The Government has set out its legislative agenda for the next parliamentary term in what will be the last King’s Speech before the next election.
Opening his speech today, the first King’s Speech in over 70 years, Charles III first paid tribute to the “legacy of service and devotion” set by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
He said that his Government’s priority “is to make the difficult but necessary long-term decisions to change this country for the better”.
The speech includes 21 pieces of legislation, slightly lower than the 38 bills announced in the Queen’s Speech, which King Charles delivered in his mother’s absence, in May 2022.
Here’s everything that was in the King’s Speech, and how likely it is to pass before the next general election:
Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill
In his speech, the King said that the Government would introduce legislation that would “strengthen the United Kingdom’s energy security, and reduce reliance on volatile international energy markets and hostile foreign regimes”.
The new Bill will require the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to run an annual process inviting applications for new production licences in the North Sea.
These new licences will be subject to key test being met, including that the carbon emissions of producing gas in the UK must be lower than the emissions associated with exporting it.
Data published by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) suggests that the UK will still be reliant on oil and gas for energy even after it reaches net zero emissions in 2050.
How likely is it to pass into law? 4/5: This legislation is a high-priority for the Government, particularly because it creates a strong dividing line with Labour, who have ruled out allowing new North Sea licences if they enter power.
Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill
The speech confirmed that a bill will be brought forward to “promote trade and investment continue to negotiate trade agreements with dynamic economies, delivering jobs with economies in the fastest growing region in the world”.
The legislation comes after the UK formally agreed to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in July this year, becoming the first European member of the trade pact.
Other members of the bloc include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Under the new agreement, more than 99 per cent of goods exported to these countries, such as whisky and cars, will face zero tariffs.
The Government’s impact assessment published earlier this year indicated the long-run increase in GDP would be £2bn (or 0.06 per cent) as a result if joining the group.
How likely is it to pass into law? 5/5: Although the economic benefits are quite small, the CPTPP is one of the UK’s first major trade partnerships post-Brexit and is unlikely to face much opposition.
Automated Vehicles Bill
The King said the Government would “introduce new legal frameworks to support the safe commercial development of emerging industries, such as self-driving vehicles”.
The legislation will distinguish between self-driving vehicles where the users are at the wheel while it is operating, and vehicles where the user is outside.
It will also distinguish between vehicle features that merely aid drivers, such as adaptive cruise control, and those that deliver self-driving.
The Government claims that by regulating self-driving cars on UK roads for the first time, it will create a new market worth up to £42bn to the economy.
How likely is it to pass into law? 2/5: The issue of self-driving vehicles is often divisive. Multiple MPs have raised concerns about the safety risk of self-driving vehicles, while the Transport Select Committee has warned such technology is at risk of cyber attacks.
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
This Bill was first introduced into the Commons in April 2023, and has been carried over from the last parliamentary session.
The Bill aims to boost competition in digital markets, as well as clamp down on subscription traps and fake reviews.
Under the changes, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will have greater investigatory powers to take faster action on behalf of consumers.
It will be able to directly enforce consumer law rather than go through lengthy court processes, and impose harsher penalties on those found to be breaching consumer law.
How likely is it to pass into law? 4/5: The bill is already at the report stage in the Commons and has faced little opposition so far.
Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
This bill was put to MPs in July 2022, and is being carried over from the previous parliamentary session. It replaces existing EU data protection law which the UK is no longer required to follow post-Brexit.
Measures covered by the legislation include setting up new digital verification services and reforming the way births and deaths are registered in England and Wales.
The new law will regulate the sharing of customer data through “smart data schemes” and facilitate the flow and use of personal data for law enforcement and national security purposes.
It will also attempt to cut down on nuisance calls and texts and “user consent” banners on websites, as well as create clearer guidelines for how political parties use personal data.
How likely is it to pass into law? 4/5: This bill has not yet had its second reading in the Commons, when MPs first debate it. It has faced some opposition from MPs over claims it favours big business and tech companies, but is very likely to pass with some wrangling over amendments.
Media Bill
The King said that the new Media Bill, which has already been published in draft form, will “support the creative industries and protect public interest journalism”.
Journalists will be protected through the repeal of Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, which requires publishers to pay all legal costs in a court case if they are not a member of an approved regulator, regardless of whether they win or not.
The bill will also “modernise” the mission statement for public broadcasters including the BBC and ITV, but will not privatise Channel 4 after the plans were scrapped earlier this year.
Other measures in the bill include stricter regulation for on-demand video platforms like Netflix, new requirements to ensure accessibility in on-demand video, and efforts to reduce regulatory pressures on commercial radio.
