“My government will govern in service to the country.” With that line, King Charles opened Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s legislative programme on Wednesday, in a ceremony heavy with traditional pageantry.
The speech itself was written by the government. Charles used it to set out more than 35 bills, built around economic growth, easier home building and faster delivery of major infrastructure projects that Labour says will improve transport and create jobs. The government framed the theme as service over self-interest, a shift it called necessary after 14 years of turbulent Conservative rule. The King spoke of security, fairness and opportunity for all.
Housing and rail
A Planning and Infrastructure Bill sits at the centre. It aims to speed up and simplify planning, tackling Britain’s housing shortage and delays to infrastructure by limiting local obstruction to new developments.
Passenger rail is the other big item. The government plans to renationalise the network, set affordable fares and gradually take control of rail contracts from private companies, reversing the privatisation of the 1990s.
Europe
The speech also set out a reset in relations with the European Union, including a push for a new security pact. Starmer intends to advance those goals at the European Political Community meeting and in talks following the recent NATO summit in Washington.
Starmer, fresh from a historic election victory, acknowledged the scale of the job, especially improving public services with little fiscal room. Rebuilding the country, he said, would be a gradual process that demands persistent and thoughtful effort.
Sources
- King Charles Outlines New Labour Government's Priorities – London Daily
- Every bill in the King’s Speech, reviewed and rated
