Labour's ambitious economic growth plans will be unveiled as part of the King's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.
Number 10 is set to lay down more than 35 bills as the Labour party sets out the Government’s agenda for the first time in 14 years.Commons Leader Lucy Powell said it represented “a packed legislative agenda and the Government’s determination to return politics to public service”.
Wednesday’s Speech is expected to include bills with a heavy emphasis on securing economic growth, the first of Sir Keir Starmer’s five “missions for national renewal”.
This is likely to include more devolution of powers away from Westminster, the creation of a national wealth fund and GB Energy, reform of the planning system, and a boost for workers’ rights through Labour’s “new deal for working people”.
Other measures could include the reintroduction of Rishi Sunak’s proposed ban on anyone born after 2009 buying tobacco, measures to help renationalise the railways and a new, strengthened version of the Renters Reform Bill that sought to end no-fault evictions.
There will also be new legislation on spending rules, giving more power to the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) following the economic turmoil triggered by Liz Truss’s mini-budget in 2022.
On Monday, Sir Keir said: “Our work is urgent. There is no time to waste.
“We are hitting the ground running by bringing forward the laws we will need to rebuild our country for the long-term – and our ambitious, fully-costed agenda is the down payment on that change.
“From energy, to planning, to unbreakable fiscal rules, my Government is serious about delivering the stability that is going to turbo-charge growth that will create wealth in every corner of the UK.”
The State Opening of Parliament marks the formal beginning of the first parliamentary session since the General Election.
Peers will assemble in the House of Lords on Wednesday morning and it is one of the few occasions on which they can wear their traditional scarlet robes.
Outside, a royal procession from Buckingham Palace to Parliament takes place as members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment escort the King.
It is a slightly more toned down affair in the House of Commons as MPs gather ahead of meeting at 11.25am for the King’s Speech.
The speech is written by the government of the day and is read out in neutral tones by the monarch. It will contain details of bills that the Government intends to introduce in the session and other policy priorities.
MPs will then leave the House of Lords and the Commons will not sit again to consider the King’s Speech until 2.30pm on Wednesday.
They will spend either five to six days debating the address, which is proposed and seconded by two Government backbenchers – one usually a long-serving member and the other a relative newcomer.
