Starmer vows to ‘make work pay’ in King’s Speech

The new Labour government has outlined its main goals for the new parliament as part of the King’s Speech today (17 July) with a central focus of “ improving living standards for working people through economic growth”. 

Key points outlined in the speech, read by the King but written by the government, include a bill to “get Britain building”, through planning reform, as it seeks to accelerate the delivery of “high-quality infrastructure and housing”. 

“They will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies,” the King said.

The government also committed to “making work pay” and will launch a new bill to enhance employment rights and ban exploitative practices. “It will seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models,” the King added.

New legislation will be also introduced to create a simplified rail system by bringing rail services into public ownership once their contracts expire or if operators fail to deliver on their commitments. 

Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Now is the time to take the brakes off Britain. For too long people have been held back, their paths determined by where they came from – not their talents and hard work. I am determined to create wealth for people up and down the country. It is the only way our country can progress, and my government is focussed on supporting that aspiration. 

“Today’s new laws will take back control and lay the foundations of real change that this country is crying out for, creating wealth in every community and making people better off – supporting their ambitions, hopes and dreams.”

“My Government is committed to making work pay,” the King said, “and will legislate to introduce a new deal for working people to ban exploitative practices and enhance employment rights.”

Almost 40 measures were unveiled as part of the speech and also included:

• Great British Energy Bill: New job opportunities from the technology of the future to accelerate investment in renewable energy.
• English Devolution Bill: Giving new powers to metro mayors and local authorities.
• Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill: Audit and corporate governance reforms to “make Britain the best place to run a business”.
• Better Bus Bill: Local leaders to take control of bus services.
• Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: Deliver enhanced counter terror powers to tackle organised immigration crime.
• Crime and Policing Bill, Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill: Strengthen community policing to deal with anti-social behaviour.
• Mental Health Bill: Improve NHS through reduced waiting times and improving mental health awareness.
• Improve the UK’s trade with European partners.