King Charles has now finished taking part in the state opening of parliament for the first time as monarch. The purpose of today’s King’s Speech was to set out the government’s legislative agenda for the upcoming parliamentary session, the first since the general election. Sir Keir Starmer has put forward a big government programme that promises to ‘always put the country first’. It will be based upon ‘security, fairness and opportunity for all’, with a heavy emphasis on economic stability and the need for decisions to be ‘consistent with its fiscal rules’. In a lengthy statement by the King, the new Labour government announced the highest number of bills since 2005. Starmer’s government has made clear it wants to focus both on big issues – such as planning reform, devolution and the economy – as well as everyday frustrations from commuter transport to football strips.
Here is a rundown of all the announcements:
Budget Responsibility Bill
All significant tax and spending changes will be subject to review by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
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