King’s Speech: Tougher sentences for serious offenders announced as crime takes centre stage
Tougher sentences for the country’s most serious offenders and a crackdown on grooming have taken centre stage in the first King’s Speech in decades.
The King struck a personal note when he began his speech – the first by a king in over 70 years – by acknowledging the “legacy of service and devotion to this country” shown by his “beloved mother, the late Queen”.
Reading out Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s agenda for the upcoming year, the King said the Sentencing Bill would be brought forward to “increase the confidence of victims”.
Further measures would also be introduced to give police more powers to “prevent new and complex crimes” and child sexual abuse, he added.
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The King and Queen on their way to parliament
The chamber of the House of Lords fills up ahead of the King’s Speech
Despite the emphasis on crime, there was no mention of the recent pro-Palestinian protests that have been taking place across the UK, and which Ms Braverman has described as “hate marches”.
Her controversial plans to restrict the use of tents for people who are homeless were also not raised by the King.
Ahead of the speech, anti-monarchy protesters gathered outside parliament with placards which read: “Not my king!”.
At 1,223 words, the King’s Speech was the longest by a monarch at a State Opening of Parliament since 2005.
It began when the King noted that the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine had created “significant long-term challenges for the United Kingdom”.
He said Mr Sunak’s administration was focused on “increasing economic growth and safeguarding the health and security of the British people for generations to come”.
The King repeated the prime minister’s key pledge to bring down inflation, which currently stands at 6.7%, and said the government would support the Bank of England “in that goal” by taking “responsible decisions on spending and borrowing”.
Previously announced ambitions to create a “smoke-free generation” were raised, as the monarch said the government would restrict the sale of tobacco so that children currently aged 14 or younger can never be sold cigarettes.
The King – a lifelong environmental campaigner – also confirmed Mr Sunak’s plans to grant new oil and gas licences “helping the country to transition to net zero by 2050 without adding undue burdens on households” in the Offshore Petroleum and Licensing Bill.
Elsewhere, he reaffirmed the prime minister’s plans to introduce an Advanced British Standard, a “new Baccalaureate-style qualification” for 16 to 19 year-olds that will combine and replace A-Levels and T-Levels while also carrying out a crackdown on “poor quality” university degrees in favour of more young people taking high quality apprenticeships.
Turning to housing, the government will bring forward the Leasehold and Freehold Bill to make it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to purchase their freehold and, it is hoped, tackle the issue of punitive service charges.
The long-awaited Renters Reform Bill, under which no-fault evictions are set to be banned, is designed to increase security for renters – but it has come under criticism after Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said he would not enact the policy until courts have been reformed.
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‘Not My King!’ protest
Concluding the speech, the King said: “My government will, in all respects, seek to make long-term decisions in the interests of future generations.
“My ministers will address inflation and the drivers of low growth over demands for greater spending or borrowing.
“My ministers will put the security of communities and the nation ahead of the rights of those who endanger it.
“By taking these long-term decisions, my government will change this country and build a better future.”
A “technical issue” at British Airways has delayed flights, reportedly for thousands of passengers.
Travel journalist Simon Calder said on X: “British Airways IT system failure is causing delays of 1-2 hours on many BA flights this evening… As delays build up I fear there will be cancellations tonight/tomorrow.”
In a statement on Monday evening, British Airways said flights were “currently operating, but are experiencing delays” and that its teams were working to “resolve a technical issue affecting some of our systems”.
Later they said it had been resolved: “Our teams worked hard to resolve an issue we experienced for a short time earlier this evening.
“We’ve apologised to customers for delays to their flights and ensured they were able to reach their destinations as planned.”
Earlier media reports suggested dozens of flights were grounded and that communications systems were affected.
One X user pictured people queueing on the tarmac in Verona, Italy. “What has happened to the nations airline? Not fit for purpose,” they said.
Replying to another X user BA said: “Our website is down. We are doing all we can to return online as soon as possible.
“Hopefully not too long before the Captain has his load sheet. Thanks for your understanding. Have a good journey when it is safe for you to be airborne.”
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said: “We are aware of a technical issue that British Airways are investigating, and we will be working with them to provide updates to passengers as soon as they are available. Heathrow systems are operating as normal.”
In June many British Airways (BA) flights in Heathrow were delayed by several hours by a “technical fault” with baggage handling.
