The new government has repeatedly stressed economic growth, saying its “fundamental mission will be to ensure economic growth” in Britain, the world’s sixth-largest economy but one plagued by low productivity, stagnant wages and limited investment.
The new government will also “reset our relationships with our European partners”, marking a shift from the Brexit era that dominated the Conservative government.
The opening of Parliament on Wednesday began with a grand ceremony that showcased the traditions and theatre of a constitutional monarchy, aimed at awe-inspiring the public and lending legitimacy to the transition of power.
The British monarch, King Charles III, accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, arrived in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, drawn by six white horses. They entered Westminster through the Sovereign Door and proceeded to the Golden Throne in the House of Lords. The King’s head rested heavily beneath the 2.3-pound Imperial Crown, which a BBC commentator noted was heavier than a large bag of sugar.
This was a pretty dramatic transition, with a relatively new monarch reading out a new government plan.
The King’s Speech is written entirely by the government. The King is merely an emissary. Although he is head of state, he has little real power beyond his ceremonial role.
Starmer stood next to and listened to his defeated rival, former Conservative chancellor Rishi Sunak, who has been relegated to opposition status in the Commons, and the pair appeared to be engaged in lively small talk as they entered the House of Lords chamber.
Starmer and his Election of the Cabinet Officially launched July 5,after that Overwhelming victory Starmer is already standing to represent the UK in the general election. NATO And we shook hands President Biden in the Oval Office. But Wednesday was also the day Labor defined the meaning of “change” — a central slogan of its victorious election campaign — and laid out its government’s legislative priorities.
Because Labour has won an overwhelming majority of seats in Parliament, there is little role for the party to play in delivering on its mission to rebuild Britain. National FinancesAs the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, put it, this government inherited “the worst situation since the Second World War”.
Traditionally, the King’s Speech is not a lofty oratory but a long list of goals and objectives. Starmer’s government has outlined 40 bills it wants to push through; Sunak’s last government mentioned 21.
Anand Menon, professor of politics at King’s College London, said “even just a cursory look at the number of bills” spoke to the new government’s “level of ambition.”
The King’s Speech begins: “My Government will govern in service of the nation. My Government’s legislative programme will be mission-driven and based on the principles of security, equity and opportunity for all.”
That may resonate with the king, who sees his job as serving his people.
Charles delivered the speech in a calm voice. He is expected to remain an independent, but he is also known as a lifelong climate change advocate, which created some awkwardness during the speech. The last King’s speechHe made the remarks when he had to read out the Sunak Government’s plans for a new system for granting oil and gas licences.
This time Charles read: “My Government recognises the urgency of the global climate challenge.”
Center left The Labour Party argues Economic growth and the transition to green energy do not have to be at odds: as part of its Green Prosperity Plan, the government has pledged to create 650,000 jobs by 2030 and to work with the private sector to double onshore wind power, triple solar power and quadruple offshore wind power.
Labour wants to create a public green energy utility, it wants to stimulate the economy by encouraging the construction of new homes and infrastructure, and it wants to stop local authorities from blocking new building.
“It’s time to take the brakes off Britain,” Starmer said in a statement before the speech. “For too long, people have been oppressed and their paths have been determined by where they come from, not by their talent or hard work.”
Starmer is Britain’s most working-class leader of a generation. As anyone who has heard him speak knows, his mother was a nurse and his father a toolmaker. Starmer was the first in his family to go to university. He became a human rights lawyer, was knighted for his work as Britain’s attorney general, and entered politics at age 52.
There were other signs of change: Labour adopted the Brexiteers’ motto “Take back control” as a slogan to reduce the “chaos” of the Conservative leadership and a plan to decentralise power from Westminster.
Labour’s policy promised new powers for big city mayors while giving local leaders more control over bus routes, which has led to much complaints in rural areas about poor bus services and hours-long wait times.
Starmer has already reversed his predecessor’s plans to forcibly return asylum seekers to Rwanda, but in his speech on Wednesday he added that his new government would set up a new “border security command” to tackle “migrant crime” and “eliminate the gangs” behind small boats crossing the English Channel.
Wednesday was a day when Charles Revealed in February He said he had started cancer treatment (although I was not told what type of cancer it was or what kind of treatment he was receiving).
The ceremony to open Parliament had many oddities. Before the King’s arrival, Royal Guards searched the cellars for explosives, reminiscent of Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a failed attempt by English Catholics to blow up Parliament and the Protestant King James I.
Also, traditionally, Black RodQueen Elizabeth, a senior member of the House of Lords, had the door of the House of Commons slammed in her face, symbolizing the House’s independence from the monarch.
Another MP was held “hostage” at Buckingham Palace during a ceremony to ensure the monarch’s safe return.
