The timing means that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will set out his legislative plans just days after the crucial May 7 local elections, which are being seen as a major test for his Labour administration. MPs’ votes on the speech are traditionally seen as a test of confidence in a government.
The same four people all said that the government plans to prorogue parliament — ending a continuous session that has lasted almost two years under Starmer — in the week of April 27. Two of the people said April 29 is the ideal target date for prorogation.
The prorogation date will effectively serve as a deadline for the government to publish thousands of messages and documents involving Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as U.K. ambassador to the U.S. last year over his historic friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Officials are currently working through the next batch of files involving Mandelson, but they can only be published when parliament is sitting — meaning if they are not published before prorogation, they will be held back until well after the local elections.
Two of the four people said there is a possibility that prorogation slips back to May 5 as the government tries to wrangle outstanding legislation through the House of Lords.
One of the most likely hold-ups is the Pension Schemes Bill, over which peers have inflicted a series of defeats on the government.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which will impose a “duty of candour” on public authorities, is already expected be carried over to the next session of parliament. Wrangling is continuing between ministers and campaigners over how the bill’s scope will apply to the security services.
Esther Webber contributed to this report.