Tuesday’s King’s Speech will be a momentous occasion for Rishi Sunak as it will be his first speech since joining Downing Street and his last before the next election.
The speech is expected to provide insight into Mr Sunak’s priorities when the country next goes to the polls.
With much at stake, the government is in the process of introducing a number of new laws, some of which are considered highly controversial.
Here’s what the king’s speech might say and how controversial it might be:
New license for oil production in the North Sea
Mr Sunak will use the king’s speech to announce a new oil and gas licensing system. This measure, according to the government, will strengthen the UK’s energy security and reduce dependence on “hostile foreign regimes”.
Under the new system to be established by law, the Provisional North Sea Authority will be required to apply annually for new mining permits.
Each round of licensing will only proceed if key tests are met to confirm the move to net zero.
This includes ensuring that the UK is likely to import more oil and gas than it produces, and that the carbon dioxide emissions from UK gas production are lower than the equivalent emissions from imported gas.
How controversial is this? 4/5: The government is facing significant opposition from environmental groups over its plans to expand North Sea oil production. The Prime Minister insists it is important to ensure Britain’s energy security, but many Conservative MPs have criticized the decision.
no smoking
Under new legislation announced by Mr Sunak in his Conservative Party conference speech, the age to buy tobacco will rise every year.
The new law will ultimately ensure that tobacco will not be sold to people born on or after January 1, 2009.
Announcing the measure, the Prime Minister said: “To keep people out of hospital, we must first tackle the biggest, entirely preventable cause of disease, disability and death: smoking.”
He said the legal smoking age is raised by a year every year, so a 14-year-old alive today would never be able to buy a cigarette.
How controversial is this? 2/5: Many MPs on the party’s right wing are skeptical of the move, including former prime minister Liz Truss, but Labor is expected to back the measure. There will be free voting for MPs, meaning they will not have to vote along party lines.
Crime and Justice
In the king’s speech, the government is expected to announce a new crime and justice bill, which will include measures to toughen penalties and crack down on repeat offending.
The measures include new legislation that will force offenders to attend sentencing, announced by Justice Minister Alex Chalk in August amid his anger over nurse Lucy Lethby’s refusal to appear in court.
Mr Chalk had also previously suggested that the government would seek to introduce legislation that would require life imprisonment for people convicted of some serious crimes, including rape.
Other measures that could be covered by the legislation include a new classification of “domestic homicide” and new powers to search property if police have “reasonable evidence” of a stolen item.
How controversial is this? 4/5: Measures to tighten sentences and bring criminal cases to trial enjoy broad support within the party. But many of the measures giving police new powers are likely to be controversial both inside and outside parliament.
Ban on new assault weapons
The government has discussed introducing a new law that would make it a criminal offense to possess a prohibited knife with the intent to cause harm.
It would also give police more powers to confiscate and destroy knife blades if there is reasonable evidence that the knife was used in the commission of a serious crime.
There will also be new measures to ban machetes and knives designed to intimidate and threaten, so-called zombie knives.
How controversial is this? 1/5: The bill has gained support in Parliament, but some civil rights groups may have concerns about plans to give police more powers. The relevant stop-and-frisk laws are also highly controversial.
Reform of investigative powers
The government is expected to include reform of investigative powers in the King’s Speech and require tech companies to notify the Home Office in advance of any new security features they want to add.
The bill, which reforms the existing Investigative Powers Act, would also give the Home Office the power to force companies outside the UK to comply with changes they are asked to make to security features.
How controversial is this? 4/5: Technology companies have strongly opposed the move, with Apple earlier this year saying it would pose a “serious and direct threat” to the security of user data and give the Home Secretary unnecessary powers.
“Martin’s Law”
The speech is expected to include new legislation named after Martin Hett, one of the 21 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.
The legislation imposes obligations on persons responsible for certain places open to the public, such as: B. concert halls, to take into account the threat of terrorism and take appropriate and proportionate remedial measures.
How controversial is this? 3/5: There have been warnings that the anti-terrorism law could lead to the closure of small venues such as public halls, and critics argue that most attacks since 2010 will not be covered by the law. The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee has raised concerns about the financial implications for smaller venues.
New football controller
A football regulation and licensing system will be created as part of new legislative proposals expected to be included in the speech.
The regulator will review the finances of club owners and ensure adequate fan engagement and protection of assets such as stadiums.
How controversial is this? 1/5: Many MPs have called for the regulator’s involvement, backing calls from former sports minister Tracey Crouch, who led a review of football’s governing body in 2021.
Rental reform
This is a reform of the rental system to ensure that all homes in England and Wales are sold as freeholds in the future.
The government is expected to announce it will overhaul the lease renewal process and give tenants more control over construction and maintenance costs.
Ministers have long promised to change the controversial rental system, which charges landlords high fees.
How controversial is this? 3/5: While reform of the system is welcome, Labor doubts the changes will go far enough. Activists also called for the changes to be extended not only to houses, but also to apartments.
Autonomous transport rules
The government will introduce legislation to regulate driverless vehicles on British roads, allowing driverless vehicles to drive across the UK for the first time.
The legislation distinguishes between driverless vehicles, in which the user is at the wheel while driving, and vehicles in which the user is on the street.
A distinction is also made between vehicle features that simply support the driver, such as adaptive cruise control, and features that enable autonomous driving.
How controversial is this? 4/5: Several MPs have raised concerns about the safety risks of driverless vehicles, while the Transport Select Committee has warned the technology is at risk of cyber-attacks.
Measures in front of the car
Mr Sunak is expected to use the king’s speech to announce new car-friendly measures, including measures designed to make it harder for local authorities to introduce a 20mph speed limit or designate more low-emission zones.
It comes after widespread backlash over the expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone earlier this year.
How controversial is this? 4/5: Although a seemingly minor issue, speed limits and low emission zones have become a clear dividing line between Labor and the Conservatives. The introduction of new legislation in this area is likely to increase these tensions.
Media regulation
Under the new media law, a draft of which has already been published, newspapers will no longer have to pay legal fees for both sides in defamation and privacy cases, regardless of who wins the case.
Other measures in the bill include stricter rules for video-on-demand platforms such as Netflix, new requirements for making video-on-demand available and efforts to reduce the regulatory burden on commercial radio.
How controversial is this? 3/5: The Labor Party had previously suggested it might oppose the bill, causing consternation among senior media figures. Many media companies and newspapers support the bill.
Source: I News
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