How likely is it to pass into law? 4/5: The draft version of this bill has not faced significant opposition once plans to privatise Channel 4 were dropped and its contents are likely to be welcomed by the media at large.
Arbitration Bill
This new bill modernises the law on arbitration, a form of dispute resolution between two parties, following recommendations by the Law Commission of England and Wales.
The Government claims this law will clarify existing regulations on arbitration agreements, strengthen court powers to support the process, and facilitate quicker dispute resolution.
Changes include giving arbitrators powers to speed up decisions on issues with no hope of success, requiring them to disclose impartiality concerns, and extending arbitrator immunity against liability in some circumstances.
How likely is it to pass into law? 5/5: This bill brings in recommendations from the Law Commission and is unlikely to face any strong opposition.
Draft Rail Reform Bill
This legislation aims to amend how rail franchises operate, as well as update ticketing. It is in draft form, which means it is being issued for consultation before it is officially presented to Parliament.
Changes included in the bill include combining the management of the rail network into a new public body, dubbed Great British Railways, which will serve as “the single point of accountability for the performance of the railway”.
Other measures include the simplifying of ticketing systems, including the creation of Pay As You Go season tickets and ensuring single tickets aren’t as expensive as return tickets.
It will also include a system to encourage the inclusion of the private sector in the rail industry and create more partnerships between the state and private enterprises.
How likely is it to pass into law? 2/5: Draft bills are often a lower priority for the Government than fully prepared legislation, as they require consultation. The status of the rail industry is also a controversial topic at present following the scrapping of the northern leg of HS2.
Tobacco and Vapes Bill
This bill brings in the legislation needed to ban smoking for future generations, as well as cracking down on the vaping industry.
Mr Sunak used his Conservative Party conference speech last month to announce that the legal age for buying tobacco should rise every year.
The new law will eventually mean tobacco cannot be sold to anyone born on or after 1 January, 2009, and that a 14-year-old alive today would never be able to buy a cigarette.
It also includes measures to crack down on youth vaping, such as limiting the vape flavours available and regulating packaging to prevent them from being targeted at children.
How likely is it to pass into law? 3/5: MPs will not be whipped when voting for this legislation, meaning the Government could face some hiccups in passing it. Labour, however, has said it will back the measures.
Leasehold and Freehold Bill
This Bill will make it cheaper and easier for existing leaseholders to extend their lease, as well as increase the standard extension term from 90 to 990 years and scrapping ground rent.
It will also remove the new requirement for leaseholders to have owned their home for two years before they can benefit from these changes.
Other changes include reforming the wide leasehold system and ensuring greater transparency.
The bill will ban the creation of new leasehold houses in England and Wales, but this will not apply to newly built flats.
How likely is it to pass into law? 3/5: This issue is very complicated and has long been an issue that the Government has tried to tackle. It may take time to fix it, which could delay it until after the next general election.
Renters (Reform) Bill
In his speech, the King said that “renters will benefit from stronger security of tenure and better value, while landlords will benefit from reforms to provide certainty that they can regain their properties when needed” through this legislation.
This legislation was first put to the Commons in May 2023, and is being carried over from the last parliamentary session.
It upholds a Conservative manifesto pledge to ban Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, but the actual implementation of this has been delayed by the Government until new court processes can be established.
The bill also strengthens landlord grounds for possession, introduces greater powers to evict anti-social tenants, prevents landlords from banning pets, and cracks down on criminal landlords.
How likely is it to pass into law? 3/5: The delay to the ban on “no-fault” evictions could throw a spanner in the works as this bill passes through Parliament.
Football Governance Bill
The King said in his speech that a new football regulator would be created to “safeguard the future of football clubs for the benefit of communities and fans”.
The regulator will scrutinise the finances of club owners, as well as ensure assets such as stadiums are protected from sale or relocation without the approval of fans
It will also set a minimum standard for fan engagement by clubs, and prevent clubs from joining breakaway leagues.
How likely is it to pass into law? 4/5: Plans to create a football regulator have broad cross-party support.
Pedicabs (London) Bill
This London-focused piece of legislation aims to “deal with the scourge of unlicensed pedicabs in London”.
It will bring forward a new licensing regime for pedicabs under Transport for London (TfL), which includes setting fare prices and processing criminal checks on drivers before they can accept fares.
How likely is it to pass into law? 5/5: Many MPs know of the “scourge” of pedicabs in London, and the issue is unlikely to face any significant opposition.
Holocaust Memorial Bill
This legislation was first introduced into Parliament in February 2023, and has been carried over from the last session.
