2023 State Opening of Parliament
A
Along with
Keen to showcase
Background
The State Opening of Parliament marks the first day of a new
It would be Charles III's first State Opening as monarch, although he had stood in for Elizabeth II to open the previous session after doctors had advised her not to attend, and delivered the speech setting out the government's legislative programme on her behalf.[4] It was also Rishi Sunak's first State Opening since becoming prime minister in October 2022.[5][6] The governing Conservative Party, which had been in power since 2010, was behind in the polls, and Sunak was hoping the speech would improve the party's standing by showcasing some of its key policies ahead of an election. Sunak was also keen to distance himself from his Conservative predecessors, telling the 2023 Conservative Party Conference he wanted to be the "change candidate".[3][7]
On 20 July 2023,
On 29 October,
Ceremony
On the morning of 7 November,
The King and Queen entered the
The 2023 State Opening of Parliament was the first time a King's Speech had been presented since November 1951, during the reign of
Legislative programme
The legislative programme announced for the year ahead included some bills that were carried over from the previous session, as well as new legislation.
Bills
- The
- The Criminal Justice Bill 2023 will require criminals to attend court for sentencing hearings and for "reasonable force" to be used if they refuse to do so. An extra two years in prison can also be added for refusal to attend.[26]
- The Victims and Prisoners Bill, which had already been published, will prevent certain prisoners from getting married,[23] and implement Jade's Law, automatically suspending parental rights of a person convicted of the murder or voluntary manslaughter of a person with whom they share parenting responsibilities.[27] The bill will also provide new rights for victims.[23]
- The Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill will ensure the UK's intelligence services have the power to tackle evolving threats and advances in technology.[26]
- The Martyn's Law, requiring venues to draw up anti-terrorism plans.[23]
- The Leasehold and Freehold Bill will abolish leases for new houses in England and Wales, but will not apply to new flats, while extending the standard lease period from 90 to 990 years.[23][28]
- The Renters (Reform) Bill will be extended to include a ban on "no faults" evictions, but reform to the courts is required before this can be implemented.[23]
- The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill will allow licences to be awarded for North Sea oil and gas projects annually.[23]
- The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill will ban the export of cattle from the UK for the purposes of fattening and slaughter.[23]
- The Automated Vehicles Bill will make provisions for self-driving vehicles on UK roads, and also exempt passengers from prosecution for anything that goes wrong with a self-driving vehicle.[26]
- The fake product reviews.[23]
- The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill will replace existing EU legislation by creating a new framework for data rights in the UK.[23][26]
- The commercial radio and support for radio stations on smart speakers.[29]
- The
- The Football Governance Bill will establish an independent regulator for the top five tiers of English football.[31]
- The Pedicabs (London) Bill will give Transport for London the authority to regulate pedal-powered taxis operating in London.[23]
- The arbitration process as recommended by the Law Commission for England and Wales.[26]
- The Trade Bill 2023 will set out provisions for the UK to join the CPTPP trade pact with 11 Asian and Pacific nations.[23]
- The Holocaust Memorial Bill will legislate to build a UK Holocaust Memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens.[23]
- The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill will prohibit public sector organisations from being able to boycott Israel.[23]
- The Rail Reform Bill will create a new public body to oversee railways in Great Britain, but is only included in draft format.[23]
Response
Sunak described the programme of legislation outlined in the speech as "taking long-term decisions to build a brighter future for our country".
Writing in The Telegraph, Gordon Rayner suggested Sunak had "served up meagre rations of innovation and large helpings of more of the same",[32] while Rowena Mason, Whitehall editor of The Guardian, suggested the Prime Minister had "not managed to rustle up many big ideas that place him on the side of the electorate in opposition to Labour".[33] Referring to what he described as the "double debut" of the King's first State Opening of Parliament and the Prime Minister's first legislative programme, Tom Gordon of The Glasgow Herald, said "the special occasion did not make for special content".[34] Chris Mason, political editor at BBC News, suggested the speech "felt very Sunakian: iterative, rather than explosive, but with an emphasis on ideas he is personally passionate about, like banning young people from smoking".[35]
The announcement of a new independent football regulator was welcomed by Rick Parry of the English Football League, who described it as a "landmark commitment", while Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, who in 2022 chaired a fan-led review that recommended the body, welcomed the bill's inclusion in the King's Speech as "an important step" for English football.[24] The proposals for a smoking ban were welcomed by nursing leaders, including Professor Nicola Ranger of the Royal College of Nursing, who described it as "positive".[36] The Media Bill was welcomed by members of the broadcasting industry, including Alex Mahon, Chief Executive of Channel 4, who said reforms to the UK media were "long overdue".[37][38]
The omission of some proposals from the speech attracted criticism. Examples of bills absent from the programme included legislation for a ban on
The King and Queen were booed by
Subsequent events
Sunak began a
During a debate on the speech on 15 November, a
The Leasehold and Freehold Bill, introduced into Parliament on 27 November, did not include a ban on the sale of new leasehold houses as outlined in the King's Speech, with the UK government saying it would introduce the ban through an amendment later in the bill's process. Labour accused the government of watering down the legislation and failing to match their original commitment.
