To think that most people don't understand the significance of the King's Speech

[MargoLivebetter]

As it is happening today, I wondered whether fellow posters would be watching and if they knew what it was all about? I work in the broad field of political matters, so I'm very conscious of it, but I wondered if it meant anything to anyone else.

Interested to hear if I'm being AIBU. I hope I am!

Well, I don't know, OP, despite being interested in both politics and history. I'm not originally from around these here parts! I really only just noticed the gap in my knowledge, having assumed it was purely ceremonial, and then realising from the emphasis being put on it in the media, that clearly it is much more. If you want to explain it, I'd be grateful.

@NiceCutRoundDomeDormice 😂

Quite. A big showy waste of money, as well.

It should be a fairly big political moment after a change of government. However, given that the country has no money and Labour were very careful not to make any promises during the campaign (and were to some extent elected by default because the Tories were so unpopular) then it may not live up to that billing.

It is interesting.
Our King is such a champion for conservation, sustainable farming and saving and planting trees etc. His views on these things are well known, and yet he reads the speech of a Prime Minister who wants to develop green spaces without objection.

It is pageantry, a speech imforming the politics of the day and the plan of the government. It is the KIng performing his role -custom, tradition and I respect the framework of parliament.

I didn't know this was happening. Does it happen every year or just after a General Election?

Most people will be at work so unlikely to be able to watch it in real time. I am currently abroad on holiday and have just watched it in our villa as we happened to be inside at the time. If I wasn’t, I’d have read the key points on BBC news.

@mbosnz as I see it, there are two parts to the King's Speech. The first is the constitutional aspect and the second is the legislative aspect.

The King’s Speech is part of the State Opening of Parliament, the formal beginning of each new session of parliament. No substantive parliamentary business in either the House of Commons or House of Lords can usually occur until after the speech is delivered.

Procedurally, this allows parliament to begin a new session and start its business. It is also symbolic of the role of the monarch constitutionally.

The speech lists the legislation that the government intends to introduce to parliament, and reference is sometimes made to “other measures” that the government will bring forward – this is to give the government flexibility to introduce other bills as the session goes on.

The sovereign will also list any state visits that they plan to make, and any overseas heads of state who have been invited to the UK over the course of the session.

There then follows debate over the content of the King’s Speech. The debate begins after the speech is delivered, and usually continues for several days in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

@YourNimblePeachTraybake it happens at the beginning of each session of parliament. So, sort of yearly but also after a General Election as well.

I believe the level of dissinterest stems from countless governments of any side doing exactly as they pleased no matter what the people said. A lot of us will be of an age where we believed the hype around Tony Bliar who then took us into an unwinnable war on the back of lies.

I broadly agree OP. The pageantry is important and the constitutional roles are laid out. It’s not just Trooping the Colour.

The speech tells about a government’s general intentions and character.

So, mostly anaemic and meaningless then! What we knew beforehand.

I didn't find your OP condescending. Given that a huge number of people don't engage in politics enough to even vote, I would say the majority of people don't know/don't care about the King's speech.

The pomp and ceremony is an embarrassing example of how much deference English people have to a family who like to dress up in crowns and jewels.

You think Blair should have announced the Iraq war in the Queens Speech??
The yanks were going to invade with or without the UK.

All very well being wise after the event but there was a lot of circumstantial evidence that he had, at the very least, nerve agent, easily hidden from the weapons inspectors.

Iraq had used them several times before and was systematically starving the Marsh Arabs.

Say the war hadn't happened and Iraq had used them on Kuwait/Israel or again on his own people?

The far bigger impact on European security was Cameron's decision to destroy Libya and of course Brexit.

I would like to know how all the houses they plan to build over the next 5 years will happen, as we don't have the labour force (trades) to do this. More workers are leaving than entering this job sector each year.

@JoyousPinkPeer hopefully the debates over the next few days should start to flush some of those details out.

I know it is significant, but I admit I don't understand the degree of that significance. I listen or read about rather than watch the news so I will see some pics on news sites and hear the important bits on the radio.

I know it will impact me, but I also know there is nothing I need to 'action' straight away so it will be just be a part of generally keeping up with the news.

I tried to make a list of stuff as the King was speaking. Have to admit I like the pageantry too (especially the bit where they slam the door in Black Rod's face).

These are not "details" much like Labours plans to reduce waiting lists, the UK doesn't have enough skilled people, so lets have more migration... which adds to housing, education and healthcare needs....

Ordinary people can see this, hence a low turn out, disinterest and general distrust of politicians.

It's a ridiculously old fashioned fussy ceremony that costs the tax payer money, where a lot of people dress up in silly costumes to parade around and one of them reads a speech in his name that he didn't actually write.
They could bin the entire thing and just release a document with their plans written out.

Most people do not understand how government, parliament, ministers, the cabinet and the House of Lords work. Nor is this taught in most schools.

I think it's sign posting what the government wants to do but it's the lack of timescales that bug me .

I don't think taking a basic interest in politics is being a nerd? I think watching the king's speech is quite a common thing to do.

I think you are being a bit condescending - you actually work in a 'broad field' of political matters - so you understand and it means a lot more to you, it wont to joe bloggs down the street. I am not english - BUT i do know what it means, my husbands family are political so its been drummed into me since i joined the family. I dont care for it as much tho - i know the gist of it.

Maybe some valid points, but doing that would not save a penny!

It kind of does though because leading up to the election, Labour hadn't really laid out their manifesto, so a lot of what we will be hearing today will be for the first time