Economy, immigration, the United Kingdom’s relations with Europe, but also transport and housing: Charles III set out the priorities of the new Labour government on Wednesday 17 July in his traditional King’s Speech, a solemn ceremony at the reopening of parliament.
The Speech from the Throne or King’s Speech is delivered by the sovereign, but written by the government. It is an opportunity for the new party in power to set out its priorities in Westminster. It was the first for a Labour government in 15 years, following the general election on 4 July which resulted in the arrival in Downing Street of Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer after 14 years in power for the Conservatives.
Wearing the ceremonial imperial crown and a long robe, Charles III, who arrived at Parliament in a golden carriage from Buckingham Palace, read the text in a monotonous tone, a way of marking the sovereign’s political neutrality.
An “independent” evaluation of budgets
The government, which had built its campaign on a promise of budgetary “seriousness”, first put forward “economic stability”. It will have its future budgets “independently” assessed by the public budget forecasting body, the OBR, to ensure better control of public spending. A clear step aside compared to the former Prime Minister Liz Truss; in the autumn of 2022, the very short-lived head of the British government had sown panic on the financial markets with unfunded tax cuts, a trauma in the country.
The new government also wants to “redefine” relations between the United Kingdom and its “European partners”, almost eight years after the Brexit vote. It “will work to improve trade and investment relations with the European Union”.
To combat illegal immigration, the government will create a new security force with “anti-terrorist powers”. It will aim to “strengthen” the fight against people smugglers. The day after coming to power, Keir Starmer confirmed that he was abandoning the Conservatives’ plan to deport illegally arrived migrants to Rwanda.
A reform of the British Parliament
Another highly symbolic issue: Keir Starmer says he wants to abolish the 92 hereditary members of the House of Lords, the upper house of Parliament, a tradition that is “dated and indefensible.” These peers are all men, largely from the aristocracy.
On Northern Ireland, the new government has pledged to repeal a controversial law that was meant to end inquiries, civil cases and criminal prosecutions for crimes related to the Troubles period and grant immunity to veterans from all sides.
Promises have followed one another in this long list, which also includes measures to accelerate housing construction and to renationalize rail transport companies. The government is also taking up projects initiated by the Conservatives, including the law aimed at banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2009.
Keir Starmer, 61, said shortly after coming to power that he was “eager to deliver the change” promised to the British people. With this programme, Labour wants to “show that they can once again become what they consider to be the natural party of government”, Tony McNulty, a former Labour minister and professor of British politics at Queen Mary University of London, told AFP.
Anti-royalty protesters
The King’s Speech was the second delivered by Charles III since he ascended the throne in September 2022. In May of that year, as Prince of Wales, he had also replaced his mother Elizabeth II, whose health was failing. Charles III sat on the throne in the House of Lords, with his wife Camilla to his left.
On Wednesday, as he read the speech, anti-monarchy protesters chanted “Not my king” outside parliament. Police said they arrested about a dozen members of the activist group Youth Demand on suspicion of causing a public nuisance.
Shortly before her arrival at Westminster, royal guards had also searched the cellars of Parliament for explosives, a legacy of the failed attempt by Catholics to blow up the building in 1605. A female MP was held hostage at Buckingham Palace until the “safe return of the king” to his residence, a historic symbol.