Politics Home Article | What Can We Expect From The King’s Speech

King Charles will address Parliament on Wednesday (Alamy)

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The speech will come as Keir Starmer fights for his premiership amid a swathe of resignations and increasing calls for the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for electing a new leader of the Labour Party.

The government has said that the King’s speech is expected to unveil over 35 bills and draft bills.

Here is what could be in the King’s speech, set to be delivered at 11 30am:

Economy

Nationalisation of British Steel: The government is expected to introduce legislation to allow for the nationalisation of Chinese-owned British Steel, subject to a public-interest test. Last year, the government passed emergency powers to save British Steel from closure. It is unclear how much nationalisation would cost.

Tourist tax: Legislation to allow mayors and councils to introduce a tourist tax for overnight stays is expected. Local government Secretary Steve Reed said last year that the move would “unlock growth through investment”.

Closer alignment with the European Union: At a speech on Monday, Starmer said that a closer relationship with Europe is at the heart of the “Labour choice” going forward. The government has said that new laws will deliver more trade, more opportunities for young people and help to reduce the cost of living. 

Financial services Bill: According to The Financial Times, the bill will set out changes to major regulators, alongside a package of City of London reforms.

Late Payments Bill: The Department for Business and Trade published its response to the late payments consultation in March and said that mandatory interest on late payments would be introduced. Late payments to suppliers are estimated to cost the UK economy £11bn each year. 

National Wealth Fund Bill: The government previously established the National Wealth Fund, replacing the UK Infrastructure Bank in October. Legislation could be brought forward to further outline next steps.

Public Procurement (British Goods and Services) Bill: The bill, which was introduced in 2024, aims to increase the use of UK suppliers and would introduce mandatory reporting on the proportion of British food supplied to the public sector.

Technology

Digital ID: While the government U-turned on plans to introduce a mandatory form of digital ID, a voluntary form of the technology is set to be introduced. 

Cyber attacks: First announced in the 2024 King’s Speech, the legislation aims to make essential and digital services more secure in the face of cyber criminals.

Health

Abolishing NHS England: Legislation will be needed to deliver on the abolition of NHS England, announced last year by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and implement several commitments in the 10-year health plan.

Energy and water

Water regulator bill: The government said last year that Ofwat would be replaced with a new, single, powerful regulator to be established to cut water pollution in England’s rivers, lakes and seas, and protect families from massive bill hikes.

Energy Independence Bill: Government is expected to bring forward the Energy Independence Act, which will “establish the framework for Labour’s energy and climate policies” and provide “energy independence from dictators like Putin”. It will also give government more power to tackle the affordability crisis and speed up the delivery of clean energy technologies.

Housing and local government

Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill: The legislation, a draft version of which has already been published, will make it easier for residents to extend their lease and buy their freehold, as well as cap ground rents at £250 a year.

Building Safety Remediation Bill: This legislation will aim to strengthen building safety standards and accelerate the remediation of residential buildings with unsafe cladding in England, following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

Local government standards: The government has tabled amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in a bid to strengthen scrutiny of mayors.

Home affairs

Policing reform: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has previously said she would reduce the number of police forces in England and Wales and pledged to abolish Police and Crime Commissioners.

Immigration: The government has previously said it would like to narrow the scope of the use Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides a right to respect for family and private life, as it is being used too often as a ground to block removals.

Courts and Tribunals Bill: The controversial bill, which will abolish jury trials in some cases, will be carried over from the previous parliamentary session.

Terrorism: The Prevent learning review from the Southport attack identified a gap around the understanding of radicalisation indicators where a specific ideology does not seem to be present.

Animal welfare

Vet costs reforms: After a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found problems in the veterinary market could be costing households up to £1bn over five years, the government said it would set out a series of reforms to the sector.

Animal welfare reforms: In December, the government announced a tranche of animal welfare reforms, including ending puppy farming and improving conditions for farm animals. 

Transport

Railways Bill: The legislation is currently making its way through Parliament and will nationalise railways in England, Wales and Scotland under ‘Great British Railways’.

High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill: The bill, first introduced under the Tories, is being repurposed for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), which aims to boost connectivity in the North of England.

Road safety: Measures could be introduced after the government published its new road safety strategy, including mandatory eye tests for older drivers.

Other legislation

Public Office (Accountability) Bill: The legislation, also known as ‘The Hillsborough Law’ is currently making its way through Parliament. As first reported by The Times, the government is expected to scrap an expectation that the duty of candour will not extend to the intelligence services.

Representation of the People Bill: The government will look to finalise this bill, which will lower the voting age to 16 for general elections, a key Labour pledge in 2024.

Peerages: Following additional revelations about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, the government said it would draft legislation to remove disgraced peers.

Conversion therapy: Ministers have said that they will bring forward legislation for a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices. The Conversion Practices Bill was announced in the 2024 King’s Speech.

Education

School system: The government will set out previously published reforms aiming to transform the school system. While the government has set out reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities system, it is still consulting on those proposals.