How to Become King 2024 – GOV.UK

The King’s Speech

Honourable Members of the House of Commons, My government will govern in the service of the country.

My government’s legislative programme will be based on the mission and principles of security, justice and opportunity for all.

Stability will be the cornerstone of my government’s economic policy and every decision will be consistent with its fiscal principles. It will legislate to ensure that all significant changes to taxation and spending are independently assessed by the Office for Budget Responsibility (Budget Responsibility Bill). Bills will be introduced to strengthen audit and corporate governance, alongside pension investments (Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill, Pension Schemes Bill).

Delivering growth will be a core mission. My Government will pursue a new partnership with both businesses and working people and help the country recover from recent cost of living challenges by prioritising wealth creation for all communities. My Ministers will establish an Industrial Strategy Board. My Government aims to raise living standards across all nations and regions of the UK.

My Ministers will keep Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing (Planning and Infrastructure Bill). They will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.

My government is determined to make work pay and will legislate to introduce a new contract for working people to outlaw exploitative practices and strengthen workers’ rights (Employment Rights Bill). It will seek to establish appropriate regulations to impose requirements on those working to develop the most powerful AI models.

My Government believes that greater devolution of decision-making is at the heart of a modern, dynamic economy and a key driver of economic growth, and my Ministers will introduce an English Devolution Bill. It will introduce legislation that will give new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities. This will support local growth plans that deliver economic benefits to communities.

A Bill will be introduced to give local leaders control of local bus services (Better Buses Bill). My Ministers will bring forward legislation to improve the railways by reforming the rail franchise, creating Great British Railways and bringing the operators of the 8 train into public ownership (Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, Rail Reform Bill).

Taken together, these strategies will strengthen the UK’s position as a leading industrialised nation and position it to seize new opportunities that can drive economic growth and wealth creation.

My Government recognises the urgency of the global climate challenge and the new job opportunities that can arise from leading the development of the technologies of the future. It is committed to a clean energy transition that will reduce energy bills for consumers over time. It will introduce a bill to create Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean energy company based in Scotland that will help accelerate investment in renewable energy sources such as offshore wind (Great British Energy Bill). It will introduce legislation to help the country achieve energy independence and unlock investment in energy infrastructure. It will introduce a bill to support sustainable aviation fuel production (Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism)). My Government recognises the need to improve water quality and will introduce a bill to strengthen the powers of the water regulator (Water (Special Measures) Bill).

My Government will work to strengthen the border and make our streets safer. We will introduce a new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Modernisation Bill, establishing a new Border Security Command and providing increased counter-terrorism powers to tackle organised immigration crime (Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill). We will introduce legislation to strengthen community policing, give police more powers to tackle anti-social behaviour and strengthen support for victims (Crime and Policing Bill, Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill).

Measures will be introduced to improve the safety and security of public places and help protect the British public from Terrorism (Protection of Premises). My Government will set out plans to halve violence against women and girls.

My Ministers will work to raise educational standards and break down barriers to opportunity. Action will be taken to get people back to work after the impact of the pandemic. A Children’s Wellbeing Bill will be introduced. Measures will be put forward to remove the VAT exemption for private school fees, enabling funding for 6,500 new teachers. My Government will set up Skills England, with a new partnership with employers at its heart (Skills England Bill) and my Ministers will reform the Apprenticeship Tax.

Legislation will be introduced to give greater rights and protection to people who rent their homes, including ending no-fault evictions and reforming the Renters’ Rights Bill 9. Draft legislation will be published in the Draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill.

A bill will be introduced to establish an independent football regulatory body to ensure greater sustainability of the game and to enhance protection for fans (Football Governance Bill).

My Government will improve the National Health Service as a service for all, providing care based on need, regardless of ability to pay. It will seek to reduce waiting times, focus on prevention and improve mental health care for young people. It will ensure that mental health is treated with the same care and focus as physical health. My Ministers will legislate to modernise the Mental Health Act to make it fit for the 21st century (Mental Health Act). A Bill will be introduced to gradually increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and to introduce restrictions on the sale and marketing of vaping devices (Tobacco and Vaporisers Act). My Ministers will also legislate to restrict the advertising of junk food to children and the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children. A Bill will be introduced to ban conversion practices (Conversion Practices Bill).

My government will take steps to help rebuild trust and nurture respect. Legislation will be introduced to introduce a duty of candor for public servants (Hillsborough Bill). A bill will be introduced to create a statutory Commissioner of the Armed Forces to act as a strong independent defender of our brave Armed Forces and their families (Armed Forces Commissioner Bill).

The Racial Equality Bill will be published in draft form to guarantee the full right to equal pay (the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill).

My Government will strengthen its work with the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver the best possible outcomes for people across the UK. My Ministers will establish a new Council of Nations and Regions to renew opportunities for the Prime Minister, devolved leaders and combined authority mayors to work together.

My Government will continue to support the political institutions and devolved government in Northern Ireland. In consultation with all parties, measures will be put forward to begin the process of repealing and replacing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Northern Ireland Legacy Legislation).

There will be measures to modernise the constitution, including reforming the House of Lords to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers). My Ministers will strengthen the integrity of elections and encourage wide participation in the democratic process.

The Government will propose establishing a Modernisation Select Committee in the House of Commons to raise standards, improve working practices and reform procedures.

My Government will deliver a strong defence based on the shared values ​​of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, including individual liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Its commitment to NATO will remain unwavering. It will maintain a strong armed force, including a nuclear deterrent. To ensure that the UK’s defence capabilities are adapted to the changing nature of global strategic threats, my Government will conduct a Strategic Defence Review.

My government will continue to provide full support to Ukraine and its people and will strive to play a leading role in providing Ukraine with a clear path to NATO membership.

My Government will seek to reset relationships with our European partners and work to improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the European Union. My Ministers will pursue a new security pact to strengthen cooperation on the mutual threats faced by the UK 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 a meeting of the European Political Community at Blenheim Palace. The Queen and I look forward to our visit to Samoa, alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October, and to our visit to Australia.

Members of the House of Commons

You will be provided with estimates of the costs of public services.

Esteemed Lords and Members of the House of Commons

You will be presented with other means.

I pray that the blessing of Almighty God rests upon your counsels.