It was first introduced after plans to build a memorial centre in Victoria Tower Gardens next to the Houses of Parliament ran into difficulties over a 1900 law requiring the land to be used as a public park.
This bill intends to update the legislation, removing the legal obstacle that has prevented the project from going ahead.
How likely is it to pass into law? 2/5: The issue of building a Holocaust memorial next to Parliament has been very divisive. This law removes the legal obstacles, but the plans could still be scrapped altogether amid widespread opposition.
Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill
This bill bans the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, with no protections possible now the UK has left the EU.
The Government has already banned the export of live animals, but this legislation makes the ban permanent and prevents future exports.
How likely is it to pass into law? 4/5: Similar measures on animal welfare have previously been delayed by the Government, but the legislation has a high chance of making it through before the next election.
Economic Activities of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill
This Bill was introduced into the Commons in June 2023 and is being carried over from the last parliamentary session.
It seeks to prevent public bodies, such as councils and universities, from boycotting or divesting from a particular country or territory based on political or moral disapproval.
This legislation came about after a number of councils passed motions in 2014 which directly targeted the Israeli government.
How likely is it to pass into law? 5/5: This bill has already progressed most of the way through the Commons and will likely soon pass to the Lords.
Sentencing Bill
The King said in his speech that this bill would “ensure tougher sentences for the most serious offenders and increase the confidence of victims”.
The new legislation will require courts to impose whole-life orders on criminals who commit murder with a sexual or sadistic element.
It will also ensure that rapists and those convicted of serial offences do not get early release, and are required to serve their full sentence.
Other measures include presuming custodial sentences under 12 months are assumed to be suspended, and extending home curfew for certain offenders.
How likely is it to pass into law? 5/5: The measures in this bill have broad cross-party support, and it will likely be of high priority for the Government.
Criminal Justice Bill
The King stated that this new Bill would “empower police forces and the criminal justice system to prevent new or complex crimes, such as digital-enabled crime and child sexual abuse, including grooming”.
It will force offenders to attend their sentencing – announced by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk in August amid anger over nurse Lucy Letby’s refusal to appear in court.
The extensive bill also includes measures to impose tougher sentences on grooming gangs, giving police more powers to use polygraph tests on terrorists or sexual offenders.
Other measures that covered by the legislation include a new classification of “domestic murder” and new powers to search properties if police have “reasonable proof” that a stolen item is there.
How likely is it to pass into law? 5/5: Measures on tougher sentencing and forcing criminals to appear in court have broad support across the party, but many of the measures giving police new powers are bound to be controversial both inside and outside Parliament. This bill is a high-priority for the Government, however, as it heads toward the next general election.
Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill
This bill will “give the security and intelligence services the powers they need and will strengthen independent judicial oversight”, the King said in his speech.
It updates the existing Investigatory Powers Act 2016 and will require tech companies to tell the Home Office in advance of new security features they want to add.
The Bill will also give the Home Office powers to force non-UK companies to comply with changes it wants them to make to security features, as well as give intelligence agencies great powers to access public data.
How likely is it to pass into law? 3/5: Tech companies are strongly opposed to the move, with Apple stating earlier this year that it would “serious and direct threat” to the security of user data and give the Home Secretary unnecessary power.
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill
This Bill has been dubbed “Martyn’s Law” after, Martyn Hett, one of 22 people who died in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017.
The legislation will place a requirement on those responsible for certain publicly accessible locations, such as concert venues, to consider the threat from terrorism and implement appropriate and proportionate mitigation measures.
How likely is it to pass into law? 4/5: This bill has proved slightly controversial amid fears the excess costs of counter-terrorism preparation could force smaller venues to close. Distinctions in the legislation mitigating this will likely be enough to allow it to pass.
Victims and Prisoners Bill
This Bill was first introduced in May 2023 and has been carried over from the last Parliamentary session.
It delivers on a Conservative Party manifesto commitment to introduce legislation to improve end-to-end support for victims, whether they choose to engage with the criminal justice process or not.
It will bring the new Victim’s Code into law, as well as join up victim support services across the UK and introduce a new Independent Public Advocate (IPA) to support victims of major incidents such as the Hillsborough disaster or Grenfell Tower fire.
The bill will also give ministers greater oversight of the parole release of serious offenders, and prevent prisoners serving whole-life orders from marrying.
It also includes the provisions of “Jade’s Law”, which automatically suspends parent responsibility of one parent if they murder the other.
How likely is it to pass into law? 5/5: The bill is already at the report stage in the Commons, and has faced little opposition so far.
