Starmer sets out changes to education, health and courts in king's speech

"Wednesday's king's speech included bills to abolish NHS England, overhaul the provision of special educational needs teaching, limit trials by jury, introduce digital ID and end the leasehold system in England and Wales. It also includes measures to make it harder for migrants to gain settled status in the UK, which lie at the centre of the home secretary Shabana Mahmood's immigration changes, but which could trigger a backlash from Labour MPs."

"The prime minister unveiled his legislative programme for the next parliamentry session on Wednesday, a moment he hopes will persuade wavering Labour MPs he should remain in office. Wednesday's king's speech included bills to abolish NHS England, overhaul the provision of special educational needs teaching, limit trials by jury, introduce digital ID and end the leasehold system in England and Wales."

"In a written introduction to the king's speech, Starmer said: For two decades our country has been buffeted by crisis after crisis: the 2008 financial crash, the Tory austerity that followed it, Brexit, Covid and the Ukraine war. The response in each case was always a desperate attempt to get back to a status quo. Even though that same status quo had repeatedly made working people pay the price."

"This time must be different. And this king's speech shows it will be different, with a plan to make the country stronger and fairer. Keir Starmer walks through the House of Commons with the Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch (obscured), to attend the state opening of parliament."

A legislative programme for the next parliamentary session places education, health, courts, and immigration at the centre of the agenda. Bills include abolishing NHS England, overhauling special educational needs teaching provision, limiting trials by jury, introducing digital ID, and ending the leasehold system in England and Wales. Measures also aim to make it harder for migrants to gain settled status in the UK, aligning with immigration changes associated with the home secretary. The programme is presented as a break from repeated cycles of crisis management that previously restored an unfair status quo. The prime minister frames the plan as stronger and fairer, seeking to persuade wavering Labour MPs to support him staying in office.

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