The key issues surrounding the Queen's Speech

RUMOURS went into overdrive on Monday that the State Opening of Parliament could be delayed, as the fallout from last week’s election continued.

The Queen’s Speech had been scheduled for June 19, but Theresa May’s official spokesman declined to confirm it would go ahead on that date.

Any delay would risk affecting the Queen’s attendance at Royal Ascot next week.

When it does take place, what will the speech contain, and what are the likely implications?

The Queen will open the new Parliament by announcing the Government’s plans for new laws. Does that mean we can expect measures on controversial areas such as winter fuel allowance cuts to be laid out?

WITH her authority diminished after failing to secure a majority, Prime Minister Theresa May is facing the prospect of relying on the DUP to ensure the Queen’s Speech passes.

To secure some form of agreement with the unionists, the Conservatives will have to make some concessions. It also gives her party cover to drop some of the most electorally toxic policies.

Brexit Secretary David Davis has said the position the Government is in means it is expected that “some elements of the manifesto will be pruned away”. Plans to drop the triple lock on pensions and introduce means-testing for the winter fuel allowance are likely to be ditched.

Mrs May could also avoid time-consuming divisive issues such as a vote on repealing the fox hunting ban. The Prime Minister’s pet project of introducing a new wave of grammar schools, which has provoked anger among some of her own backbenchers, may also fall by the wayside.

So what is likely to make it into the speech?

THE slimmed-down agenda is expected to focus on the most pressing issues facing the country, such as Brexit, and new measures to tackle the wave of terror the UK has suffered.

Could the Government be defeated when MPs vote on the Queen’s Speech?

LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn certainly hopes so. He has insisted his fight to take the keys to No 10 “is still on” and has said he will push it “all the way”.

Once Sinn Fein’s seven non-sitting MPs and the Speaker and deputy speakers have been taken out of the mix, Mrs May needs to secure 320 votes for the programme to pass. With the support of the DUP’s 10 MPs and all of her MPs, the PM would have 326 votes.

Has a government ever lost such a vote before?

YOU have to go back to January 1924 when the Conservative party, led by Stanley Baldwin, lost a vote on the King’s Speech.

If Mrs May loses the vote, does that bring down the Government?

UNDER the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, an early general election can only be held if more than two-thirds of the whole House backs such a move or a motion of no confidence is passed. In reality, the political implications of failing to pass the programme for government would make it almost impossible to cling on to power.

So, the speech and the vote that follows is shaping up to be one of the most keenly anticipated in modern times. Will it be accompanied by the usual pomp and ceremony?

NO. The Queen will deliver the speech wearing a day dress and hat and not the traditional Imperial state crown and ceremonial robes.

The spectacular carriage procession to and from the Palace of Westminster carrying the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh has also been replaced with a car journey.

But the changes reflect logistical concerns, rather than the political situation. As original June 19 date for the State Opening of Parliament is two days after the Trooping the Colour ceremony, it was deemed infeasible for the military and the Royal Mews to stage two major events in such a short period.

The Queen’s procession to the Chamber of the House of Lords, where she takes the throne and delivers her speech, will also be reduced with no heralds present.

The last time the ceremonial elements of a State Opening of Parliament were reduced by a similar scale was in March 1974 after Labour leader Harold Wilson defeated Edward Heath.