LIVE: MPs to debate King’s Speech as Charles delivers Starmer’s agenda

by Sam Merriman, Political Correspondent

Labour will introduce a long-delayed ban on conversion therapy in the King’s Speech – despite concerns it risks criminalising parents and doctors.

The Draft Conversion Practices Bill, which will cover England and Wales, will outlaw attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

A ban on conversion therapy was included in the 2024 King’s Speech but had not been introduced – with Labour only saying it remained committed to publishing a draft Bill ‘as soon as possible’.

But new legislation will honour Labour’s manifesto pledge to deliver a ‘full trans-inclusive ban’ on behaviour described as ‘abuse’.

The Draft Conversion Practices Bill would ban practices that aim to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Andy Burnham is understood to have met with mutinous Labour MPs to drum up support for his leadership hopes after making a surprise visit to London yesterday.

Sir Keir Starmer has been told that the Mayor of Greater Manchester – who was spotted at Euston – must be allowed to return to the Commons and the Cabinet.

Mr Burnham already has a seat lined up for a return to Parliament, and is ready to launch a leadership bid any day now.

The politician’s next big moment comes on May 30, when he is set to give a speech at an event by the centre-Left caucus Compass.

Now you can have your say in the Daily Mail’s latest poll – would he make a good PM? To vote click here:

Andy Burnham was mocked over his plans to return to Westminster to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister at today’s State Opening of Parliament.

Mr Burnham, currently the Greater Manchester Mayor, has been linked to a challenge against Sir Keir but has to find a Commons seat first.

At the State Opening this morning, per tradition, the door to the Commons chamber was slammed in Black Rod’s face, leaving him to bang the door three times before being given permission to enter.

As he banged on the door, a backbench MP inside shouted: ‘Not now Andy.’

Three backbench MPs said the heckle was made by Torcuil Crichton, a former journalist who is Labour MP for the Scottish seat of Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

Mr Burnham was spotted in London yesterday, reportedly to hold talks with MPs about standing down to facilitate the man dubbed ‘the King of the North’.

A Cabinet minister said Sir Keir Starmer has his ‘full support’ and that colleagues should ‘think about what really matters for the future of the country’.

Asked about Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s apparent plan to resign and trigger a leadership contest, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn told Sky News:

My view is very clear, I think we should rally behind the Prime Minister. We should let him get on with doing his job, because he is a serious politician and these are very, very serious times.

He added:

I don’t think, in my view, this is the moment for a leadership challenge. I think we should back the Prime Minister and I will remain of that view.

Allies of Wes Streeting say they have enough support to trigger a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer, The Guardian is reporting.

The Health Secretary is apparently preparing to resign tomorrow.

Downing Street insiders are understood to have believed Mr Streeting had not gathered enough support from MPs but sources told the newspaper at least 81 members are backing him for the leadership.

A senior Government source told the Daily Mail: ‘Yes, it’s happening. Wes is definitely going for it.’

Daily Mail columnist Dan Hodges says Kemi Badenoch can land a ‘serious blow’ to Sir Keir Starmer during the debate on the King’s Speech.

The Conservative leader is due to address the Commons as the Prime Minister finds himself embroiled in a fight for his survival.

Here’s Dan’s thoughts below:

Sir Keir Starmer appeared downcast as the State Opening of Parliament coincided with his premiership in crisis.

The Prime Minister is facing the biggest threat to his leadership following four ministerial resignations while 90 of his own MPs want him to step aside.

As the pomp and pageantry got under way, it was reported Wes Streeting is preparing to resign tomorrow to trigger a leadership contest.

by David Wilcock and Rory Tingle

Keir Starmer appears to have moved to avoid a potential new flashpoint with volatile Labour backbenchers on immigration after hardline plans to make it harder to stay in Britain legally were left out of the King’s Speech.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled proposals in March to double the time it will take immigrants to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), from five to 10 years.

Controversially, the plans would apply retrospectively to migrants already here – affecting 2.2million people who have arrived since 2021.

It prompted a minor revolt among Labour MPs, with Angela Rayner, the former deputy Prime Minister and potential challenger to Sir Keir, labelling it ‘un-British’.

The Speech given by the King today included plans for an Immigration and Asylum Bill that would ‘restore order and control to the immigration system’, but documents released alongside it make no mention of the move to harden criteria for ILR.

by David Wilcock, Deputy Political Editor

Keir Starmer is to press on with dragging Brexit Britain closer to the EU with a new law allowing ministers to sideline Parliament and introduce Brussels’ rules under agreements that could cost taxpayers £1billion a year.

The King’s Speech today includes plans for a European Partnership Bill that explicitly aims to ‘strengthen ties with the European Union’, with the government insisting such movement is backed by the British people.

It says the bill will ‘tear down barriers to trade’ and boost jobs by smoothing the path of agreements for food and drink exports and electricity and emissions trading worth more than £5billion a year.

But the bill will also allow single market rules to be adopted through what is known as secondary legislation, limiting the ability of the Commons to scrutinise them.

MPs can either approve or reject secondary legislation, but they cannot seek to amend it as with regular legislation and they would not vote on every single change.

Unveiling the bill the government said: ‘UK citizens back a closer relationship with the European Union where it benefits the national interest.’

The King and Queen have departed from the Lords chamber after a speech that lasted around 11 minutes and 39 seconds.

The monarch unveiled a package of 35 Bills – and several draft Bills – which includes moves to cosy up to the EU, as well as boost the push for Net Zero

Legislation will be introduced to ‘unlock the benefits of airport expansion’, to speed up road-building, while a bill to nationalise British Steel will also be tabled.

The King also said the government will focus on supporting the armed forces and their families with a bill which ‘improves the service justice system’.

Legislation to reform the police, the NHS, the criminal justice system, and the immigration and asylum system will also be introduced.

Wes Streeting, in his first public comments since the meeting with Sir Keir Starmer, suggested he was focused on his job as Health Secretary.

See his X post below:

Health Secretary Wes Streeting appeared to be smiling as he stood in the House of Commons during the state opening of Parliament.

Mr Streeting could then be seen speaking to other MPs as they filed out of the Commons to attend the King’s Speech in the House of Lords.

Sir Keir Starmer could be seen sitting next to Shabana Mahmood in the Commons for the State Opening of Parliament.

The Home Secretary has reportedly told the Prime Minister to consider his position.

The Prime Minister was also seen smiling as he made small talk with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch as he made his way to the Lords.