Highlights of the first King's Speech delivered by King Charles under the new Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Follow all the latest developments in the King's Speech and political fallout with MailOnline's live blog Keir Starmer boasted he is bringing in a 'new era' today after unveiling a King's Speech taking control of rail, energy and the planning system.
Amid the usual pomp and ceremony, the King said ministers will go ahead with controversial class-war plans to impose VAT on private school fees.The ban on current 15-year-olds ever buying cigarettes is being revived, after the previous attempt was lost when Rishi Sunak called the election. Despite his massive majority as Labour begins its first spell in power for 14 years, Sir Keir faces trouble in his own ranks as MPs voiced fury at the failure to axe the two-child cap on receiving benefits.
'I understand well that the Chancellor is keen to paint as bleak a picture as possible, but I would just gently point out that this is not exactly what the facts say. But Sir Keir said: 'This Government has been elected to deliver nothing less than national renewal – to stop the chaos of the past 14 years, turn the page on an era of politics as noisy performance and return it to public service and start the work of rebuilding our country.
He insisted 'the era of politics as performance and self-interest above service is over' - saying delivery was the only way to counter the 'snake oil charm of populism'.'It is only by serving the interests of working people, and delivering real change that transforms lives, that we can begin to restore people's faith that politics can be a force for good.Advertisement 'Rebuilding our country will not happen overnight.
'Democratic decisions are best made by people with skin in the game, so my government will push power out of Westminster and empower local leaders to deliver for their communities.' Labour's manifesto states that communities should still be allowed to 'shape housebuilding in their area', but suggests they will lose their veto over development.
Labour's manifesto pledged to kick-start the economy and generate the highest growth in the G7 by the end of this Parliament. more videos As well as crowds cheering the King and Queen, there was a group of republican protesters Labour has committed to sweeping away zero hours contracts, while unions have reacted with glee at the scrapping of Tory restrictions on the chaos that can be caused by strikes.
The King's Speech included a pledge to ban zero hours arrangements, but after protests from businesses and people who benefit from the terms it has been watered down. The Tory government's reforms of union powers, including minimum service standards in areas like rail, will be abolished. There will also be a new fair pay agreement in the adult social care sector to establish national terms and conditions and fair pay rates, as well as a 'genuine' national living wage which removes 'discriminatory' age bands.
Most existing railway contracts are set to expire by the end of 2025, and while some extend into the 2030s, senior Labour sources suggested the Government could take advantage of break clauses to bring services back into public ownership sooner.It aims to have the change completed by 2029, with a 'shadow GBR' set up immediately even before contracts end, with a remit to also include 'industrial relations.
However the Government appears to have slowed its charge towards change. Before the election, now minister Nick Thomas-Symonds suggested it could be brought in within 100 days of taking power. But it would also include major carve outs for 'legitimate psychological support, treatment, or non-directive counselling', and the guidance says it must also 'respect the important role that teachers, religious leaders, parents and carers can have.'
Labour today outlined its plan for a 'smoke-free UK' as it relit Rishi Sunak's progressive tobacco ban. The King's Speech today outlined plans for a Tobacco and Vapes Bill, hailing it as a 'landmark step in creating a smoke-free UK'. 'A smoke-free country would prevent disease, disability and premature deaths long into the future,' he said.
The Great British Energy Bill provides for £8.3billion of investment over the course of this Parliament to accelerate investment in renewable energy such as offshore wind. The Bill will give the Crown Estate the power to borrow from the Exchequer, freeing up its large cash reserves to be invested in new projects to help accelerate the deployment of offshore wind, which needs to as much as quadruple by 2030 to decarbonise the power grid.Police will be told to toughen up their response to the UK's shoplifting epidemic in a crime crackdown.
The figure was the highest since current records began in 2003, according to the Office for National Statistics , and has seen retailers resorting to putting security tags on low value and everyday items. It is one of a number of measures aimed at restoring community confidence in policing under the new Labour government.
The King's Speech included plans for 'moving power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best'. Ms Rayner, who is also the Communities and Local Government Secretary, has written to leaders of councils which are not subject to a devolution deal to urge them to 'partner with the Government'.
Earlier this month, Sir Keir and Ms Rayner held a meeting with 11 regional leaders, including Labour's London mayor Sadiq Khan, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, and the only Conservative mayor, Tees Valley's Lord Houchen. Labour said the continued presence of hereditary peers in the Lords - who are there by right of birth - was 'outdated and indefensible' and reform is 'long overdue and essential'.
There was no legislation in the King's Speech to fulfil Labour's manifesto promise to give the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds The remaining hereditary peers in the Lords were left as an exception to Labour's last reforms to the upper House in 1999, when they were previously in power. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill was among flagship legislation in the King's Speech, which will 'accelerate housebuilding and infrastructure delivery'.
Their proposals include 'modernising' planning committees and increasing the capacity of local planning authorities. These were junked by the Tories in 2022, shortly after Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, after dozens of Conservative MPs threatened a rebellion. It has been reported that new legal measures will force councils to quickly identify enough land to meet their predicted future housing needs.
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