July 16th 2024.
King Charles took center stage at the state opening of parliament on November 7, 2023, following Labour's victory in the General Election on July 4. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in parliament, as the King's Speech was unveiled on Wednesday.
While the speech is read by King Charles, it is actually written by the government, making it their chance to lay out their proposed policies and legislation for the upcoming parliamentary season. The event itself is always filled with pomp and pageantry, as the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the monarch come together. Let's take a closer look at everything surrounding this year's King's Speech.
But first, what exactly is the King's Speech? It is an annual address delivered by the monarch at the start of a new parliamentary session, even though a parliament can last up to five years between general elections. King Charles gave his first King's Speech last year on November 7, 2023, for Rishi Sunak's government. However, with a new party in charge, he now has the opportunity to read it once again as Labour takes the reins of government. Keep in mind that while the speech outlines the government's proposed legislation, not all of it may become law, and the government can still pass bills that were not mentioned in the speech.
So, when can we expect to see the King's Speech this year? King Charles is set to arrive at the Houses of Parliament at the Sovereign's Entrance at 11:20 am on Wednesday, July 17. He will then proceed to the robing room to put on his Imperial State Crown and ceremonial robes before taking his seat on the throne in the House of Lords to deliver the speech at 11:30 am. While there is no set time for the speech, last year's address was the longest since 2005, clocking in at 11 minutes and 30 seconds. Once the speech is over, MPs will have the chance to debate it, giving the opposition and other parties the opportunity to scrutinize it. These debates can last for several days, and a symbolic vote will eventually be cast, which has not been lost by the government in 100 years.
Now, let's take a look at Labour's 35 proposed bills that are expected to be mentioned in the King's Speech. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has outlined plans for the establishment of Great British Energy, nationalization of the railways, planning reform to increase housing, more NHS appointments, an employment rights bill, and a bill to enforce tough spending rules for growth. Labour also plans to push for a ban on no fault evictions and smoking among young people, two bills that were previously proposed by the Tories.
For those wondering, yes, the King's Speech will be televised. BBC One will air the state opening of parliament from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, hosted by Reeta Chakrabarti. It will also be shown live on Parliament TV and the House of Lords X feed. And if you miss anything important, don't worry, as news coverage of the speech will continue throughout the day.
Finally, let's take a look at last year's King's Speech under Rishi Sunak's government. King Charles announced tougher sentences for serious offenders and plans to tackle digitally-enabled crime, along with giving increased powers to the police. The speech also mentioned a 24-month prison term for criminals who refuse to attend their sentencing hearings. In his address, King Charles highlighted Rishi Sunak's focus on increasing economic growth and safeguarding the health and security of the British people for generations to come. The government also pledged to take action to bring down inflation and support the Bank of England in that goal by making responsible decisions on spending and borrowing. Additionally, the government expressed support for future licensing of new oil and gas fields to strengthen the country's energy security and reduce reliance on volatile international markets and hostile foreign regimes. However, some plans, like the ban on cigarettes for those under 14, did not come to fruition. Last year, an anti-monarchy group called Republic protested the speech, and it is expected that they will do so again this year.
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