40 new laws proposed in King's Speech including nationalised railways and more housebuilding

Labour says it will “take the brakes off Britain” as its first King’s Speech has introduced a huge number of new laws including promises to reform the economy and restore trust in politics.

It's the first Speech from the Throne under a Labour government for 14 years – and contained 40 Bills and draft Bills with an emphasis on improving transport, creating jobs and accelerating the building of houses and infrastructure.

What was in the King's Speech?

The Prime Minister vowed to “fix the foundations of this nation for the long-term” with a programme containing 40 proposed pieces of legislation.

The speech, delivered in the House of Lords by the King with all the traditional pomp and pageantry, includes many of the policies championed in Labour’s manifesto.

Charles told the gathered peers and MPs the Government’s programme would be “based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all”, adding that his ministers would “get Britain building”.

Our Westminster Political Editor Georgie Prodromou was in the House of Lords to hear the speech:

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will reform the system to help meet the goal of building 1.5 million more homes over the course of the Parliament, deciding “how, not if” properties are built.

It will also mean landowners forced to sell up to make way for new developments will be paid a “fair but not excessive” price where important infrastructure or social housing is being built.

It is one of 15 bills or draft bills under the broad heading of “economic stability and growth”, the key focus of the Starmer administration’s first session.

Other measures in the programme include:

• Establishing state-owned energy production firm Great British Energy with £8.3 billion of public money across the Parliament.
• Bills to bring train operators into public ownership, create new public body Great British Railways (GBR) to oversee the rail network, and give all English councils new powers to franchise local bus services will be introduced.
• Creating a £7.3 billion national wealth fund to invest in schemes to generate economic growth and clean energy.
• A new package of workers’ rights, banning “exploitative” zero-hour contracts and giving day one rights on flexible working, parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal.
• A law to put water companies into “special measures” to clean up rivers, lakes and seas, with bosses facing personal criminal liability for lawbreaking and a beefed-up regulator having the power to ban bonus payments if environmental standards are not met.
• A Bill to create a new Border Security Command and putting stronger penalties in place for migrant smuggling gangs as part of the effort to curb crossing of the English Channel.
• Measures to end no-fault evictions and give greater protections to people renting their homes.
• Plans to end the “outdated and indefensible” presence of hereditary peers in the House of Lords.
• Confirmation of plans to impose VAT on private school fees to fund new teachers in state classrooms.

Setting out the key aims of his plan, Sir Keir said: “We will reform the planning rules to build the homes and infrastructure the country desperately needs.

“We will level up workers’ rights, so every person has security, respect and dignity at work; we will create a new industrial strategy and invest in cleaner, cheaper British energy; and we will harness the power of artificial intelligence as we look to strengthen safety frameworks.”

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