THE King’s Speech produced the predictable politicking that we are going to have to get used to as the election looms on the horizon. The Conservatives accused Labour of being soft on this and that, and Labour accused the Tories of missing opportunities.

The King’s Speech was a little strange. There were some good ideas in it – such as the Bill to force criminals like Lucy Letby hear their verdicts – and some points, like the gradual ban on smoking, that it is hard to oppose.

But Rishi Sunak’s big problem as he languishes 20 points behind in the polls is that no one knows what he really stands for – other than clearing up the mess of his predecessors.

You would think he would take every set-piece opportunity to present his vision to the country, which would mean tackling the NHS backlog which is harming health and the economy, creating a proper school building programme, assisting the drive to green energy, perhaps cleaning the sewage out of our rivers, and yet there was nothing on these the biggest issues facing the country.

For years, Conservatives have complained about the planning system, so why not reform it? There was nothing on house building – the Tories are in danger of surrendering this ground to Keir “Bulldozer” Starmer.

What in the King’s Speech are Conservative candidates going to use to inspire voters on the doorstep? The promise of a new exam in 10 years time? The hope that rail may get a bit better with a draft bill?

It was a bit underwhelming – or perhaps Mr Sunak knows that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is going to enthuse everyone with his Autumn Statement in a fortnight’s time, offering vast tax cuts in April ahead of a May election?