--- title: How the King’s speech gently rebukes our misplaced hopes date: 2026-05-14T17:28:00+01:00 author: Mark Gilmore canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/how-the-kings-speech-gently-rebukes-our-misplaced-hopes" section: Articles --- Share [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=1769260916495219&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fhow-the-kings-speech-gently-rebukes-our-misplaced-hopes) [](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20the%20King%E2%80%99s%20speech%20gently%20rebukes%20our%20misplaced%20hopes&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fhow-the-kings-speech-gently-rebukes-our-misplaced-hopes) [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/send?app_id=1769260916495219&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fhow-the-kings-speech-gently-rebukes-our-misplaced-hopes&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fhow-the-kings-speech-gently-rebukes-our-misplaced-hopes&display=popup) [](mailto:?subject=Shared%20from%20Evangelical%20Alliance&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fhow-the-kings-speech-gently-rebukes-our-misplaced-hopes) **The King was probably hoping for a day off in light of recent political developments. Unfortunately, he had no such luck.** **Politics is often theatre as much as substance, and this year’s state opening of parliament carried an unmistakable sense of fragility. Beneath the ceremonial grandeur, military procession and pomp sat a government facing growing uncertainty about its authority, direction and even survival.** Perhaps that is why the King’s speech felt unusually light. Governments normally use the occasion to project confidence and ambition, unveiling bold legislative programmes intended to define a parliamentary session. This speech felt different – as if designed primarily not to rock the boat. Sponsored[](#) [ ![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](https://lst.ac.uk/event/blessed-trinity-conference/) This is to be expected. It is difficult to invest in a sweeping, transformational agenda when you are facing an existential threat from within. There were still headline announcements, of course. The government renewed its focus on national security, economic resilience and tackling the ongoing cost of living crisis. Proposals around immigration, energy, digital IDs and housing all featured. The symbolic nationalisation of British Steel was perhaps the most eye-catching announcement. This industry remains strategically important, but nationalisation of this one industry does nothing to resolve the deeper structural questions facing the UK economy: low productivity, stagnant growth, high energy costs and regional inequality. For Christians, however, the most revealing aspect of the King’s speech may not have been the individual policies themselves, but what the moment exposes about the deeper condition of our politics and our tendency to place too much hope in it. > Modern politics frequently tries to present itself in terms of national salvation.” Modern politics frequently tries to present itself in terms of national salvation. Election cycles are framed as existential struggles. Leaders are expected to be either national redeemers or national catastrophes. Every legislative programme arrives accompanied by promises to rebuild the country, restore prosperity or heal social division. Yet speeches like this remind us how fragile political power really is. Governments rise quickly and weaken quickly. Parliamentary majorities evaporate. Grand agendas shrink under political pressure, economic reality or internal division. Leaders of all stripes who once appeared dominant suddenly begin governing defensively, trying to steady their own position before attempting to change the nation. It was ever thus. As the psalmist writes: > Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” — Psalm 146:3 The Christian worldview has always offered a necessary corrective to political messianism. Political authority matters deeply and should be taken seriously, but it was never designed to bear the weight of ultimate hope. That does not mean Christians should retreat from public life. Quite the opposite. We should engage seriously, pray faithfully and advocate courageously for policies that protect life, uphold family, pursue justice and defend freedom. But we do so with realism about what politics can actually achieve. Relevant to our advocacy work at the Evangelical Alliance will be forthcoming discussions around draft conversion therapy proposals, which the government has indicated remain part of its legislative intentions. These debates will require both clarity and compassion from Christians. Yet even these important issues sit within a wider national context marked by instability and uncertainty. Britain’s political culture increasingly feels reactive, managerial and fragmented. Trust in institutions remains low. Economic anxiety persists. Public confidence in leaders is fragile. And perhaps that is precisely why moments like the King’s speech can serve as a quiet rebuke to our misplaced hopes. At a time when Westminster itself appears uncertain of its footing, the church has an opportunity to offer something increasingly rare in public life: stability, truth, humility and hope grounded not in political fortunes, but in the unchanging reign of Christ. We can instead be people of hope who point towards His kingdom, which will not end and cannot be shaken ([Hebrews 12:28](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012%3A28&version=NIV)). At the very heart of parliament, in the grandeur of the central lobby, there is a verse from the Psalms inscribed on the floor in Latin: > Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” — Psalm 127:1 There is something profoundly striking about that. Day after day, MPs walk over those words, including those proceeding to the House of Lords for the King’s speech, and yet many will scarcely notice them, let alone reflect on their meaning. But the warning remains as relevant now as when it was first written. Political ambition, legislative programmes and national projects ultimately rest on fragile foundations if they are detached from God. As Parliament begins a new session, Psalm 127 reminds us of our real source of hope: unless the Lord builds the house, all our striving is in vain. [ ![Conversion therapy vote could criminalise church teaching and discipleship](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Parliament silhouette](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/abdullah-ali-Fd-ioQay1vM-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/conversion-therapy-vote-could-criminalise-church-teaching-and-discipleship) [#### Conversion therapy vote could criminalise church teaching and discipleship ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/conversion-therapy-vote-could-criminalise-church-teaching-and-discipleship) Danny Webster, director of advocacy at the Evangelical Alliance, urges prayer for parliament ahead of votes which could criminalise ordinary, everyday activity of churches [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 28 February 2024 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/conversion-therapy-vote-could-criminalise-church-teaching-and-discipleship) [ ![The King’s Speech: 21 new bills but no mention of conversion therapy](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![King Charles III](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/people/King-Charles-III.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/the-kings-speech-21-new-bills-but-no-mention-of-conversion-therapy) [#### The King’s Speech: 21 new bills but no mention of conversion therapy ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/the-kings-speech-21-new-bills-but-no-mention-of-conversion-therapy) Initial reaction to the King's Speech from Alicia Edmund, our head of public policy [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 07 November 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/the-kings-speech-21-new-bills-but-no-mention-of-conversion-therapy) --- ### About Mark Gilmore ![]()Mark serves as the policy advisor at the Evangelical Alliance. He has worked in both the House of Lords, House Commons and as a parliamentary officer to the Christians in Parliament All Party Parliamentary Group. He is interested in the role of faith in public life, Jesus’ call to social justice and all things policy. When he isn’t talking politics, he enjoys theatre, singing and a good run! [See more from Mark Gilmore](/author/mark-gilmore)