The policies of the British Labour government as outlined in the King’s Speech

King Charles III unveiled the first Labour government policies in 15 years on Wednesday, July 17, promising economic stability, tougher action on illegal immigration and improving relations with Europe that have been damaged by Brexit.

“We will unlock growth and take the brakes off Britain,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in his opening speech to the King’s Speech, a centuries-old tradition of pomp and ceremony that details the laws the government intends to pass over the next 12 months.

Despite its name, the speech, which marks the official start of a new parliamentary session, was not written by the monarch as head of state but by the government. It was the first such speech by the centre-left Labour Party since it was last in power in 2010. Labour returned to government after a landslide victory over the Conservatives earlier this month.

Dressed in the diamond-studded Imperial State Crown, naval dress and full robe, Charles delivered the Labour Party proposals from the golden throne in the upper house of the House of Lords, travelling from Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession.

The speech included more than 35 bills, including measures to enforce public spending rules and an independent review of future budgets to prevent a repeat of former prime minister Liz Truss’s disastrous 2022 mini-budget that collapsed the economy. The legislation builds on several announcements already made, such as the launch of a wealth fund to attract investment to the UK and a publicly owned entity tasked with boosting clean energy by 2030.

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Labour also announced a house-building boost and plans to renationalise Britain’s widely criticised rail services. Details emerged of a new border security command with enhanced “counter-terrorism powers” ​​to clamp down on “immigration crime” – with Starmer promising to “crack down on the gangs” behind migrants crossing the Channel from northern France.

Also included is a bill to strengthen workers’ rights, including a ban on zero-hour contracts and stronger protection for tenants, as well as plans to reform the unelected House of Lords by abolishing the right of those with hereditary titles to sit in it.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s proposal to phase out smoking was also accepted, as were plans for a football regulator. A commitment was also included to repeal a controversial act that gave qualified immunity to offenders in Northern Ireland during the period of riots and sectarian violence.

Ceremonial “hostage”

The day’s celebrations began with the King’s bodyguard ritually searching the basement of Westminster Palace for explosives – leftovers from a failed Catholic attempt to blow up Parliament in 1605. The King then made his way to Buckingham Palace, escorted by mounted cavalry, en route to the House of Lords.

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A group of anti-monarchy protesters chanted “Not my king” outside Parliament, while the Metropolitan Police said 10 members of the Youth Demand activist group had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to disturb public order.

The ceremonial tradition dictates that an MP is ceremonially held “hostage” in the palace to ensure the king’s safe return. A parliamentary official known as Black Rod has the doors of the lower house of the House of Commons slammed in his face, a tradition symbolising parliament’s independence from the monarchy.

The MPs then followed Black Rod into the Upper House, where King Charles, as Head of State, delivered a speech to the assembled lords and ladies in red and ermine robes, as well as invited members of the elected House of Commons.

In keeping with the convention that the monarch is above politics, passionate environmentalist Charles showed no emotion for a moment, just as he did during his last speech in November when Sunak’s government announced new oil and gas licences.

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Le Monde from AFP

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