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.”
UK
‘Major incident’ declared in Northern Ireland as wildfire breaks out amid higher-than-normal temperatures
A major incident has been declared in Northern Ireland after a wildfire broke out, the latest in a series of blazes seen across the UK over the past week amid soaring temperatures.
More than 100 firefighters and 14 fire appliances were at the scene of the “significant” wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said.
The fire had a front of approximately two miles “including a large area of forestry close to property”, the service said.
The wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown. Pic: Sky Watch NI
“Local residents are requested to avoid the area, a number of roads have been closed, to help support firefighting operations,” the fire service added.
“We ask that all members of the public remain particularly vigilant to the risk of fire at this time. We can reassure members of the public that normal service delivery is being maintained.”
More than 100 firefighters were at the scene of the fire. Pic: Sky Watch NI
Various fires erupted across England this week amid uncharacteristically warm and dry conditions for the time of year.
On Saturday, helicopters were deployed to tackle Scotland’s fourth wildfire this week, with police saying a blaze “which started in the Newton Stewart area has spread northwards and is expected to reach the Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire around 12am on Sunday”.
Police Scotland added: “As a precautionary measure members of the public are asked to avoid the Loch Doon area and anyone who may be camping in the area is advised to leave.”
Moors Valley Country Park blackened by fires this week
Elsewhere in England, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were assisting the fire service with temporary road closures on the A30 in the Bolventor area as they tackle “a number of fires” on moorland.
In Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park was forced to close after multiple wildfires broke out there on Wednesday.
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Wildfires spread across nature reserve
Separate incidents were then reported at Upton Heath in Poole on Wednesday, and nearby Canford Heath in the early hours of Thursday.
Friday was officially the warmest day of the year so far – with temperatures in the south of England reaching 23C (73.4F) – the highest since 21 September last year, according to the Met Office.
The weather conditions triggered a “severe” wildfire rating for parts of the UK on Tuesday.
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