London, Jul 17 (PTI) King Charles III on Wednesday outlined the new Labour government’s legislative plans for the year ahead at the State Opening of Parliament, days after the UK’s landmark general election.
The King’s Speech, setting out the parliamentary agenda of the newly elected Labour Party government, included nearly 40 pieces of legislation as well as other policy priorities that Prime Minister Keir Starmer intends to implement.
The key highlights of the speech focus on economic growth, housebuilding and nationalisation of railways with measures focused on creating wealth in every corner of the country and improving the living standards of working people”.
My government’s legislative programme will be mission-led and based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all, the 75-year-old monarch said, reading out the customary speech drafted by the government.
Securing economic growth will be a fundamental mission. My government will seek a new partnership with both business and working people and help the country move on from the recent cost of living challenges by prioritising wealth creation for all communities, he noted.
Earlier, King Charles and Queen Camilla rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the Palace of Westminster, where the King delivered the address marking the first day of a new parliamentary session.
The monarch, in his capacity as Head of State, arrived at the Sovereign’s Entrance to Parliament and subsequently led the royal procession to the chamber of the House of Lords where a senior officer known as Black Rod summoned members of the House of Commons into the Lord’s Chamber to listen to the speech.
Ahead of that, the royal bodyguards ceremonially searched the cellars of the Palace of Westminster for explosives, commemorating the gunpowder plot of 1605 – a failed attempt by English Catholics to blow up the Protestant King James I and Parliament.
In keeping with tradition, one member of Parliament is always ceremonially held hostage in Buckingham Palace while the Sovereign attends Parliament to ensure the King’s safe return. This role fell to the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, Samantha Dixon MP, a government Whip.
Once the King and Queen left the chamber, marking an end to the regal aspects of the occasion, the new parliamentary session formally began with both the House of Commons and Lords beginning to debate the contents of the speech for several days before it could be voted on.
The government has said its package of bills focuses on growing the economy through speeding up the building of houses and infrastructure, improving transport, creating more jobs, and securing clean, green energy – helping to make every part of the country better off.
Among the key legislative proposals, new tax and spending changes must legally be assessed by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), as a safeguard against financial upheaval.
Liberalisation of planning laws to boost construction, an employment rights bill, and increased devolution to mayors across England are also on the agenda.
Additionally, plans for a new Great British Rail governing system and a publicly-owned clean power company, Great British Energy, aim to accelerate investment in renewable energy.
Reforms to the House of Lords, reducing its size, have been proposed alongside a renewed push for a rolling ban on youth smoking, emphasizing the party’s commitment to health and social issues.
The King’s Speech marks a significant moment in the UK’s political landscape as the new Labour government sets out its ambitious agenda for the year ahead. As debates ensue and legislation takes shape, the country prepares to witness the impact of these proposed changes on the lives of its citizens.
