British monarch Charles lays out PM Starmer’s governance agenda: Top points

UK’s new Labour government’s governance agenda was laid out in British parliament on Wednesday (July 17) by the British monarch King Charles III. In an archaic tradition showcasing the symbols of Britain’s colonial plundering, the monarch outlined the draft laws. The speech coincided with anti-monarchy protests as demonstrators booed at Charles and his wife Camilla’s carriage during the procession ahead of the state opening of the UK parliament.

Here are the key points from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s governance agenda laid out by the British monarch. 

The Budget responsibility bill, otherwise dubbed as the ‘Liz Truss Bill’ after the short-serving British premier’s mini-budget, will be independently assessed by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The proposed law lays out a £7.3 billion capitalised fund to spread investment and boost the largely stagnant British economy. 

The big-ticket bill sets up Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s long-promised publicly owned clean energy production company.

This is a proposed legislative attempt to increase investment in UK by making lower-emission aviation fuels.

The initial work on this bill is the legacy of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government. The bill would gradually ban smoking and stop vapes being marketed to children.

The broad bill aims to modernise mental health provisions, including in areas such as how people can be detained and treated under the Mental Health Act.

The bill aims to streamline and speed up planning and associated infrastructure needs to get more housing built. It includes a more top-down approach, with penalties for councils that fail to act.

The bill introduces an end to “no fault” evictions. The bill was long promised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government.

The long-promised bill will be introduced in parliament in the first 100 days of the government. It would ban zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire practices.

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It will also add extra rights such as flexible working, and make parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal immediate rights.

This sets up the new Border Security Command, with the aim to limit the number of unofficial Channel crossings by asylum seekers.

The proposed law is intended to extend devolution across England, giving mayors and local authorities the opportunity to take on extra powers.

(With inputs from agencies)