THE King has delivered a speech laying out 40 bills which Keir Starmer’s Labour government will aim to bring forward.
The monarch delivered the speech, which lasted around 13 minutes, in the House of Lords, before MPs moved to the Commons ahead of a debate on its contents.
There were 40 new bills outlined in the Labour government’s legislative agenda, so understandably different aspects are being greeted differently.
One major omission from the speech was a pledge to end the two-child benefit cap, with Labour facing controversy after a Cabinet minister claimed it was “open to debate” whether the policy causes harm to children.
But what was in the speech?
Here is a run down of the 40 bills outlined in the King’s Speech:
Budget Responsibility Bill
This will introduce a “fiscal lock” which will ensure the economic watchdog, the Office of Budget Responsibility, assesses any major tax or spending changes by the Government.. This measure aims to maintain economic stability and prevent unexamined financial policies.
National Wealth Fund Bill
Establishes the National Wealth Fund with £7.3 billion to make investments across the UK. It aims to mobilise private sector investment for economic growth and a greener economy.
Pension Schemes Bill
Supports over 15 million people in private-sector pension schemes to get better outcomes from their pension assets. Measures include consolidating defined contribution individual deferred small pension pots; introducing a value for money framework for defined contribution schemes; and requiring pension schemes to offer a range of retirement products.
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
This will accelerate the building of homes and infrastructure by simplifying the approval process for critical infrastructure projects; ensuring compulsory purchase compensation paid to landowners is not excessive to free up more sites for development; and modernising local planning committees and improving planning authorities’ capacity.
Employment Rights Bill
Measures include a ban on zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire policies; improvements to statutory sick pay; day-one rights to flexible working and protection from unfair dismissal; establishing a fair pay agreement in the social care sector; updating trade union legislation and simplifying the process of statutory union recognition.
English Devolution Bill
Transfers decision-making power from Westminster to local leaders. It establishes a standardised devolution framework with enhanced powers for local leaders, including over planning and local transport, and new right-to-buy powers for empty shops and pubs.
Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill
Brings rail services back into public ownership by transferring train operations to a public-sector operator as existing contracts expire or operators fail to meet their commitments and making public ownership the default position.
Better Buses Bill
Empowers local leaders to take control of their bus services, addressing the decline in bus networks. It removes barriers to bus franchising and supports public ownership.
Railways Bill
Establishes a new public body called Great British Railways to unify and simplify the rail system, focusing on improving services for passengers and freight. The bill introduces measures to protect passengers' interests and reform ticketing. It also paves the way for a new watchdog, the Passenger Standards Authority.
Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill
The Bank of England will be allowed to use funds provided by the banking sector – not the taxpayer – to cover some costs of resolving failing small banks under this legislation.
Arbitration Bill
Enacts recommendations to reform arbitration law, supporting efficient dispute resolution and promoting the UK as a global arbitration hub. The bill clarifies applicable law, strengthens arbitrator immunity, and empowers courts to enforce emergency arbitrator orders.
Product Safety and Metrology Bill
This provides new powers to regulate new high-risk products such as lithium-ion batteries and suppliers such as online marketplaces. It grants new powers to respond to technological advances and emerging product risks.
Digital Information and Smart Data Bill
This is aimed at boosting innovative uses of data, including by establishing digital verification services, a new digital map for underground infrastructure and smart data schemes. It will establish Digital Verification Services, a National Underground Asset Register, and Smart Data schemes.
High Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill
The Labour Government will not reverse Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel the northern leg of the HS2 rail line, but will seek to improve east-to-west rail connectivity across the north of England.
Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill
Strengthens audit and corporate governance to ensure accurate financial reporting and protect jobs. It replaces the Financial Reporting Council with the Audit Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA).
Great British Energy Bill
This will set up GB Energy, a new state-owned energy company which will invest alongside the private sector in big projects facilitating the decarbonisation of the electricity grid.
The Crown Estate Bill
Modernises the Crown Estate, enhancing its ability to manage public assets and support the UK’s clean energy mission. The bill grants borrowing powers and widens investment capabilities for the Crown Estate.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) Bill
Supports the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to reduce emissions from the aviation sector. The bill introduces a revenue support mechanism to incentivise SAF investment.
Water (Special Measures) Bill
This puts polluting water companies under special measures, with bosses facing criminal liability for lawbreaking and a ban on their bonuses and severe fines.
Border Security Asylum and Immigration Bill
Modernises the UK’s asylum and immigration system, enhancing border security and addressing organised immigration crime. The bill establishes a new Border Security Command and strengthens counter-terrorism powers.
