King’s Speech: a Focus on Security, Growth and Reform

The King’s Speech is a big event in the Parliamentary calendar: it sets out the government’s legislative agenda and main policy priorities for the upcoming Parliamentary session.

The King delivered his speech, written by government and approved by the Cabinet, from the House of Lords at the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday. This is the formal ceremony that marks the beginning of the new session. The Monarch proceeds to the House of Lords before MPs gather at the Bar of the House of Lords to hear the speech.

Some of my personal highlights that were included in the speech:

• A promise on urgent action to tackle antisemitism and ensure all communities feel safe

• The Clean Water Bill will merge the functions of several existing regulators, including Ofwat, in a bid to end the "fragmented oversight" over the privatised water sector

• The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, to create a new duty of candour for public officials

• A European Partnership Bill to fast-track legislation to deliver a series of new agreements planned with the EU

• The government's much-amended Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, to create a new commission to investigate Troubles-related killings

All of this and more, set out during the speech, will guide the government in the next session and build on its success. In the first session of Parliament, the government passed 50 new pieces of legislation, including the Employment Rights Act, the Renters Rights Act, the Passenger Public Services (Public Ownership) Act, the Great British Energy Act and the Water (Special Measures) Act. Building on these foundations, we are working to build a stronger and fairer Britain that spreads opportunity for all. That is what the King’s Speech, and this Labour government’s second Parliamentary session, will deliver.