References
- ^ a b c Murphy, Victoria (7 November 2023). "King Charles Wears the Imperial State Crown for His First State Opening of Parliament". Town & Country. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Seddon, Paul (15 December 2022). "Rishi Sunak extends time to pass current crop of laws". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Morton, Becky (7 November 2023). "Focus on crime as Rishi Sunak sets out priorities in King's Speech". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ a b Jones, Ian (7 November 2023). "Longest monarch's speech at state opening of Parliament for nearly 20 years". The Independent. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Scott, Jennifer (7 November 2023). "What will be in the King's speech? Here's what we're expecting – from smoking crackdown to focus on crime". Sky News. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Lawless, Jill (25 October 2023). "British leader Rishi Sunak marks a year in office with little to celebrate". ABC News. United States. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ a b Asthana, Anushka (13 November 2023). "What is going on in No 10? Braverman out, Cameron in and the reaction from inside Westminster". ITV News. ITV. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "King's Speech will take place on 7 November". BBC News. BBC. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Wheeler, Richard (20 July 2023). "State opening of Parliament set for November". The Independent. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Privy Council Orders" (PDF). Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ Lester, Nick (26 October 2023). "King prorogues Parliament for the first time in more than seven decades". The Independent.
- ^ "Leasehold law will be in King's Speech, says housing minister". BBC News. BBC. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "King's Speech to deliver a brighter future for the country". GOV.UK. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Wheeler, Brian (7 November 2023). "Suella Braverman still pushing for crackdown on use of tents by homeless". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d Edgington, Tom; Clarke, Jennifer (7 November 2023). "King's Speech: What is it and why is it important?". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "The State Opening of Parliament 2023". The Royal Family. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Elston, Laura (7 November 2023). "Charles embraces royal fanfare for first State Opening of Parliament as King". Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Rigley, Stephen (7 November 2023). "From Black Rod to the Delivering of the 'hostage'; The traditions behind the King's Speech and what they mean". LBC. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Ward, Victoria (7 November 2023). "King pays tribute to late Queen's 'legacy of devotion and service'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Coughlan, Sean (7 November 2023). "King's Speech: The quirks and crowns of the King's State Opening". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "State Opening of Parliament: King wears Royal Navy uniform with 1,400 troops on ceremonial duties". Forces Network. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Maidment, Jack; Smith, Benedict (7 November 2023). "King's Speech: Tories 'not even pretending to govern anymore', claims Starmer". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Seddon, Paul (7 November 2023). "Key points: What was in this year's King's Speech?". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ a b "King's Speech outlines independent football regulator". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "UK government to focus on curbing inflation, not boosting spending - King's Speech". Reuters. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "King's speech: legislation on criminal sentencing and leasehold reform". Law Gazette. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Bond, Kimberley (7 November 2023). "Here's how the proposals in the King's Speech will impact women". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "King's Speech: Leasehold and Freehold Bill". Today's Conveyancer. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "The King's Speech confirms plans to proceed with the Media Bill and further deregulation". Radio Today. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ Stavrou, Athena (8 November 2023). "UK smoking ban: How will it work and who will be affected?". The Independent. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ MacInnes, Paul (7 November 2023). "UK government to introduce legislation to create independent football regulator". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Rayner, Gordon (7 November 2023). "Rishi Sunak needs something superhuman to win the election – this King's Speech wasn't it". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (7 November 2023). "King's speech holds little to pull in votes for a PM running out of time". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Gordon, Tom (7 November 2023). "Sunak is in too deep a hole for the King's Speech to be his ladder". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Mason, Chris (8 November 2023). "Will the measures in the King's Speech be enough?". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Mitchell, Gemma (7 November 2023). "King's Speech: Smoking ban welcome but 'key policies missing'". Nursing Times. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Maskery, Chris (7 November 2023). "Media Bill in King's Speech welcomed by radio industry". Planet Radio. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Channel 4 statement in response to introduction of the Media Bill". Channel 4. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ a b Moss, Lauren; Parry, Josh (7 November 2023). "Conversion therapy ban not included in King's Speech". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Patrick, Holly (7 November 2023). "King Charles booed by protesters after State Opening of Parliament: 'Not my King'". The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Browning, Oliver (7 November 2023). "SNP politician criticises 'pomp' of King's speech amid cost of living crisis". The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Brawn, Steph (10 November 2023). "'People are struggling': SNP MP calls out 'bizarre' King's Speech traditions". The National. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Seddon, Paul (15 November 2023). "Keir Starmer suffers major Labour rebellion over Gaza ceasefire vote". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Nevett, Joshua (29 November 2023). "Leasehold ban not included in housing reform law". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ Morton, Becky (30 November 2023). "Pressure grows for ban on new leasehold flats". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 30 November 2023.