Crime and Policing Bill
Measures include strengthening neighbourhood policing; cracking down on antisocial behaviour with new “respect orders” for persistent adult offenders; introducing stronger measures against shoplifting; banning ninja swords and certain kinds of knives; and ensuring an improved police response to violence against women and girls and spiking.
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill
This delivers Labour’s manifesto pledge to bring in Martyn’s Law named after 2017 Manchester Arena bombing victim, Martyn Hett. It is focused on improving security at public venues and better protecting the public from terror attacks.
Victims Courts and Public Protection Bill
Enhances support for victims and strengthens measures for public protection within the criminal justice system. The bill aims to improve the experience of victims in court and increase penalties for crimes against vulnerable populations.
Children’s Wellbeing Bill
This includes forcing councils to maintain registers of children not in school; requiring all schools to teach the national curriculum; and cracking down on unregistered independent schools. Free breakfast clubs in every primary school and a limit on the branded items of uniform and PE kits a school can require are also included in this bill.
Skills England Bill
Establishes Skills England to improve education and skills training, supporting economic growth. The bill emphasises partnerships with employers and reforms to the apprenticeship levy.
Renters’ Rights Bill
This wide-ranging bill’s measures include a ban on so-called no-fault evictions; empowering tenants to challenge rent increases and to request a pet; setting rules around the timeframes within which landlords must make homes safer for private renters, known as Awaab’s Law, and applying a “decent homes standard” to the sector.
Football Governance Bill
Establishes an independent football regulator to ensure sustainability and protect fans' interests. The bill addresses financial mismanagement and promotes fair ticket pricing and fan involvement in club decisions.
Draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill
This draft legislation will bolster leaseholders’ rights to extend their lease and buy their freehold; restrict the sale of new leasehold flats; regulate extortionate ground rents; and end the “fleecehold” system, whereby people who own freehold properties are locked into contracts to maintain the communal areas around them.
Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill
This enshrines in law the full right to equal pay for ethnic minorities and disabled people and introduces mandatory ethnicity and disability pay reporting.
Draft Conversion Practices Bill
Bans conversion practices aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity, ensuring protection for LGBTQ+ individuals. The bill would criminalise such practices and provide support for survivors.
Tobacco and Vapes Bill
This reintroduces former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak’s proposed smoking ban, gradually lifting the age at which people can buy cigarettes, and it will impose limits on selling and marketing vapes.
Mental Health Bill
This will modernise the Mental Health Act to shift the balance of power from the system to the patient with the aim of putting service users at the centre of decisions about their own care.
Hillsborough Law
Introduces a duty of candour for public servants to ensure transparency and accountability in public sector operations. The bill aims to prevent cover-ups and protect whistleblowers.
Armed Forces Commissioner Bill
Establishes a statutory Armed Forces Commissioner to champion the welfare of service personnel and their families. The bill ensures that concerns of armed forces members are heard and addressed.
Northern Ireland Legacy Legislation
Begins the process of repealing and replacing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The bill promotes reconciliation and justice for victims of the Troubles.
House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill
Removes the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords, which was left in place during Tony Blair's Lords' reform. There is no mention of Labour's pledge to stop Lords sitting after they turn 80.
Cyber Security and Resilience Bill
This aims to boost the country’s defences against cyber attacks that have affected the NHS and Ministry of Defence by strengthening regulators and increasing reporting requirements.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill
Provides legal recognition and privileges to these organisations to support their operations in the UK. The bill ensures they can continue promoting parliamentary democracy and humanitarian work.
Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill
Extends the provision for female bishops to enter the House of Lords sooner, promoting gender equality. The bill supports efforts to increase female representation among the Lords Spiritual.
Holocaust Memorial Bill
Supports the construction of a national Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre next to the Houses of Parliament.
The King's Speech in full
Here is a full transcript of everything the King said in his 13-minute speech.
“My Lords and Members of the House of Commons.
“My Government will govern in service to the country.
“My Government’s legislative programme will be mission-led and based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all.
“Stability will be the cornerstone of my Government’s economic policy and every decision will be consistent with its fiscal rules. It will legislate to ensure that all significant tax and spending changes are subject to an independent assessment by the Office for Budget Responsibility. Bills will be brought forward to strengthen audit and corporate governance, alongside pension investment.
“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. My ministers will establish an industrial strategy council. It is my Government’s objective to see rising living standards in all nations and regions in the United Kingdom.
“My ministers will get Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing. They will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.
“My Government is committed to making work pay and will legislate to introduce a New Deal for Working People to ban exploitative practices and enhance employment rights. It will seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models.
“My Government believes that greater devolution of decision-making is at the heart of a modern dynamic economy and is a key driver of economic growth, and my ministers will introduce an English Devolution Bill. Legislation will be introduced to give new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities. This will support local growth plans that bring economic benefit to communities.
