King’s Speech: Labour’s ‘missions’ shape ‘packed’ UK legislative agenda

The measures were trailed in the King’s Speech – a set-piece parliamentary event during which the UK head of state outlines the UK government’s legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session. In total, 40 new legislative initiatives were announced in the speech on Wednesday.

Experts at Pinsent Masons said the legislative agenda that has been set reflects the five ‘missions’ that the new governing Labour party placed at the heart of its manifesto for the recent UK general election. The five missions are to kickstart economic growth; make Britain a clean energy superpower; address serious violent crime and raise confidence in policing; reform childcare and education systems to break down barriers to opportunity; and build and NHS fit for the future.

Public policy specialist Mark Ferguson and public law and legislation expert David Thorneloe said the government will face “practical challenges” in delivering such a “packed” agenda during just one parliamentary session.

Ferguson said: “Labour’s five missions can be seen throughout the King’s Speech with the introduction of legislation that will establish the framework for GB Energy, introduce Labour’s pledge to create a National Wealth Fund, and implement the party’s ‘new deal for working people’ – including by enhancing employee rights – as well as its plans for significant reform of the planning system to ‘get Britain building again’.”

“On health, the government has picked up the baton from the previous Conservative administration and proposed a Tobacco and Vapes Bill that will progressively increase the age at which people can buy cigarettes and impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes. On education, there is legislation planned that will aim to improve standards in schools, while steps will be taken to remove the exemption from VAT for private schools. On justice, a new Crime and Policing Bill is envisaged.”

“The government also intends to introduce legislation on football governance, which did not make it through the previous parliament; and there will be legislation to introduce a new skills body and a commitment to replace the apprenticeships levy with a growth and skills levy,” he said.

Further legislation aimed at reforming rail franchise arrangements, enhancing cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, banning so-called ‘no fault’ evictions of tenants, strengthening the powers of water regulator Ofwat, and improving the security of public venues, was also announced in the King’s Speech. A ‘Hillsborough Law’ is also proposed to introduce a duty of candour for public servants.

In his speech, King Charles further referenced the new government’s plans to “establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models”, but specific details on a widely anticipated new Artificial Intelligence Bill were absent from the background briefing paper published alongside the speech.

Ferguson said: “With a working majority of 180, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has considerable freedom to implement its manifesto over the coming parliament. However, as this new government now moves in to the thorny and complicated business of turning political pledges into implementable policy, Labour’s first King’s Speech is about outlining its priorities to the electorate as much as it is about stating its legislative agenda.”

Thorneloe added: “A packed legislative agenda will present some practical challenges, and something will have to give. It could mean some Bills proceeding on a slower timetable with drafts published for consultation, first – something businesses will welcome as improving the quality of legislation and helping ensure we get new laws right. But it could also mean some Bills being rushed through parliament with less scrutiny, which means interested stakeholders will need to be agile and well-prepared in their engagement strategies where seeking to influence that scrutiny process.”