You've heard the king's speech but I think a better one might run like this | David Blunkett

"My government will therefore bring forward legislation, as a matter of priority, to take powers to protect the British people from the impact of global conflict and the consequent increases in the cost of living; to reduce rising inflation and maintain living standards. To this end, my government will appoint a secretary of state for consumer protection who will be given powers to intervene, where appropriate on a temporary basis, to freeze energy bills for 12 months from 1 July, and to introduce a windfall levy on excess profits from oil and gas arising out of the closure of the strait of Hormuz in order to meet the cost of this intervention."

"Consequent on having already passed the Renters Rights Act, my government will take temporary power for the new secretary of state to retrospectively introduce rent controls for an initial 12-month period that will allow landlords to increase rents by no more than the rate of inflation based on the CPI rate in September 2025 and applying from 1 January 2026."

"My government will return to the issue of welfare reform. A sensitive and humane approach will be adopted to modernising the current system in order to prevent individuals and families falling into poverty. The reformed system will provide them with independence and self-reliance, transforming the living standards and conditions of those in greatest need, thereby devoting resources that would otherwise go into ameliorating disadvantage."

"The Milburn and Timms reviews would be implemented by my government in order to transform the lives of young men and women between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not in employment, education or training."

The government would prioritize legislation to protect people from global conflict impacts and rising cost of living, aiming to reduce inflation and maintain living standards. A secretary of state for consumer protection would be appointed with temporary powers to freeze energy bills for 12 months from 1 July. The government would introduce a windfall levy on excess oil and gas profits linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to finance the intervention. After passing the Renters Rights Act, temporary powers would allow retrospective rent controls for 12 months, limiting rent increases to the September 2025 CPI rate, effective from 1 January 2026. Welfare reform would be modernized with a sensitive and humane approach to prevent poverty and promote independence. The Milburn and Timms reviews would be implemented to improve outcomes for 16 to 24 year olds not in employment, education, or training.

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