copy of the statement, reported by The Guardian, the unions said it was clear to them that Labour \u201ccannot continue on its current path\u201d, and despite some progress it was not doing enough to deliver the change people voted for at the last election.<\/p>\n
They urged the party leadership to focus on the \u201cfundamental change of direction on economic policy and political strategy\u201d they said working people needed, rather than the \u201cpersonalities and unfolding political drama\u201d at Westminster.<\/p>\n
Jade Wilson – 4 hours ago<\/p>\n
King\u2019s speech promises pomp, ceremony and some drama<\/p>\n
The king\u2019s speech today continues a long British tradition but it comes in surreal circumstances.<\/p>\n
After travelling to parliament and donning the robe of state, Charles, will read a speech written by Starmer\u2019s government setting out the planned new laws.<\/p>\n
A package of more than 35 Bills and \u2060draft Bills will focus \u200bon measures to improve the economy, strengthen national security and \u201creform the state to support a more active government that is on the side of British people\u201d, the government said.<\/p>\n
But the implementation of that speech remains as uncertain as Starmer\u2019s political future. If he were to be ousted, his successor would not be bound to follow the same plan.<\/p>\n
After spending much of Tuesday behind closed doors at his Downing Street office \u200cas he sought to rally \u2060support, Wednesday\u2019s ceremony will put Starmer\u2019s struggle for power back in public view.<\/p>\n
Under the gaze of television cameras and alongside leaders of rival parties, Starmer will walk in a procession of lawmakers from parliament\u2019s lower house to \u200bits upper house, where the king will then speak.<\/p>\n
Starmer will later deliver a speech in \u200ba parliamentary debate that is likely to be used by rivals to ridicule his position as a leader with badly damaged authority presenting an agenda that he may never get to deliver. \u2013 Reuters<\/p>\n
Jade Wilson – 4 hours ago<\/p>\n
Labour try to show some unity as king visits parliament<\/p>\n
Keir Starmer vowed to fight on at Tuesday\u2019s cabinet meeting and was publicly backed by several ministers at the top of British government, including his deputy, David Lammy, who urged colleagues to \u201cstep back and take a breath\u201d.<\/p>\n
Starmer told his cabinet the country \u201cexpects us to get on with governing\u201d and \u201cthat is what I am doing\u201d, but avoided being directly challenged as he declined to discuss his leadership during the gathering or meet critics individually afterwards, the Press Association has reported.<\/p>\n
Starmer said he would only speak to ministers one-to-one about his fate, but did not do so once cabinet concluded, according to sources.<\/p>\n
Efforts appear to be under way to present a united face \u2013 at least for today \u2013 when Britain\u2019s king Charles<\/a> will be in Westminster for the traditional king\u2019s speech. Politico reported that Buckingham Palace had privately told Number 10 they do not want the king to be dragged into the conversation.<\/p>\n The importance of protecting Charles from the impression he is being used for political ends was stressed to Starmer\u2019s officials, a person familiar with the matter told the political news outlet. \u2013 PA<\/p>\n Jade Wilson – 4 hours ago<\/p>\n Starmer set for showdown with leadership rival Wes Streeting<\/p>\n UK prime minister and Labour<\/a> leader Keir Starmer <\/a>is set for crunch talks with health secretary Wes Streeting, who appears poised to challenge him, Mark Paul writes ahead of another day of drama at Westminster.<\/p>\n Streeting, whose allies in Labour\u2019s parliamentary party have spent days calling on Starmer to step down, is expected to meet Starmer in Downing Street on Wednesday morning in advance of a planned speech to parliament by British king Charles<\/a>.<\/p>\n The health secretary, as first revealed on Tuesday night by The Times, will confront Starmer about how he plans to get Britain out of the \u201cmess\u201d enveloping its politics. It is unclear whether Streeting will resign from his post, or ask Starmer to quit.<\/p>\n![\"Britain's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/M73MZQ7VUVCSFAR35RIGGAJ574.jpeg\")
Britain’s king, Charles III, delivering the speech opening parliament in 2023. He will be back in Westminster today. Photograph: Leon Neal\/Getty <\/p>\n![\"British](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/HHCTDWL2ELFMHD4R7FRMUTUQKU.jpg\")
British health secretary Wes Streeting. Photograph: James Manning\/Getty <\/p>\n