King Charles will set out the government’s legislative priorities for the next year this morning as Sir Keir Starmer battles to save his job.
The primary aim of the King’s Speech is to “restore hope”, ministers said, and it will include policies on immigration, green energy and reforms to special educational needs and disabilities (Send) schooling.
But really, Sir Keir will be hoping that an ambitious legislative agenda will persuade MPs and the public that he is the right man to lead the country – as Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham jostle to find a way into the top spot.
The government said the package of policies would amount to an “ambitious programme to break with the status quo”, with more than 35 bills expected to be unveiled, including one to give the government powers to renationalise British Steel.
Here, The Independent looks at what we can expect to see from the speech – and what appears to be missing.
Defence
The government is expected to go big on defence as part of an attempt to show that Sir Keir is taking the threats from abroad seriously and bolstering Britain’s position on the global stage, following mounting turbulence in the Middle East and growing threats from Russia and China.
Ministers have promised to introduce legislation to “strengthen our defences and keep pace with modern technologies, from cyberattacks to new powers to counter state threats so we can better disrupt the sharing of extreme content online”.
The speech will also include new laws to make it easier to take action against state-backed groups, such as the proscription of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps following attacks on the Jewish community in recent months.
Immigration
On immigration, legislation is expected on restricting the use of Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights – the right to respect for private and family life – as part of an attempt to see off the growing threat from Reform UK and clamp down on illegal immigrants.
New laws could be mentioned that would deny appeal rights to more people and establish an independent appeal body to hear claims currently considered by judges.
Housing
Leasehold reforms are also expected to be in the speech as the government said it wants to “give people more control over how they live in their own homes” and provide stronger rights for homeowners.
Meanwhile, legislation to protect the social housing stock and better protect domestic abuse survivors will also be included as part of an attempt to make sure families have safe and affordable homes to live in.
Energy
The King’s Speech is expected to unveil the Energy Independence Bill, which will give government more power to cut the cost of energy and speed up the delivery of clean energy technologies and vital grid infrastructure.
It comes as part of a wider mission by ministers to “get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster” in the face of soaring oil prices caused by conflict in the Middle East, and deliver “clean, homegrown power we control”.
British Steel
As the prime minister set out earlier this week, the King’s Speech will also include legislation to protect the UK’s steelmaking capacity by giving government options to nationalise British Steel, so that necessary action can be taken if needed.
The government will be given powers to nationalise British Steel if doing so passes the public interest test for public ownership.
What might not be included?
Notably, the government’s press briefing ahead of the speech did not include further plans to crack down on welfare – despite such a move having been repeatedly floated ahead of the speech amid mounting pressure on ministers to slash the benefits bill.
Briefings also did not include plans for a social media ban for under-16s, despite an increasing conversation about possibly doing so. Ministers will be waiting for the outcome of a consultation into the issue, which opened in March.
