Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised “national renewal” as he debated among MPs in the House of Commons after the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.
King Charles earlier unveiled the new Labour government’s proposed legislation, setting out Mr Starmer’s plans to tear up planning red tape, reform the economy and restore trust in politics in a sweeping set of changes.
Legislation to overhaul Britain's railways and England's buses was included. While the Government pledged to create a new partnership between business, unions and workers with wide-ranging changes to employment rights.
The emphasis was on improving transport, creating jobs and accelerating the building of houses and infrastructure as Labour seeks to escape Britain's recent cycle of low growth.
The Prime Minister vowed to “fix the foundations of this nation for the long-term” with a programme containing 40 proposed pieces of legislation.
Sir Keir said change will not happen overnight but his plan would “unlock growth and take the brakes off Britain”.
After a divisive election campaign, Sir Keir said “the fight for trust is the battle that defines our political era” and only delivering real change can “begin to restore people’s faith that politics can be a force for good”.
The speech contained a commitment to major planning reform to “turbo boost” the building of 1.5million new homes.
Planning rules will be changed so that communities can only have a say on “how, not if” new homes are built.
