Queen's speech may be delayed, Downing Street unsure

Downing Street was unable to confirm that the Queen will open the new parliament a week on Monday, as Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party remains locked in talks with the Democratic Unionist Party about forming a minority government.

After the general election saw the Tories lose their parliamentary majority with their 318 seats in the House of Commons falling well short of the 326 needed to govern, talks began with the DUP about forming a government based on a vote-by-vote agreement, known as a 'confidence and supply' pact, using the Northern Irish party's 10 seats.

A spokesman for May said on Monday that they were unable to confirm that the Queen's Speech will go ahead as expected on 19 June, adding that the leader of the house will provide an update "shortly" when it could be confirmed. Andrea Leadsom is the new Leader of House the Commons, after the weekend's cabinet reshuffle.

The speech has been delayed "for a few days", the BBC reported, possibly for "up to a week".

Over the weekend it was revealed that May has yet to reach a formal agreement with the DUP kingmakers, despite indicating on Friday that a deal had already been agreed. DUP leader Arlene Foster confirmed that she would be travelling to Downing Street for further discussions on Tuesday.

Any delay to the Queen's Speech could be to give the government more time to finalise its deal with the DUP.

The Downing Street spokesman confirmed May would not want to accept a Brexit deal that was worse than leaving the EU without a deal, while also reiterating that the government is still committed to two-year timeframe for Brexit, despite the delays caused by the election, and he said that it was still government policy to try and cut annual net migration to below 100,000.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE QUEEN'S SPEECH

Each new parliament is opened by the Queen, who announces the government's legislative programme for the coming year, which is then debated by MPs before being put to a vote on 27 June.

Typically, the first Queen's Speech after a general election is made up of the winning party's election manifesto, but if May can form a minority government using a deal with the DUP it is likely this programme will be watered down in order to avoid defeat by opposition parties, a fact confirmed by Brexit secretary David Davis on Monday morning.

Jeremy Corbyn said on Sunday he will invite other parties to defeat the government by voting to “put down a substantial amendment to the Queen’s speech" which would be made up of some of the key parts of Labour's manifesto.

"We are ready and able to put forward a serious programme which has great support in this country,” he said.

"We are going to put down a substantial amendment to the Queen’s speech which will be the main points of our manifesto so we will invite the House to consider all the issues we’ve put forward – jobs-first Brexit, policies for young people and on austerity."