King Charles has set out the government’s legislative programme for the coming parliamentary session in his first State Opening of Parliament as Monarch. The King’s Speech featured 20 bills and one draft bill, including some which have been carried over from the last session to complete their passage in the next. From oil and gas, to the eventual ban of cigarettes, we look at the five main takeaways from what could be the last King’s Speech before a general election. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00 The annual state opening of Parliament. Centuries of political and royal tradition, but taking place in 2023 with a new monarch and a new prime minister.
00:11 Charles III left Buckingham Palace this morning for his first address in the House of Lords as Sovereign.
00:18 After decades of the Queen's Speech, today was the first King's Speech since George VI in 1950.
00:25 Then from Buckingham Palace, attended by a Sovereign's Escort, the King and Queen, wearing full state robes, drove in the Irish coach to open the new Parliament.
00:35 Spectacle and pageantry provide much of the attraction of the state opening of Parliament.
00:40 But politics were not in people's minds at this moment. They were there to see and to cheer.
00:45 But this year's King's Speech is widely expected to be the last before the next general election.
00:51 An early glimpse then at the Conservative Party's manifesto.
00:55 Does the King's Speech address the real issues, Prime Minister?
00:58 21 new laws would be announced in Rishi Sunak's first state opening of Parliament.
01:03 My Lords, pray be seated.
01:06 Here are the five key takeaways from an historic King's Speech.
01:11 Number one. Energy.
01:13 The government is looking to the North Sea for its oil and gas supply in a bid to reduce the UK's dependency on foreign regimes for energy.
01:22 After the war between Russia and Ukraine drove up the cost of oil and gas.
01:27 For the King, a long-standing environmentalist, this was perhaps the most difficult announcement to make.
01:34 This bill will support the future licensing of new oil and gas fields,
01:41 helping the country to transition to net zero by 2050 without adding undue burdens on households.
01:49 Number two. Law and order.
01:52 A bill will be brought forward to ensure tougher sentences for the most serious offenders and increase the confidence of victims.
02:01 The sentencing bill will see whole life orders handed down in the worst cases of murder,
02:07 and ensure serious sexual offenders are not released early on licence.
02:11 A new criminal justice bill will include measures to make serious offenders appear in the dark to face their victims for sentencing.
02:20 Number three. Rail.
02:22 My government will invest in Network North to deliver faster and more reliable journeys between and within the cities and towns of the North and Midlands.
02:35 After controversially scrapping the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2,
02:40 the government says it wants £36 billion, originally ring-fenced for the high-speed rail line, to be spent on journeys that people make most often.
02:50 Number four. Education.
02:53 Steps will be taken to ensure young people have the knowledge and skills to succeed,
02:59 through the introduction of the advanced British standard that will bring technical and academic routes into a single qualification.
03:08 The advanced British standard is intended to replace A-levels, requiring 16 to 18-year-olds to study five subjects, one of which must be maths.
03:19 The government says it wants to reduce the number of young people studying poor-quality degrees,
03:24 and increase the number taking high-quality apprenticeships.
03:28 Number five. Smoking.
03:30 My government will introduce legislation to create a smoke-free generation by restricting the sale of tobacco,
03:39 so that children currently aged 14 or younger can never be sold cigarettes,
03:46 and restricting the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes to children.
03:51 This legislation means anyone born on or after January 1st, 2009 will never be able to buy cigarettes in England in their lifetime,
04:01 as the legal smoking age will be raised by one year every year.
04:05 The government says the move could see smoking phased out completely among young people by 2040.
04:11 I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.
04:18 For many of the MPs gathered in the Upper House today, this will be their last King's Speech.
04:24 Rishi Sunak will be hoping that it will not be his last as Prime Minister.