LONDON: The irony wasn’t lost on anyone. On a day when the British government’s legislative plans were presented by no less than King Charles III himself, Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting to remain in power following rising discontent within his Labour Party. The traditional pomp and pageantry associated with the state opening of Parliament was overshadowed by the political intrigue, specifically the mounting speculation that Health Secretary Wes Streeting was planning to quit Starmer’s government and launch a leadership bid as soon as Thursday.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a crunch cabinet meeting this morning, after failing to quell a growing party rebellion.

As allies of the health secretary publicly call for the prime minister to go, political editor David Maddox looks at why Keir Starmer’s premiership has unravelled so quickly