Rishi Sunak insisted he has “turned the corner" to put the country on a better path as he used the King's Speech to set out a pre-election stall containing challenges for Sir Keir Starmer.
In his first State Opening of Parliament as monarch, King Charles had to detail legislation mandating annual oil and gas licensing for the North Sea - which the Conservatives hope will draw a political dividing line with the Labour leader.
With a general election expected next year, the Prime Minister put a series of criminal justice proposals at the centre of the first such speech he has overseen from No 10.
Among the measures were proposals to end no-fault evictions, measures to pave the way for self-driving cars, and tougher sentences for the worst criminals.
Mr Sunak said: “We have turned the corner over the last year and put the country on a better path. But these immediate priorities are not the limit of our ambition.
“They are just the foundations of our plan to build a better future for our children and grandchildren, and deliver the change the country needs."
But Labour’s Sir Keir said the address was a “new low” and amounted to a “plan for more of the same". He criticised the oil policy as a "political gimmick" which will "not take a single penny off anyone's bills".