“A Bill will be introduced to allow local leaders to take control of their local bus services. My ministers will bring forward legislation to improve the railways by reforming rail franchising, establishing Great British Railways and bringing train operators into public ownership.
“Taken together these policies will enhance Britain’s position as a leading industrial nation and enable the country to take advantage of new opportunities that can promote growth and wealth creation.
“My Government recognises the urgency of the global climate challenge and the new job opportunities that can come from leading the development of the technologies of the future. It is committed to a clean energy transition which will lower energy bills for consumers over time.
“A Bill will be introduced to set up Great British Energy, a publicly-owned clean power company headquartered in Scotland, which will help accelerate investment in renewable energy such as offshore wind. Legislation will be brought forward to help the country achieve energy independence and unlock investment in energy infrastructure. A Bill will be introduced to support sustainable aviation fuel production. My Government recognises the need to improve water quality and a Bill will be introduced to strengthen the powers of the water regulator.
“My Government will seek to strengthen the border and make streets safer. A Bill will be introduced to modernise the asylum and immigration system, establishing a new Border Security Command and delivering enhanced counter-terror powers to tackle organised immigration crime. Legislation will be brought forward to strengthen community policing, give the police greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour and strengthen support for victims.
“Measures will be introduced to improve the safety and security of public venues and help keep the British public safe from terrorism. My Government will bring forward plans to halve violence against women and girls.
“My ministers will seek to raise educational standards and break down barriers to opportunity. Action will be taken to get people back in employment following the impact of the pandemic. A Bill will be introduced to raise standards in education and promote children’s wellbeing. Measures will be brought forward to remove the exemption from Value Added Tax for private school fees, which will enable the funding of 6,500 new teachers. My Government will establish Skills England which will have a new partnership with employers at its heart, and my ministers will reform the apprenticeship levy.
“Legislation will be introduced to give greater rights and protections to people renting their homes, including ending no-fault evictions and reforming grounds for possession. Draft legislation will be published on leasehold and commonhold reform.
“A Bill will be introduced to establish an independent football regulator to ensure greater sustainability in the game and strengthen protections for fans.
“My Government will improve the National Health Service as a service for all, providing care on the basis of need regardless of the ability to pay. It will seek to reduce the waiting times, focus on prevention and improve mental health provision for young people. It will ensure mental health is given the same attention and focus as physical health. My ministers will legislate to modernise the Mental Health Act so it is fit for the 21st century.
“A Bill will be introduced to progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes. My ministers will also legislate to restrict advertising of junk food to children along with the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children. A draft Bill will be brought forward to ban conversion practices.
“My Government will take steps to help rebuild trust and foster respect. Legislation will be brought forward to introduce a duty of candour for public servants. A Bill will be introduced to establish a statutory Armed Forces Commissioner to act as a strong independent champion for our gallant armed forces and their families.
“Legislation on race equality will be published in draft to enshrine the full right to equal pay in law.
“My Government will strengthen its work with the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland so that the best outcomes possible are delivered for citizens across the United Kingdom. My ministers will establish a new Council of the Nations and Regions to renew opportunities for the Prime Minister, heads of devolved governments and mayors of combined authorities to collaborate with each other.
“My Government will continue to support the political institutions and devolved government in Northern Ireland. In consultation with all parties, measures will be brought forward to begin the process of repealing and replacing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
“Measures to modernise the constitution will be introduced, including House of Lords reform to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the Lords. My ministers will strengthen the integrity of elections and encourage wide participation in the democratic process.
“The Government will propose a modernisation committee of the House of Commons, which will be tasked with driving up standards, improving work practices and reforming procedures.
“My Government will ensure a strong defence based on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (Nato) common values of individual liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Its commitment to Nato will remain unshakeable. It will maintain a strong armed forces, including the nuclear deterrent. To ensure that the United Kingdom’s defence capabilities are matched to the changing nature of global strategic threats, my Government will conduct a strategic defence review.
“My Government will continue to give its full support to Ukraine and its people and it will endeavour to play a leading role in providing Ukraine with a clear path to Nato membership.
“My Government will seek to reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom’s trade and investment relationship with the European Union. My ministers will seek a new security pact to strengthen co-operation on the mutual threats faced by the United Kingdom and the European Union.
“My Government will play its part in trying to secure long-term peace and security in the Middle East. It is committed to a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
“Later this week, my Government will host the European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace.
“The Queen and I look forward to our visit to Samoa alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October, and our visit to Australia.
“Members of the House of Commons, estimates for the public services will be laid before you.
“My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, other measures will be laid before you.
“I pray that the blessing of almighty God may rest upon your counsels.”
