Luton South and South Bedfordshire MP Rachel Hopkins has said that the King’s Speech, which laid out in Parliament proposed new laws to reform housing, transport and workers’ rights will “deliver real change” for Lutonians.
The former local councillor was returned to her seat, along with Luton North MP Sarah Owen, after the general election almost a fortnight ago, as Labour swept into power with a landslide victory.
The King’s Speech is part of the State Opening of Parliament ceremony, and marks the start of the parliamentary year, setting out the new Labour government’s priorities for the months ahead.
The legislation set out at the King’s Speech included plans for over 35 bills and draft bills, which will include new laws to deliver Labour’s manifesto commitments.
New laws tabled in the King’s Speech include:
- A Football Governance Bill to be introduced to establish an independent football regulator to ensure greater sustainability in the game and strengthen protections for fans.
- Planning and Infrastructure Bill which will build the new homes required to make housing more affordable and the infrastructure to support sustained economic growth.
- Passenger Railways Service and Railways Bills to bring rail services back into public ownership to make railways reliable, affordable and accessible.
- Great British Energy Bill to make the country energy independent and ensure British taxpayers, bill payers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy and lower bills for families.
- Crime and Policing Bill (England and Wales) which will put neighbourhood police and Police Community Support Officers back on the beat.
- Better Buses Bill will introduce new powers for local leaders to take control of bus services.
- Employment Rights Bill will ban zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire, alongside ensuring rights to sick pay and parental leave from day one of employment.
- Renters’ Rights Bill which will put renters’ rights reform back on the agenda, including banning Section 21 evictions.
There will also be a Budget Responsibility Bill to ensure that the mistakes of former Prime Minister Liz Truss’ ‘mini budget’ cannot be repeated, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) able to scrutinise Government plans.
After the King’s Speech, Ms Hopkins MP, said: “Over the past 14 years, people and their communities have been held back and their hard work not rewarded.
“Today’s new laws set out a strong agenda for our country, creating wealth in communities like ours, making people better off and committing to deliver the real change the people of Luton South and South Bedfordshire need.
“Now is the time to take the brakes off Britain, I am pleased to be part of a government committed to uniting the country in the shared mission of national renewal.
“I look forward to being part of driving these new laws through Parliament and delivering positive change for Luton South & South Bedfordshire.”
