King's Speech Outlines New Gov'ts Legislative Priorities

King Charles III has delivered his Gracious Address in the House of Lords, outlining the legislative priorities of the new government of PM Sir Keir Starmer and his centre-left Labour party. The King says that the gov't will be "mission led and based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all". "Stability will be the cornerstone of my govt's economic policy and every decision will be consistent with its fiscal rules."

• The King: "The gov't will legislate to ensure that all significant tax and spending changes are subject to independent assessment by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility."
• The King: "My gov't will legislate to strengthen audit and corporate governance, alongside penson investment."
• The King: "'My gov't will bring about Great British Energy, accelerate investment in renewable energy, and legislation to help the country achieve energy independence"
• As has been largely expected, the King's Speech looks to present a gov't focused on stabilising the UK's political and economic landscape with nothing announced that was not widely-expected beforehand.
• The speech outlines reform to the House of Lords (the upper chamber of parliament) with the removal of hereditary peers, but does not mention the prospect of reducing the voting age to 16. Only comments on 'widening democratic participation'.
• Gov't press release here.
• Given the Labour gov'ts sizeable majority in the House of Commons there had been some speculation that it could seek to enact more significant reforms on nationalisation or voting reform, utilising a 'honeymoon period' after the election, but it appears - for now - that these will not come to pass.