The View from Westminster

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 A King's Speech for a zombie government Charles III arrived to surprisingly vocal cries of "Not My King" from a republican demo in Parliament Square, and read out the government's legislative programme in the dullest monotone so that no one could comment on his expression when he said "... helping the country to transition to net zero by 2050 without adding undue burdens on households". But it was a thin list of bills, and one Conservative MP told me that he would have to agree with Keir Starmer if the Labour leader called it a zombie government. This MP said that there wasn't enough in the Speech to keep parliament occupied until Christmas, and predicted a June general election.   Quiz question  What Japanese word imported into English literally means "empty orchestra"? Answer at the bottom of today's email Daily briefing King's Speech: What policies made it in and what's been removed? That pre-election programme in full Lack of artificial intelligence bill disappointing, says technology committee chair Greg Clark warned that the UK risked falling behind other countries Suella Braverman accused of 'trying to get fired' with 'dangerous' Palestine protest remarks 'I think that language is deliberately designed to goad No 10 into firing her' Most commented Articles driving the biggest conversations Trump campaign tries to raise money from publicity for chaotic testimony Most Tory members want Nigel Farage back in the party, poll reveals What else do you need to know today? ● Boris Johnson "wanted to be injected with coronavirus live on TV", Ed Lister, his former chief of staff, told the Covid inquiry ● James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, came top of the cabinet beauty contest in last month's Conservative Home survey of party members: Cleverly +18 since the previous month; Kemi Badenoch +2; Penny Mordaunt -7; Suella Braverman -4; and Rishi Sunak -19 ● Kemi Badenoch remains the favourite to be next Tory leader in the betting market, giving her a 23 per cent chance; followed by Mordaunt, 14 per cent; Braverman, 12 per cent; and Cleverly 11 per cent Rentoul's reading list ● I wrote at the weekend that Rishi Sunak's artificial intelligence summit had been a success ● Victoria Richards: There's nothing worse than the school WhatsApp group ● Alexandra Rogers wrote about Sue Gray, making a good impression as Keir Starmer's chief of staff ● James Moore asks when the NHS became so uncaring (Independent Premium) Inside the bubble Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for tomorrow Not Prime Minister's Questions; ministers do not answer oral questions while MPs debate the King's Speech. Labour will use the debate to highlight a "lost generation of schoolchildren" amid high rates of absenteeism in England. Before that, though, Rishi Sunak will make a statement in the Commons on the Israel-Hamas war. Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary who was ousted during the pandemic, will give evidence at the Covid inquiry from 10am. So will Justin Tomlinson, the former work and pensions minister, from 2pm. Michelle Donelan, the technology secretary, will be quizzed about artificial intelligence by the Commons science select committee at 9.15am. Claire Coutinho, the energy secretary, will appear before the energy and net zero committee at 2pm. Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, will speak at the Institute for Government at 1.30pm. Quotation of the day "A bill will be introduced to deal with the scourge of unlicensed pedicabs in London." The King Quiz answer: Karaoke (kara means empty, as in karate, empty hand; oke is short for okesutora, a Japanese rendering of orchestra, so it has been reimported to the English-speaking world) The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Join the conversation or follow us Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy notice and cookie policy