The new Labour Government has set out a widespread plan for devolution and economic growth in its Parliamentary timetable, with central diktat reserved for planning proposals.
A much-trailed shift towards devolution has already seen deputy prime minister Angela Rayner write to those without deals earlier this week, asking them to join a ‘devolution revolution' and offering deals for combined or combined county authorities.
The King's Speech pushes forward Prime Minister Keir Starmer's determination to build economic growth.
Announcing the devolution agenda, King Charles told Parliament: ‘My Government believes that greater devolution of decision making is at the heart of a modern dynamic economy and is a key driver of economic growth and my ministers will introduce an English Devolution Bill.
‘Legislation will be introduced to give new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities.
'This will support local growth plans that bring economic benefit to communities.'
A Council of the Nations and Regions will encourage the Prime Minister, heads of devolved Governments and mayors to collaborate.
Local leaders will also be given power over local bus services.
Pushing further on economic growth, there were plans to establish an Industrial Strategy Council to 'see rising living standards in all nations and regions in the United Kingdom', the King said.
The King told Parliament: ‘My ministers will get Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek 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.'
However, critics fear that mandatory targets for housing run counter to the Government's plans for devolution, forcing councils towards unwanted developments.
There were also plans for sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies, and measures to modernise asylum and immigration, improve policing and courts, and halve violence against women and girls.
The King outlined measures to reform skills, improve child mental health and remove the VAT tax exemption for private schools.
On health, the Government plans improvements to the NHS, ‘providing care on the basis of need regardless of the ability to pay'.
The speech included legislation to modernise mental health and limit the sales of tobacco and vapes, as well as plans to limit advertising junk food to children and restrict the sales of high caffeine drinks.
It read: ‘My Government will take steps to help rebuild trust and foster respect.
'Legislation will be brought forward to introduce a duty of candour for public servants.'
There will be legislation on race equality and expected laws on hereditary peers were also included.
While no mention was made about votes for 16-17-year-olds, the King said: ‘My ministers will strengthen the integrity of elections and encourage wide participation in the democratic process.'
The Bills include:
- Budget Responsibility Bill
- Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill
- Pension Schemes Bill
- Planning and Infrastructure Bill
- Employment Rights Bill
- English Devolution Bill
- Better Buses Bill
- Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill
- Rail Reform Bill
- Great British Energy Bill
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue Support Mechanism) Bill
- Water (Special Measures) Bill
- Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
- Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill
- Children's Wellbeing Bill
- Skills England Bill
- Renters' Rights Bill
- Draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill
- Football Governance Bill
- Mental Health Bill
- Tobacco and Vapes Bill
- Draft Conversion Practices Bill
- Armed Forces Commissioner Bill
- Hillsborough Law
- Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill
- Northern Ireland Legacy Legislation
- House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill
