What will be in the King’s speech? Here’s what we’re expecting – from smoking crackdown to focus on crime
Westminster will be awash with pomp and ceremony today as parliament hosts the King’s Speech.
But what will the day involve and how will it play out? And what plans for the country’s future are likely to be unveiled?
Read on to find out all you need to know.
What is the King’s Speech?
While a parliament – meaning the period of time between general elections – can last for up to five years, a new parliamentary session is normally launched annually. It gives the government of the day a chance to outline its legislative plans for the year ahead.
The start of a new session is marked with the grandest of ceremonies, the State Opening of Parliament.
It brings together members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as the monarchy, dressed up in their finest regalia for the day ahead. Look out for the robes, britches and, of course, the crown.
After numerous traditions are played out – from searching the bowels of the building for gunpowder to slamming a door in Black Rod’s face – peers and MPs gather in front of the monarch to listen to them deliver the King’s (or Queen’s) Speech.
The then Prince of Wales delivered the speech on his mother’s behalf in May 2022
While the address may be read out by the head of state, the content is written by the government and sees their legislative agenda given a stately introduction to the ears of parliamentarians and the public.
The speech will fall to King Charles III in his first state opening as monarch – though he had a dry run back in May 2022, when he stood in for his mother due to her mobility issues.
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From 2022: How Charles stepped up for the Queen’s Speech
The late Queen Elizabeth II delivered the speech a total of 67 times during her reign, and only missed it on a handful of occasions, including when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and then Prince Edward.
After the document is read out, MPs return to the Commons and spend around five days debating its content, but not before two backbench MPs nominated by the prime minister kick off proceedings by giving a loyal address to parliament – a light-hearted affair, often littered with some cringeworthy jokes.
What will the speech mean for Rishi Sunak?
This is the first time this prime minister has had his plans delivered in a King’s Speech since he moved in to Number 10.
Liz Truss’s short premiership meant she missed out on this particular spotlight for her policy agenda. Boris Johnson was the last prime minister to oversee a state opening 18 months ago.
Read more:
King’s Speech: Plans centred around criminal justice to be unveiled
King will have to announce measures we know he’s bound to dislike
Hard to see how Sunak’s first King’s Speech won’t be his last – analysis
King’s Speech live: Watch our special programme on Sky News, hosted by Sophy Ridge, from 10.30am today. You will also be able to follow the event live via the Politics Hub on the Sky News app and website.
Tuesday’s ceremony is likely to be the final King’s Speech of this parliament as Mr Sunak will have to call a general election by the end of January 2025 at the latest.
That means it may also be his last chance to show both his party and the public what he stands for, following his first year of trying to steady the ship after the chaos surrounding last autumn’s revolving door in Downing Street.
Mr Sunak will also need to bring his MPs and members with him to ensure they back his leadership going into the looming general election, so he may choose to be cautious with his priorities – while throwing some red meat to please particular wings of the Conservative Party.
But the upcoming national poll also leaves questions over how much legislation the prime minister and his government can push through in a short space of time – during which MPs will also want to be out on the doorstep campaigning to keep their seats.
What will be in the speech?
While the spectacle of the speech is designed for a new legislative agenda to be proposed, the government can also “carry over” some bills from the previous session that it was unable to pass into law.
According to the House of Commons Library, five carry-over motions have been agreed for bills, giving them another 12 months to achieve royal assent, namely:
• Data Protection and Digital Information (No 2) Bill – which aims to update the UK’s data protection laws post-Brexit
• Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – which proposes new powers to improve competition between online businesses and new protections for consumers
• Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill – which would introduce a ban on public bodies, such as councils, from boycotting other countries, with a special status for Israel
• Victims and Prisoners Bill – which aims to improve support for victims of crime, along with reform of the parole system
• Renters (Reform) Bill – which features proposed changes to regulations covering the rented housing sector
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Life as a renter in the UK
Two so-called “hybrid” bills will also continue to be scrutinised in the next parliament – one on the future of the northern leg of HS2, which was scrapped by Mr Sunak at his party’s conference, and one on a Holocaust memorial in Westminster.
The Commons’ researchers have also highlighted several bills announced in the last session that were never officially introduced, meaning they could return under Mr Sunak.
They include the much-touted ban on conversion therapy – though some on the right of the party could influence Number 10 to chuck it out – as well as further measures to tackle modern slavery and a transport bill to bring in some of the HS2 replacement projects announced by the prime minister.
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The key moments from 2022’s Queen’s Speech
What new proposals are we expecting?
Ministers have already confirmed there will be a bill to phase out leaseholds, with all new houses in England and Wales having to be sold as freehold properties.
Mr Sunak’s party conference announcement to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes in England by one year every year to phase out smoking is sure to get a showing too.
But reports suggest the major focus will be on crime, not just with existing plans being finalised – such as compelling criminals to attend sentencing – but with the introduction of bills to introduce tougher sentences for serious crimes, such as rape, and a scheme to rent prison space abroad.
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How would a smoking ban work?
The prime minister is also expected to accelerate his plans to disrupt existing net zero policies with the introduction of an annual system to award new oil and gas licences.
Meanwhile, the government could give its backing to establishing an independent football regulator.
By lunchtime on Tuesday, we will have the full list of what Mr Sunak has in store.
It could either be his springboard to winning the next election – or his last legislative dance while still holding the keys to Number 10.
Politics
Sir Keir Starmer set for Donald Trump trade talks as PM walks diplomatic line between EU allies and US on Gaza
Gaza and transatlantic trade are set to dominate talks between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer when the pair meet in Scotland on Monday.
Downing Street said the prime minister would discuss “what more can be done to secure the ceasefire [in the Middle East] urgently”, during the meeting at the president’s Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire.
Talks in Qatar over a ceasefire ended on Thursday after the US and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams.
Mr Trump blamed Hamas for the collapse of negotiations as he left the US for Scotland, saying the militant group “didn’t want to make a deal… they want to die”.
Sir Keir has tried to forge close personal ties with the president, frequently praising his actions on the world stage despite clear foreign policy differences between the US and UK.
The approach seemed to pay off in May when Mr Trump announced the agreement of a trade deal with the UK that would see several tariffs lowered.
The two leaders are expected to discuss this agreement when they meet, with the prime minister likely to press the president for a lowering of outstanding tariffs on imports such as steel.
Prior to the visit, the White House said the talks would allow them to “refine the historic US-UK trade deal”.
Extracting promises from the president on the Middle East may be harder though.
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Should aid be dropped into Gaza?
Despite some reports that Mr Trump is growing frustrated with Israel, there is a clear difference in tone between the US and its Western allies.
As he did over the Ukraine war, Sir Keir will have to walk a diplomatic line between the UK’s European allies and the White House.
On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state in September, the first member of the G7 to do so.
That move was dismissed by Mr Trump, who said it “doesn’t carry any weight”.
Read more from Sky News:
US and EU agree trade deal – with bloc facing 15% tariffs
Geldof accuses Israel of ‘lying’ about Gaza starvation
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Trump: ‘It doesn’t matter what Macron says’
The UK, French and German leaders spoke over the weekend and agreed to work together on the “next phase” in Gaza that would see transitional governance and security arrangements put in place, alongside the large-scale delivery of aid.
Under pressure from members of his own party and cabinet to follow France and signal formal recognition of Palestine, Sir Keir has gradually become more critical of Israel in recent months.
On Friday, the prime minister said “the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel’s disproportionate military escalation in Gaza are all indefensible”.
Government sources say UK recognition is a matter of “when, not if”, however, it’s thought Downing Street wants to ensure any announcement is made at a time when it can have the greatest diplomatic impact.
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Baby Zainab starved to death in Gaza
Cabinet ministers will be convened in the coming days, during the summer recess, to discuss the situation in Gaza.
The UK has also been working with Jordan to air drop supplies, after Israel said it would allow foreign countries to provide aid to the territory.
President Trump’s trip to Scotland comes ahead of his second state visit to the UK in September.
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Downing Street says Ukraine will also likely be discussed in the meeting with both men reflecting on what can be done to force Russia back to the negotiating table.
After the meeting at Turnberry, the prime minister will travel with the president to Aberdeen for a private engagement.
Mr Trump is also expected to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney while in the country.
The US housing regulator’s decision to recognize crypto assets in mortgage applications marks a historic shift from exclusion to integration, opening new pathways to homeownership.
Politics
Govt vows to protect ‘pavement pints’ and make it easier for pubs to extend their opening hours
“A wave of new cafes, bars, music venues and outdoor dining” could come to the UK – as the government unveils plans to overhaul planning rules and “breathe new life into the high street”.
Under the proposals, ministers also want to reform licensing rules to make it easier for disused shops to be converted into hospitality venues.
In a statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she planned to scrap “clunky, outdated rules… to protect pavement pints, al fresco dining and street parties”.
The reforms also aim to prevent existing pubs, clubs, and music venues from suffering noise complaints when new properties hit the market.
Developers who decide to build near those sites will be required to soundproof their buildings.
Reuters file pic
As part of dedicated “hospitality zones”, permission for al fresco dining, street parties and extended opening hours will be fast-tracked.
The government says the reforms aim to modernise outdated planning and licensing rules as part of its Plan for Change, to help small businesses and improve local communities.
The rough plans will be subject to a “call for evidence” which could further shape policy.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the proposals will “put the buzz back into our town centres”.
“Red tape has stood in the way of people’s business ideas for too long. Today we’re slashing those barriers to giving small business owners the freedom to flourish,” he said.
The hospitality industry has broadly welcomed the changes but argued tax reform was also essential.
Kate Nicholls, chairwoman of UKHospitality, described the proposals as “positive and encouraging”.
However, she added: “They can’t on their own offset the immediate and mounting cost pressures facing hospitality businesses which threaten to tax out of existence the businesses and jobs that today’s announcement seeks to support.”
Read more from Sky News:
Licensing reforms for London venues
Pubs forced to adapt to survive
While supporting the reforms, Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), had a similar message.
“These changes must go hand in hand with meaningful business rates reform, mitigating staggering employment costs, and a cut in beer duty so that pubs can thrive at the heart of the community,” she said.
In July, BBPA estimated that 378 pubs will shut this year across England, Wales and Scotland, compared with 350 closures in 2024, which it said would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses.
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Pubs closing at a rate of one a day
Bar chain Brewdog announced this week that it would close 10 sites, partly blaming “rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures”.
Andrew Griffith MP, shadow business secretary, said: “Though any cutting of red tape for hospitality businesses is welcome, this is pure hypocrisy and inconsistency from Labour.”
He said the government was “crippling the hospitality industry by doubling business rates, imposing a jobs tax and a full-on strangulation of employment red tape”.
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