Before the election, The Scotsman predicted Labour’s honeymoon would be short. It will be over, we suggest, when King Charles begins his speech at the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow. After all Labour’s smiles and celebrations, the King’s Speech needs to provide a clear vision of how the new government will get the country back on its feet.
Many supporters of other parties essentially gave Labour their votes on loan and now they want to see signs of a positive return on their investment: SNP supporters who wanted the Conservatives out, liberal Tories dismayed by the abject chaos of the Boris Johnson and Liz Truss period, and tactical voters of various other stripes. The public wanted ‘change’ and, from tomorrow, we can all start to judge whether Keir Starmer is the right politician to deliver it. Advertisement Advertisement Sign up to our Opinion newsletter Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more.
Despite devolution, the UK Government’s approach to several issues will be watched keenly by many in Scotland. In particular, Labour needs to provide greater clarity about its position on North Sea oil and gas, and the transition to net-zero emissions. Read More The 5 options being investigated by Labour and the SNP to save Grangemouth’s future Here’s why Tories need a pact with.