Labour plans to delay parliament summer recess if it wins election

2 July 2024, 16:58 | Updated: 2 July 2024, 19:26

Labour is planning to push back the summer recess for MPs until the end of July if it wins the election, Sky News understands.

If Sir Keir enters Downing Street as prime minister, some of the first things on his agenda will be to appoint his new Cabinet and have new MPs sworn into parliament.

It is understood that the King's speech - where the monarch reads out the government's legislative agenda - will take place two weeks later on 17 July.

Sky's political editor Beth Rigby said on her Electoral Dysfunction podcast that parliament would normally wrap up after the King's Speech - but that a Labour government would keep the Commons active until the end of July before calling recess, with MPs returning in September.

Election latest: 'Enormous increase' in postal votes - as Starmer faces questions over cabinet rumours

Before the election was called, the summer recess was due to begin on 23 July - but considering this is only six days after the King's Speech Sir Keir will likely need more sitting days to have his agenda approved by newly elected MPs.

As the general election campaign enters its final days, the Tories have found a new attack line to deploy against Sir Keir - that his desire to stop working after 6pm on Fridays to spend time with his children would make him a "part-time prime minister".