BA said there had been a “temporary technical fault” which had disrupted its baggage system at the airport and had apologised for the problems it caused.
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In January “intermittent issues” with the airline’s app and website meant customers could not access them.
BA’s customer score for long-haul flights was the joint third lowest out of 17 carriers analysed by Which? in February.
The UK is being warned to brace for a further cold snap with “disruptive snow” set to sweep in across parts of the country as temperatures plummet.
The Met Office has issued three new yellow weather alerts for snow and ice from Monday.
The forecaster has warned up to 20cm of snow may accumulate in the worst affected areas as the country experiences its “first taste of winter”.
Check the forecast in your area
It comes as the first amber cold health alerts of the season have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) covering all of England, except the South, until 6pm on Saturday.
An amber warning is issued when the weather is likely to “cause significant impacts across health and social care services”, according to the HSA.
That includes the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among older people or those with health conditions.
Amber cold health alerts cover most of England. Pic: UKHSA
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: “It is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”
Meanwhile yellow health alerts – the second lowest alert level – are in place for the South East, South West and London.
Temperatures dropped to -7.8C (18F) in Tulloch Bridge in the Scottish Highlands in the early hours of Monday, which is the lowest temperature the UK has seen since last winter.
Snow dusted grounds across Aberdeenshire, including at Glenshee Ski Centre and at Corgarff, as well as alongside the A939 near The Lecht in the Cairngorms.
A dusting of snow at Glenshee Ski Centre. Pic: PA
Snow and ice surround The Watchers sculpture at Corgaff in Aberdeenshire. Pic: PA
Snow also blanketed the mountain of Ingleborough, while there was a sprinkling of frost near Clapham, in the Yorkshire Dales.
The snow-capped mountain of Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales. Pic: PA
Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales. Pic: PA
More expected in coming days
Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said snow has mostly fallen on hilltops so far, with 2cm falling in Lerwick, Shetland.
But more snow and ice is expected over the coming days, with temperatures plunging to below average levels for the time of year.
“It is going to be quite a widely cold week,” Ms Maxey said. “A few degrees below average both day and night for most of the country.”
The fresh warning for Northern Ireland comes into force from 3pm today and runs until 10am on Tuesday.
The alert takes in the likes of Newry, Belfast, Omagh, Derry and Ballycastle.
The warning in Scotland comes into force from 4pm and runs until 10am on Wednesday.
The alert covers the Highlands and Islands and the northeast of the country, including Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
A third warning – stretching across parts of England and Wales – comes into force at 7pm and runs until 10am on Tuesday.
East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the north of England are expected to be worst hit.
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Parts of the UK are experiencing their ‘first taste of winter’, says the Met Office. File pic: PA
‘Slight chance’ communities could be cut off
Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.
The Met Office has said there is a “slight chance” some rural communities could be cut off and that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled.
People have also been warned to be careful not to slip or fall on icy surfaces.
The yellow weather warnings. Pic: Met Office
Snow ‘even down to lower levels’
Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: “We could see some disruptive snow in the Pennine regions, in particular, the Peak District as well, especially Monday night, but we could well see some impacts lasting on until Tuesday morning’s rush hour.
“Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption possible by Tuesday morning, and then the week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day on Tuesday, and then winter showers through the week ahead.”
Mr Morgan said that despite a “mild” start to the month, the cold conditions are more typical of “mid-winter to late-winter”.
“What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the time of year, there will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground,” he continued.
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Changes to weather warnings ‘likely’ in coming days
In southern England, a typical maximum temperature for this time of year is 11C (52F), but daytime highs for the week ahead are forecast to be around 5C (41F), while some parts of Scotland will reach “only just above freezing”, Mr Morgan said.
Mr Morgan said the public can best prepare for the wintry weather by checking their cars are suitable for icy and potentially snowy conditions and to take extra supplies including food, blankets and a fully charged mobile phone with them on journeys.
He added there were “likely” to be changes to the weather warnings in the coming days, and that “winter flurries” could be seen in the south of England later in the week.
Despite the cold conditions, the “whole of the UK” will enjoy more sunshine this week, he said.
He added: “There’ll be some snow showers in the peripheries of the UK, particularly northern Scotland, and down the east and the west coast, but if you live inland and you live in the south, there’ll be lots of sparkly blue skies on the most days through Tuesday to Friday.”
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