What new laws can we expect to be featured in the King’s speech?
The King’s Speech, traditionally the government’s moment of clarity and reset, will proceed amid deep political uncertainty, in stark contrast to its original intention to shore up support for Sir Keir Starmer following recent election setbacks.
The speech, which outlines the government’s plans for new legislation and aims to set a clear policy direction, becomes even more important as the Prime Minister’s position is at risk and the number of Labor MPs grows larger.
Following a parliamentary session where key manifesto promises such as the Tenants’ Rights Bill, the Employment Rights Bill and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill were delivered, this speech will now outline long-term government objectives. Below is a summary of potential new legislation for the 2026-27 session, compiled from ministerial statements, government publications and media reports.
– Bills submitted in draft form before being officially presented to the Parliament,
Two draft laws were published in the last session of the parliament.
The draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, which includes a commitment to introduce mandatory reporting on ethnicity and disability pay gaps for major employers, was included in the King’s Speech in 2024.
The Government’s response to consultations on the Bill in March stated that 87% of respondents supported mandatory reporting in this context.
The draft Tenancy and Tenure Reform Bill represents the Government’s planned approach to its manifesto commitment to “end the feudal tenancy system”.
The draft bill includes a rent ban for new apartments and an upper limit on annual land rents.
– Which of the other bills in the 2024 King’s Speech were not introduced?
The government had planned to introduce the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill in the last parliamentary session to “simplify the UK’s fragmented support environment for businesses and investors”.
According to the government briefing, this approach would bring together different bodies under the wealth fund and put it on a legal basis.
Rachel Reeves later announced that the existing statutory body, the UK infrastructure bank, would become a wealth fund with expanded remittances and financing.
The Treasury said the Government would legislate “as soon as parliamentary time permits” to ensure the transition.
– Were there other bills announced in the 2024 King’s Speech that did not progress?
The King’s Speech included the Government’s commitment to publish two more pieces of legislation in draft form.
The draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill, which was announced in the King’s Speech to include a new regulator with a wider remit, has been abandoned by the Government.
The draft Conversion Practices Bill, which would ban practices aimed at changing someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, has not yet been published.
The government said it remains committed to publishing the draft law “as soon as possible.”
– Economy-related bills will be the main focus
Sir Keir Starmer announced new legislation on Wednesday giving the Government powers to nationalize British Steel, with the power subject to a public interest test.
This means that the Government can only initiate the process if it is in the interests of national security, critical national infrastructure and the economy.
The government has already taken control of British Steel’s operations and is in talks with its current Chinese owner.
The government has promised to legislate to tackle late payments among businesses, which are said to cost the economy around £11bn a year and cause 14,000 businesses to close annually.
A new draft law focusing on the technical aspects of financial services is expected to be announced during the speech.
In October, Rachel Reeves said plans to eliminate paperwork and “arbitrary rules” for thousands of businesses in the UK would save firms around £6bn a year by the next election.
He detailed measures to reform the company merger process, drone regulations and reforms to artificial intelligence.
The Chancellor also confirmed plans to introduce simpler corporate reporting rules for more than 100,000 businesses, including removing the need for small business owners to submit lengthy director reports to Companies House.
The “Leeds reforms” that Ms Reeves announced in July promised the biggest package of regulatory changes to the financial sector in a decade.
This involved reforming the banks’ protection regime and reducing burdensome regulations in the City to reintroduce “informed risk-taking” into the financial system.
– Expectation of legislation regarding asylum and human rights
The government has expressed its broad intention to make it harder for unauthorized people to obtain residence rights in the UK.
The Home Office’s policy statement in November included proposals that would require legislation.
It is expected that legislation will be issued to restrict the use of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to respect for private and family life, applied by some immigrants who do not have the right to visa or asylum.
There may be talk of new laws that would deny more people the right to appeal and establish an independent appeals body to hear claims currently considered by judges.
– Education and health are potentially high on the agenda
High-profile proposed reforms to the support system for people with special educational needs and disabilities will require legislative change.
However, the changes are not expected to be implemented until September 2029.
The reforms include a focus on shifting the emphasis on support to greater inclusion.
A new health bill is expected in the King’s Speech following the March announcement that NHS England, which has operational responsibility for the NHS in England, would be abolished.
Many of its functions, including the commissioning of some specialist services, will be transferred to the Department of Health and Social Care.
The government is also using legislation to provide a legal framework for the reforms included in the 10-year plan.
This may include changes to the governance of local integrated care boards and NHS trusts.
– Internal affairs and justice
Various commitments and conclusions from the reviews suggest that crime and criminal justice may feature in the conversation.
A white paper published in January proposed significant changes to the structure of the police force that would require legislation.
The government is looking to reduce the number of police forces, with an independent review now assessing the makeup of new and larger regional forces.
It also aims to merge organizations, including the National Crime Agency, into the National Police Service and abolish elected police and crime commissioners.
The government’s strategy to combat violence against women and girls sets out commitments to review existing legislation alongside new measures.
Some of these have not been taken forward yet so they can be included in the conversation.
Last year the Government accepted all the recommendations made by Baroness Casey following its national review into group-based child sexual abuse.
Many of the recommendations have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented.
However, the proposal that police should be required to collect data on the nationality and ethnicity of all suspects in such cases has not yet been implemented.
– Energy and water continue to be at the top of the agenda
Due to rising bills and concerns about security of supply, Ed Miliband is expected to continue implementing the Energy Independence Act promised in the manifesto.
The government has announced an unexpected increase in taxes on electricity companies and is expected to introduce legislation that will make it easier to install electric vehicle chargers.
Legislation has been drawn up to replace water regulator Ofwat with a single agency responsible for pollution and capping household water bills.
– Other policy areas that may be mentioned
A bill is expected to be introduced aimed at accelerating the improvement of cladding on properties, following an announcement last year.
The government is expected to finalize the Representation of the People Bill to lower the voting age to 16 in general elections.
At the first joint summit between the UK Government and the EU since Brexit in May 2025, commitments were made to strengthen cooperation on a range of issues.
This included a deal to “avoid unnecessary border checks and help tackle food costs”, a Labor manifesto commitment that would require primary legislation.
Following the Lord Mandelson scandal, the Government promised legislation to remove the titles of nobility from “disgraced peers”.
There is currently no provision for the abolition of noble titles.
