Britain’s Labour prime minister Keir Starmer has warned Britons to avoid the “snake oil charm” of populism and return politics to “serious government”, as his administration set out an ambitious legislative agenda.
The government has promised up to 40 separate new bills including measures to boost the economy, ban smoking and set up free breakfast clubs in every primary school. Labour says it will also set up a football regulator with sweeping powers to regulate clubs.
The legislative programme was set out this morning in a speech delivered to the House of Lords in Westminster by King Charles.
“Rebuilding our country will not happen overnight,” said Mr Starmer, introducing the king’s speech. “Our plan starts, as it must, with the economy.”
The government has promised a budget responsibility Bill delivering a so-called “fiscal lock” which would prevent the administration from introducing significant tax-and-spending changes unless they have been independently assessed by the office for budgetary responsibility.
There are also measures promised to reform Britain’s planning system and simplify rules for the development of houses and critical infrastructure. A £7.3 billion (€8.7 billion) National Wealth Fund will also be established to spur investment in its economy.
The new government will also nationalise Britain’s railways and give more powers to communities giving them control over the bus services in their local areas.
There will also be a ban on zero-hours contracts that are widespread in industries such as retailing, as part of a Bill to strengthen workers’ rights.
The government said it will not revive the HS2 high-speed rail link to Manchester, which was scrapped last year by former prime minister Rishi Sunak. But it promised to repurpose legislation to improve east-west regional rail links, especially in the north of England.
There will also be a ban on so-called “no-fault evictions” as part of a strengthening of renters’ rights. Landlords will also be prevented from “unreasonably” banning tenants from having pets.
The new Independent Football Regulator the government plans to introduce will have powers to prevent clubs from changing the colours of their home shirts or changing club badges, unless supporters approve. It will also be able to prevent big clubs from joining breakaway leagues such as the proposed European Super League.
The king’s speech was delivered from 11.30am amid traditional pomp and fanfare in Westminster, including the mock “kidnapping” of one of the government whips by Buckingham Palace.
As the event was due to get under way, a noisy protest by anti-monarchists arrived near the Palace of Westminster, chanting republican slogans such as “not my king”.
Shortly before the king’s speech Sarah Clarke, the parliamentary official known as Black Rod, banged with a staff on the door of the House of the Commons, which the monarch is prohibited from entering, to summon MPs to the House of Lords to hear the speech.
The address also included a promise to repeal the controversial Legacy Act that gave immunity to British soldiers and others for acts committed during the Troubles.
Mr Starmer set his government’s legislative plans against the backdrop of the political chaos that gripped at times in recent years, with a promise to begin a period of “national renewal”.
“The fight for trust is the battle that defines our political era,” said the prime minister.
“The challenges we face require determined, patient work and serious solutions, rather than the temptation of the easy answer. We will unlock growth and take the brakes off Britain, turning the page for good on the economic irresponsibility and pervasive inability to face the future that we saw under the Conservative government.”
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