Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has said Labour’s King’s speech will deliver for local families and unlock growth for the country with a bold, ambitious, packed programme which will improve living standards for Portsmouth people.
Labour’s legislative agenda will drive forward delivery of the Government’s first steps and missions to rebuild Britain.
The King’s Speech today unveiled over 35 bills and draft bills which will include new laws to deliver on the party’s manifesto commitments.
The package of bills will focus on growing the economy through better transport, more jobs and turbocharging building of houses and infrastructure – helping to make every part of the country better off.
Commenting, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“At the election, we promised change for Portsmouth and our country. Today’s King’s Speech shows we are wasting no time in delivering that change.
“Transforming our city and country will take patient, focused work over a long period of time, but we recognise this work is urgent.
“The legislation set out today will enable us to build on the work we’ve already started to deliver for Portsmouth and our city’s families. The change our country needs starts now.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“Now is the time to take the brakes off Britain. For too long people have been held back, their paths determined by where they came from – not their talents and hard work.
“I am determined to create wealth for people up and down the country. It is the only way our country can progress, and my government is focussed on supporting that aspiration.
“Today’s new laws will take back control and lay the foundations of real change that this country is crying out for, creating wealth in every community and making people better off – supporting their ambitions, hopes and dreams.”
Here are ten things to know about the Government’s new programme of legislation, and what they mean for you.
1) Kickstart economic growth
The Government is making sure nobody can play fast and loose with public finances – and that we avoid chaos which leaves families with spiralling bills.
A new bill will strengthen the role of the Office of Budget Responsibility, meaning significant fiscal announcements must be properly scrutinised and that taxpayers’ money is respected.
And the government will introduce a Bill to ensure the National Wealth Fund will make transformational investments across the UK.
2) Get Britain Building
The Government will get Britain Building, through planning reform, speeding up the delivery of high-quality housing and infrastructure.
This will help provide more housing across the country and support sustained economic growth.
The Government will also give more rights to people renting their homes, including putting an end to unfair no-fault evictions, and reforming grounds for possession.
3) Make work pay
The Government’s Employment Rights Bill is a significant step towards delivering on the plan to make work pay – the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.
The Government will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire, and introduce basic employment rights from day one.
And through changes to the Low Pay Commission, the Government will make sure the minimum wage is a genuine living wage.
4) Hand back power to communities
New legislation will help to create wealth in every community and hand power back to local leaders.
The Government will introduce a bill to move power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best – giving local leaders the tools they need to drive growth.
New laws will give more powers to metro mayors and combined authorities, helping support local plans that bring wealth to communities.
5) Provide better transport
The Government will put our rail system back on track with new laws to deliver for passengers.
New laws will improve the railways by reforming rail franchising, establishing Great British Railways and bringing train operators into public ownership.
And the Government will introduce a bill to allow local leaders to take control of their bus services.
6) Make Britain a clean energy superpower
The Government is committed to making Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030 – helping lower household bills for good over time.
A new bill will help set up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean-power company that will help boost energy security, create jobs and build supply chains in every corner of the UK.
The Government will also introduce legislation that helps unlock investment in energy infrastructure, supports sustainable aviation fuel production and strengthens the water regulator’s powers.
7) Strengthen our border
The government will strengthen the border with a new bill that modernises the asylum and immigration system, including launching a new Border Security Command.
The command will deploy more police and investigators to smash the criminal smuggling gangs, tackling the problem at source. The bill will give law enforcement new enhanced counter-terror style powers to destroy the evil business model of human trafficking.
8) Take back our streets
The Government will introduce laws to strengthen community policing, giving the police greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour and strengthen support for victims.
New laws will improve the safety and security of public venues and help keep the public safe from terrorism, and the Government will bring forward plans to halve violence against women and girls.
9) Break down barriers to opportunity
The Government will take action to raise educational standards and break down barriers to opportunity. This includes measures to help people back into employment after the pandemic and a bill to raise standards in education and promote children’s wellbeing.
The Government will end tax breaks for private schools – funding 6,500 new teachers – and set up Skills England to make sure we have the highly trained workforce that England needs.
Our plan also includes reforming the apprenticeship levy and setting out work on legislation to enshrine the full right to equal pay in law.
And the Government will launch an independent football regulator to ensure greater sustainability in the game and stronger protections for fans.
10) Improve the NHS
The government will take steps to improve the National Health Service for everyone – including reducing waiting times and focusing on prevention.
The Government will improve mental health provision for young people and make sure it’s given the same attention and focus as physical health and will modernise the Mental Health Act, so it is fit for the twenty first century, ensuring all patients are treated with dignity and respect.
The Government’s plan includes introducing legislation to help stop young people smoking and vaping, and to restrict advertising junk food to children, along with the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children.
To read the full King’s Speech click here.
