King Charles III delivered his third King’s Speech on Wednesday, marking the state opening of parliament and outlining the government’s legislative agenda for the coming year. The speech comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces the biggest challenge to his leadership, with nearly 100 Labour MPs calling for him to step down after poor local election results.
In his address from the throne in the House of Lords, the King said: “An increasingly dangerous and volatile world threatens the United Kingdom, with the conflict in the Middle East only the most recent example. Every element of the nation’s energy, defence and economic security will be tested. My government will respond to this world with strength and aim to create a country that is fair for all.”
A total of 37 bills were announced, spanning national security, defence, housing, and business. Key measures include a bill to strengthen ties with the European Union, aligning UK law on food standards, carbon emissions trading, and electricity trading. The government also confirmed the introduction of a digital ID and the long-awaited Hillsborough Law.
Other notable bills include the Removal of Peerages Bill, which will allow the removal of peers from the House of Lords following revelations about Lord Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, and the Social Housing Renewal Bill, which aims to increase long-term investment in social housing. The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill will cap ground rents at £250 a year and ban new leasehold flats.
Transport infrastructure bills include the Civil Aviation Bill for airport expansion, the Highways (Financing) Bill for the Lower Thames Crossing, and the Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill to improve east-west rail links in northern England. The King also noted the government’s continued focus on welfare reform in response to the Milburn and Timms reviews.
