Starmer to unveil 35 bills at king’s speech — What Time Is The Kings Speech
Keir Starmer will use what time is the kings speech on Wednesday to unveil 35 bills for the next parliamentary session. The package is intended to help him regain the political initiative, with measures spanning housing, immigration, energy and other areas.
Starmer, who has said he wants to oversee radical change over the next few years, will release details of dozens of bills he intends to pass over the next 12 months. One royal source said the ceremony could prove embarrassing for King Charles.
Starmer and the king’s speech
Starmer told ministers on Tuesday, “I take responsibility for the change we promised.” On Tuesday night, he said, “The British people expect the government to get on with the job of changing our country for the better. Cutting the cost of living, bringing down hospital waiting lists and keeping our country safe in an increasingly dangerous world.”
He also said, “Britain stands at a pivotal moment: to press ahead with a plan to build a stronger, fairer country or turn back to the chaos and instability of the past. My government will deliver on the promise of change for the British people.”
35 bills for Westminster
The legislative package will include a bill to change British regulations so they can align with EU ones. Ministers have also included an energy independence bill designed to help the transition to clean power, along with measures recommended by John Fingleton to make it easier to build nuclear power plants.
The king will announce a bill to fully nationalise British Steel. Ministers will also launch a leasehold reform bill that will ban the sale of new leasehold flats, although the housing minister has said it will not take effect until after the next election.
NHS England and education
Wes Streeting will oversee a bill to abolish NHS England, while Bridget Phillipson will legislate for reforms to special educational needs. Security arrangements are already in place for the monarch to attend the state opening of parliament, and palace officials were told it was constitutionally correct for the king to open parliament on Wednesday as planned.
The speech comes as the government has been planning for Starmer’s second king’s speech for months. It will set out the government’s programme for the next parliamentary session, but the leasehold timetable means one part of the agenda will not reach households until after the next election.
