The Guardian view on the king's speech: an agenda for a government that lacks conviction | Editorial

"Ending 14 years of Conservative rule was supposed to bring an end to dysfunctional government. In the speech that launched his 2024 general election campaign, Sir Keir Starmer said that a vote for Labour is a vote for stability a vote to stop the chaos. Less than two years later, Sir Keir's government looks no sturdier than its predecessors. The prime minister's chances of serving a full term in office look slim."

"The common analysis is that a project branded by the single word change has neither transformed people's lives for the better nor given them confidence that a transformation is coming. For many voters, the prime minister is the embodiment of a miserable status quo. The government has a reforming agenda, but it lacks the coherence and radicalism that are needed to instil a sense of national destination an idea of the more prosperous, secure country Britain could become."

"Wednesday's king's speech contained instructive examples of the problem. Two bills are likely to prove controversial with very different audiences: a planned law that will facilitate Britain's alignment with EU single market rules in some sectors of the economy, and immigration reforms that will make it harder for new refugees and people who have already settled in Britain to qualify for permanent residency and citizenship."

"The former will be denounced by enthusiasts for Brexit as a betrayal of the regulatory sovereignty that was supposedly won by leaving the EU. The latter could stir rebellion on the Labour benches among MPs who feel that it is a cruel exercise in antiimmigration zeal drafted to appeal to supporters of Reform UK. The combination describes an inherent confusion in Sir Keir's programme."

Ending 14 years of Conservative rule was expected to end dysfunctional government, but Labour’s government has not appeared sturdier than earlier administrations. The prime minister’s prospects for serving a full term look slim amid calls from Labour MPs for a change of direction. The reform agenda lacks coherence and radicalism needed to create confidence in a national destination. The king’s speech illustrates the problem through two potentially controversial bills. One would align parts of the economy with EU single market rules, which could be criticized by Brexit supporters as a betrayal of regulatory sovereignty. The other would tighten immigration rules, making it harder for refugees and settled residents to qualify for permanent residency and citizenship, risking rebellion among Labour MPs.

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