the highlights from Labour’s king’s speech 2024

A new era, and a new kind of politics was heralded with Sir Keir Starmer’s first King’s Speech. Starmer looked every bit the Prime Minister as he gave the Government’s response to the speech given by King Charles. It was an address which finally offered hope to the UK, thus putting an end to the era of divisive identity politics and the culture wars which characterised the Tories 14 years in power.

Having secured a massive General Election majority, Labour introduced 40 new bills outlining their sweeping new vision for the restoration of the UK’s fortunes. At the centre of Labour’s plan was the creation of conditions for economic stability, increasing economic powers for Metro Mayors, a promise to get Britain building again, improving the rail and bus networks and the setting up of Great British Energy to create a UK-led Green Power revolution.



In addition to Labour’s headline policies is an undertaking for local authorities adopt mandatory housing targets. A new employment rights bill promises to ban zero-hours contracts unless an employee requests one, and the bill also includes legislation for ending most “fire and rehire” practices. A new national wealth fund of £7.3bn capitalised, will spread investment across the key industry sectors in urgent need of an economic boost.

The Government will also create a new Border Security Command and put stronger penalties in place for migrant smuggling gangs. One major omission was a reversal of the two child benefit cap. Labour will instead create a taskforce committed to formulating a new child poverty strategy for the UK.



There is also a new law to put water companies into “special measures” forcing them to clean up Britain’s internal and coastal waterways. Water company bosses will face personal criminal liability for breaking the new laws, which are to be policed more robustly by the water regulator OFWAT, who will be given sweeping new powers to combat rogue utility suppliers.

In his response, CONservative opposition leader Rishi Sunak accused Labour of trying to paint as bleak a picture as possible of the UK, which he believes is massively overstated. He went on to say the Tories will hold the Labour Government to account, which sounds a bit rich coming from Sunak, after 14 years of Tory decay and chaos.

It’s early days yet, but it’s pretty clear that Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government means business. It’s such a relief that the adults are back in control of No 10, and this comes not a moment too soon.