King Charles III to Deliver Speech Outlining Labour Government's Key Legislation Plans

King Charles III will deliver the King's Speech on Wednesday, laying out the government's planned laws for the coming parliamentary session and beyond.

The address faces extra scrutiny as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer seeks to revive his leadership following Labour's poor results in recent local elections.

Here are the expected items in the speech, plus a few that will be absent.

Economy and money

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer plans legislation to let the UK adopt EU single market rules in areas like food standards, as part of resetting post-Brexit ties without rejoining the single market or customs union.

Bills may address the cost of living crisis after complaints from some Labour MPs.

The government will try again to cut welfare spending, after its own MPs forced dilution of earlier plans. A new bill would limit benefits, including barring those under 22 from incapacity benefits. More disability benefit changes follow the Timms Review.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves rebranded the prior government's National Infrastructure Bank as the National Wealth Fund in October 2024 to spur private investment in infrastructure. The government now wants to put the fund into statute with defined powers.

A Financial Services Bill would overhaul City of London regulation, merging the Payment Systems Regulator into the Financial Conduct Authority and reforming the Financial Ombudsman Service, according to The Financial Times.

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed started a November consultation on letting English regional mayors impose an overnight tourist tax.

The Public Procurement (British Goods and Services) Bill, debated in 2024, would require public bodies to buy more from small and medium UK companies.

Plans from July 2024 target late payments by large firms to suppliers, with fines for those not paying small firms within 60 days.

Asylum and immigration

Legislation would limit use of article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects family life, in some asylum cases.

Environment

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will advance the Energy Independence Bill from Labour's 2024 manifesto to tackle high bills and supply security. Plans already raise the windfall tax on electricity profits from 45 percent to 55 percent and ease electric vehicle charger installations by dropping planning permission needs.

Some energy policy is devolved; application to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland remains unclear.

A water bill would replace Ofwat with a single regulator to fight pollution and cap England household bills. It would merge duties from Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate to cut complexity.

Health

Laws are needed to abolish NHS England and enact parts of Health Secretary Wes Streeting's 10 Year Health Plan.

Housing

The Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, underway, would boost leaseholders' rights to extend leases and buy freeholds in England and Wales. It caps ground rents at £250 a year, shifting to peppercorn after 40 years. Draft text came in January and passage is likely this year.

The Building Safety Remediation Bill would strengthen safety in England after the 2017 Grenfell fire, per government policy.

Transport

The Railways Bill, Labour's push to nationalize rail under Great British Railways for passenger services, infrastructure and operations, is underway and due for passage soon. It covers England, Wales and Scotland, but needs deals with Scottish and Welsh ministers due to devolution.

The High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill, proposed in January 2022 by Conservatives, sets powers for HS2 phase 2b from Crewe to Manchester, via Manchester Airport and Piccadilly. Carried over, it should pass this year.

Crime

The Courts and Tribunals Bill would end jury trials in some England and Wales cases to clear backlogs and reform sexual offense procedures. Carried from last session.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced January plans to merge police forces in England and Wales and replace police and crime commissioners with mayoral authorities and crime boards.

Post-2024 Southport Attack, terrorism laws will tackle extreme violence without clear ideology, which the government called a gap.

Governance

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, or 'Hillsborough Law,' requires public bodies to tell truth and aid inquiries. Underway but criticized by campaigners for intelligence officer scope. The prime minister plans to drop security service exemptions and add amendments. Duty of candour applies UK-wide, but 'misleading the public' offense is England and Wales only.

The Representation of the People Bill would cut voting age to 16 for general elections, add automatic registration and accept bank cards as polling ID. Companies donating politically must show UK ties; Electoral Commission gains £500,000 fine power. A crypto donation ban stays until rules block anonymous gifts, per minister Steve Reed, who also set £100,000 annual cap on overseas British donor gifts.

Legislation will strip titles from disgraced House of Lords peers after the Lord Mandelson scandal, per The Observer.

Other items

Digital ID laws follow retreat from mandatory plans, covering voluntary rollout for public services.

Road safety consultations this year include minimum learner driver tuition and eyesight tests for older drivers.

A bill raises reservist recall age to 65 from 55, creates Defence Housing Service and gives forces drone destruction powers.

Cyber security legislation, from July 2024 King's Speech, bolsters critical infrastructure and supply chain defenses.

Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill requires employers with 250-plus staff to report six pay-gap metrics. Post-March consultation, draft text emerged but law is unlikely next session.

Absent bills

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was private, not government, and gets no mention. Assisted dying backers hope for another private member's bill.

Chagos Islands sovereignty transfer to Mauritius was near done but shelved over US President Donald Trump opposition. The UK will seek a deal for Diego Garcia base but drop the bill.