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| Beefeaters searching for gunpowder |
It was the King's Speech, time for Sir Keir Starmer's government to set out its legislation programme for the year ahead. There were 40 Bills covering much of what had been in the manifesto -"a mission-led approach" to delivering the changes that were needed to provide the growth that is essential to rectify the damage wreaked on public services by austerity, poor procurement, Brexit and Covid incompetence by 14 years of slogan rich but delivery light governments.
But first, we had to watch the charades at Westminster as hundreds of footmen, soldiers, titled lackeys, and the King and Queen, together with horses, coaches, swords, crowns and hats were dribbled through London. Meanwhile, the Yeoman of the Guards wearing royal red tunics and stockings, white ruffs and black Panama hats were searching the bowels of the Palace of Westminster for gunpowder. It must have made King Charles and Queen Camilla feel at home as they too were dolled up in their ancestors' old clothes, medals and jewels.
We then watched Black Rod lead 649 MPs from the Commons to the Lords and gain access by knocking on the door that had just been slammed in her face. The MPs went in two by two, hurrah, hurrah! They laughed and smiled, the election was over and even Sir Keir and Rishi looked like best mates, maybe realising that they were the last PMs still in the House after the demise of Theresa, Boris and mad Liz.
It was the longest Queen's or King's Speech since the one in 1945. Starmer's speech was delivered without a stammer. My main regret was that it held back from some of the more radical measures on matters like community care, housing, land ownership and digital identity, all of which could have turbocharged the well-being of citizens and communities.
As Lewis Carroll advised and Tony Blair admitted: "In the end ...We only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” Sage advice for the new government.
But first, we had to watch the charades at Westminster as hundreds of footmen, soldiers, titled lackeys, and the King and Queen, together with horses, coaches, swords, crowns and hats were dribbled through London. Meanwhile, the Yeoman of the Guards wearing royal red tunics and stockings, white ruffs and black Panama hats were searching the bowels of the Palace of Westminster for gunpowder. It must have made King Charles and Queen Camilla feel at home as they too were dolled up in their ancestors' old clothes, medals and jewels.
We then watched Black Rod lead 649 MPs from the Commons to the Lords and gain access by knocking on the door that had just been slammed in her face. The MPs went in two by two, hurrah, hurrah! They laughed and smiled, the election was over and even Sir Keir and Rishi looked like best mates, maybe realising that they were the last PMs still in the House after the demise of Theresa, Boris and mad Liz.
It was the longest Queen's or King's Speech since the one in 1945. Starmer's speech was delivered without a stammer. My main regret was that it held back from some of the more radical measures on matters like community care, housing, land ownership and digital identity, all of which could have turbocharged the well-being of citizens and communities.
As Lewis Carroll advised and Tony Blair admitted: "In the end ...We only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” Sage advice for the new government.
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