Why is Boris Johnson holding a Queen’s Speech with an election on the horizon?

Politics Explained: It’s hard to see this speech as anything other than an advanced briefing of the Conservative Party 2019 manifesto

The Queen could be dragged into political controversy (Getty)

Decisions made by Boris Johnson’s government of late have been a source of frustration at Buckingham Palace: it’s not every day a prime minister seeks the royal seal of approval to unlawfully suspend parliament in the midst of a political crisis.

So it would hardly be surprising if the monarch seeks vengeance and decides to repeat her 2017 Queen’s Speech outfit with headgear striking a remarking resemblance to the European Union flag as she marks the state opening of parliament on Monday.

Traditionally, the pomp and ceremony involved in the speech marks the start of a new parliamentary year – an opportunity for a government to reset its domestic agenda and outline its flagship policies. Expect commitments on the NHS, schools and immigration.

There’s an obvious issue with this: the prime minister has a majority of minus 45. The parliamentary arithmetic prevents Mr Johnson from passing any radical domestic policies. Only uncontroversial pieces of legislation will enjoy a successful passage through the Commons.

But there is also an election on the horizon. The Queen’s Speech last occurred in the aftermath of Theresa May’s disastrous election gamble more than two years ago, and it typically follows either local or national elections.

It is unprecedented for a Queen’s Speech to take place in the context of a prime minister calling for an election, and the opposition on the cusp of supporting the move.

Given the calling of an election involves the dissolution of the current parliament, it is not beyond the realms of possibilities that the Queen could be requested by the newly elected government to return to Westminster for a second time before 2019 ends.

Perhaps it is unsurprising then that Jeremy Corbyn accused Mr Johnson this week of “using the Queen” to conduct a Conservative Party pre-election broadcast to the nation.

Experts agree: just last week University College London’s constitutional unit said holding a Queen’s speech ahead of a winter election risked bringing more embarrassment for the monarch, and “dragging her into political controversy”.

“The Queen’s Speech will be not so much the government announcing the legislative programme for the next session, but more of an election manifesto,” warned professor Robert Hazell.

Considering No 10 is desperate for an election, it’s hard to see this Queen’s Speech as anything other than an advanced briefing of the Conservatives’ 2019 manifesto.