King Charles III opens UK parliament as PM Starmer expected to face leadership challenge

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s grip on power weakened further on Wednesday as King Charles III formally opened the new parliamentary session, a ceremony overshadowed by Labour’s internal turmoil. The monarch delivered a speech outlining the government’s agenda, though Starmer’s authority has been undermined by a series of disastrous local election results last week, sparking panic among MPs. Speculation grew that Health Secretary Wes Streeting would resign from the cabinet and launch a leadership challenge as early as Thursday. Starmer and Streeting met briefly in London, with sources confirming the conversation lasted less than 20 minutes. While Starmer’s spokesperson reaffirmed confidence in Streeting, the meeting fueled rumors of an impending coup, with Westminster abuzz over the potential fallout. The crisis has divided Labour MPs, with some urging unity while others, like Charlotte Nichols, accused Starmer of lacking the leadership to implement key policies. Nichols criticized the prime minister for failing to address domestic challenges, stating his team had repeatedly promised bold reforms but delivered little. Meanwhile, Labour MP Luke Akehurst publicly urged Streeting to avoid a disruptive challenge, arguing the party needed cohesion to recover. During parliamentary debate, Starmer clashed with Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch, dismissing Conservative claims of Labour’s arrogance while acknowledging both parties suffered in the recent local elections. Badenoch retorted that Labour MPs were more focused on internal power struggles than governing, labeling their infighting as a distraction from broader political failures. Outside Parliament, Conservative MP Alex Burghart condemned the Starmer government as incompetent, calling it ‘a pig’s breakfast.’ The remarks underscored growing public skepticism as Labour’s internal divisions risk further damaging its reputation ahead of potential future elections.