King’s Speech set for week after crunch elections. The government is preparing to set out its next legislative agenda just days after a pivotal round of elections across the UK. The King’s Speech is expected to take place on May 12 or 13 next year, shortly after voters go to the polls on May 7 in elections covering the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, thousands of council seats in England and several mayoral races. Labour insiders are bracing for a difficult set of results, with some MPs privately warning a poor performance could trigger renewed questions about Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. One government source told the BBC that holding the King’s Speech so soon afterwards would make it harder for critics to argue for a change of direction with the government already publicly committed to its plans for the year ahead. Others dismiss any link, noting that King’s Speeches have frequently taken place in May following local elections.