The House | This King’s Speech is a blueprint for change and builds a more secure country for all

Charles III will speak to Parliament on Wednesday (Alamy)

3 min read59 min

You don’t have to be a student of history to find that a profoundly moving spectacle.

This year’s State Opening will be the 27th I’ve seen since entering the Commons in 1997, but it’s by far one of the most important. Events at home and abroad mean that the world feels more insecure than it has for decades. Basic expectations, like decent housing and safe streets, seem out of reach for too many. Meanwhile the crisis in the Middle East is just the latest in a series of global shocks that have come thick and fast since 2008.

This presents the government with a choice. We could sit around bemoaning our fate, pursue the sticking plaster politics of the past, and avoid making difficult decisions. Or we could seize the moment, fix the underlying problems people face, and put the country in a stronger position for decades to come.  

Almost by definition, long term problems will take time to solve. But it’s the difficult work we need to undertake if we’re to truly transform the country. And over the past two years we’ve wasted no time getting to work, passing more than fifty pieces of legislation that are beginning to be felt in the real world.  

When you take the morning train, you’re increasingly likely to be traveling on a service owned and operated by you and your fellow passengers. When you arrive at work, you now have full employment rights from your first day in the job. When you return home, you’re turning the key in the knowledge that your landlord can no longer evict you without fault.

When you turn on the kettle, it’s increasingly likely to be powered by renewable energy rather than the rollercoaster of fossil fuels. When you fall asleep at night, police officers and others are keeping you safe with new powers to crack down on anti-social behaviour and protect our borders.

On Wednesday we will continue all this work with a renewed sense of purpose. While I can’t disclose the content of the King’s Speech, you should expect action to deliver the security people need. That means breaking down barriers to growth, tackling extremism on our streets from hostile states, and introducing root and branch reform to public services like the NHS.

Amid the wonderful traditions and pageantry of the day, this King’s Speech is a blueprint for change that doesn’t just weather the current storm, but builds a more secure country for all.  

Sir Alan Campbell is the Leader of the House of Commons