Watch in full: King Charles’s speech at State Opening of Parliament

The Independent

Watch in full: King Charles addresses Parliament in first State Opening as monarchSource: Reuters

Transcript

00:00 My Lords and Members of the House of Commons,

00:07 It is mindful of a legacy of service and devotion to this country set by my beloved mother,

00:14 the late Queen, that I deliver this, the First King's Speech, in over 70 years.

00:22 The impact of Covid and the war in Ukraine have created significant long-term challenges

00:29 for the United Kingdom. That is why my Government's priority is to make the difficult but necessary

00:36 long-term decisions to change this country for the better.

00:42 My Minister's focus is on increasing economic growth and safeguarding the health and security

00:50 of the British people for generations to come.

00:55 My Government will continue to take action to bring down inflation, to ease the cost

01:01 of living for families and help businesses fund new jobs and investments.

01:09 My Ministers will support the Bank of England to return inflation to target by taking responsible

01:16 decisions on spending and borrowing. These decisions will help household finances, reduce

01:24 public sector debt and safeguard the financial security of the country.

01:32 Legislation will be introduced to strengthen the United Kingdom's energy security and

01:37 reduce reliance on volatile international energy markets and hostile foreign regimes.

01:46 This Bill will support the future licensing of new oil and gas fields, helping the country

01:54 to transition to net zero by 2050 without adding undue burdens on households.

02:03 Alongside this, my Ministers will seek to attract record levels of investment in renewable

02:09 energy sources and reform grid connections, building on the United Kingdom's track record

02:16 of decarbonising faster than other G7 economies.

02:22 My Government will invest in Network North to deliver faster and more reliable journeys

02:29 between and within the cities and towns of the North and Midlands, prioritising improving

02:36 the journeys that people make most often.

02:42 My Ministers will strengthen education for the long term. Steps will be taken to ensure

02:48 young people have the knowledge and skills to succeed, through the introduction of the

02:55 Advanced British Standard that will bring technical and academic routes into a single

03:01 qualification.

03:03 Proposals will be implemented to reduce the number of young people studying poor-quality

03:09 university degrees and increase the number undertaking high-quality apprenticeships.

03:18 My Ministers will take steps to make the economy more competitive, taking advantage of freedoms

03:25 afforded by the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union.

03:31 A Bill will be brought forward to promote trade and investment with economies in the

03:37 fastest-growing region in the world.

03:41 My Ministers will continue to negotiate trade agreements with dynamic economies, delivering

03:47 jobs and growth in the United Kingdom.

03:53 My Ministers will introduce new legal frameworks to support the safe commercial development

03:59 of emerging industries, such as self-driving vehicles; introduce new competition rules

04:06 for digital markets; and encourage innovation in technologies such as machine learning.

04:15 Legislation will be brought forward to support the creative industries and protect public

04:21 interest journalism.

04:24 Proposals will be published to reform welfare and support more people into work.

04:32 My Government will promote the integrity of the Union and strengthen the social fabric

04:38 of the United Kingdom.

04:42 Working with NHS England, my Government will deliver its plans to cut waiting lists and

04:48 transform the long-term workforce of the National Health Service.

04:54 This will include delivering on the NHS Workforce Plan, the first long-term plan to train the

05:01 doctors and nurses the country needs, and minimum service levels to prevent strikes

05:08 from undermining patient safety.

05:12 Record levels of investment are expanding and transforming mental health services to

05:19 ensure more people can access the support they need.

05:25 My Government will introduce legislation to create a smoke-free generation by restricting

05:31 the sale of tobacco so that children currently aged 14 or younger can never be sold cigarettes,

05:41 and restricting the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes to children.

05:48 My Ministers will bring forward a Bill to reform the housing market by making it cheaper

05:53 and easier for leaseholders to purchase their freehold and tackling the exploitation of

06:00 millions of homeowners through punitive service charges.

06:06 Renters will benefit from stronger security of tenure and better value, while landlords

06:13 will benefit from reforms to provide certainty that they can regain their properties when

06:20 needed.

06:23 My Government will deliver a long-term plan to regenerate towns and put local people in

06:29 control of their future.

06:34 Legislation will be brought forward to safeguard the future of football clubs for the benefit

06:39 of communities and fans.

06:43 A Bill will be introduced to deal with the scourge of unlicensed pedicabs in London.

06:52 My Government is committed to tackling anti-Semitism and ensuring that the Holocaust is never forgotten.

07:01 A Bill will progress the construction of a National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre

07:08 in Victoria Tower Gardens.

07:12 My Government will act to keep communities safe from crime, anti-social behaviour, terrorism

07:20 and illegal migration.

07:24 A Bill will be brought forward to ensure tougher sentences for the most serious offenders and

07:31 increase the confidence of victims.

07:34 My Ministers will introduce legislation to empower police forces and the criminal justice

07:41 system to prevent new or complex crimes, such as digital-enabled crime and child sexual

07:49 abuse, including grooming.

07:54 At a time when threats to national security are changing rapidly due to new technology,

08:02 my Ministers will give the security and intelligence services the powers they need and will strengthen

08:08 independent judicial oversight.

08:13 Legislation will be introduced to protect public premises from terrorism in light of

08:19 the Manchester Arena attack.

08:23 My Government will deliver on the Illegal Migration Act passed earlier this year and

08:30 on international agreements to stop dangerous and illegal channel crossings and ensure it

08:36 is the Government, not criminal gangs, who decides who comes to this country.

08:44 My Government will continue to champion security around the world, to invest in our gallant

08:50 armed forces and to support veterans to whom so much is owed.

08:57 My Ministers will work closely with international partners to support Ukraine, strengthen NATO

09:05 and address the most pressing security challenges.

09:10 This includes the consequences of the barbaric acts of terrorism against the people of Israel,

09:17 facilitating humanitarian support into Gaza and supporting the cause of peace and stability

09:24 in the Middle East.

09:28 My Government will continue to lead action on tackling climate change and biodiversity

09:35 loss, support developing countries with their energy of transition and hold other countries

09:43 to their environmental commitments.

09:49 The United Kingdom will continue to lead international discussions to ensure that artificial intelligence

09:58 is developed safely.

10:01 My Government will host the Global Investment Summit, the European Political Community and

10:08 the Energy Conference, leading global conversations on the United Kingdom's most pressing challenges.

10:17 I look forward to welcoming His Excellency the President of the Republic of Korea and

10:23 Mrs Kim Kye-on-hee for a state visit later this month.

10:31 My Government will, in all respects, seek to make long-term decisions in the interests

10:38 of future generations.

10:41 My Ministers will address inflation and the drivers of low growth over demands for greater

10:47 spending or borrowing.

10:50 My Ministers will put the security of communities and the nation ahead of the rights of those

10:55 who endanger it.

10:59 By taking these long-term decisions, my Government will change this country and build a better

11:04 future.

11:08 Members of the House of Commons, estimates for the public services will be laid before

11:14 you.

11:16 My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, other measures will be laid before you.

11:24 I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

11:30 Thank you.

11:46 (Applause.)

12:03 (The bill is signed.)

12:30 (Applause.)

12:50 (The bill is signed.)

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