2024 King’s Speech Roundup

• The King set out the UK government’s legislative priorities to lawmakers.
• The King’s Speech included several bills on employment and justice, including an Employment Rights Bill and Crime and Policing Bill.
• Comments from the Growth Company’s Managing Director for Employment, Michelle Leeson, and Director for Justice, Dave McDonald.

King Charles III outlined the new Labour government’s legislative agenda to a joint session of Parliament on Wednesday.

The King’s Speech contained 40 proposed bills, including ones related to state investment (i.e., National Wealth Fund Bill), energy (i.e., Great British Energy Bill), housing and infrastructure (i.e., Planning and Infrastructure Bill), health (i.e., Mental Health Bill), and devolution (i.e., English Devolution Bill).

It also included several policies that could have significant implications for employment (i.e., Employment Rights Bill, Skills England Bill, and the Draft Equality – Race and Disability – Bill) and criminal justice (i.e., Crime and Policing Bill).

The King’s address came less than a week after the government announced measures to tackle overcrowding in prisons, including plans to hire 1,000 additional probation officers and develop a 10-year capacity strategy.

Responding to the speech, Michelle Leeson, the Growth Company’s Managing Director for Employment, said: “The latest ONS figures show that an increasing number of people in the UK are classed as economically inactive.

“While there are several complex reasons behind this trend, we know from our work in the North of England that many people face significant barriers to work, including chronic ill health and a lack of relevant skills.

“It is therefore crucial that we all make a concerted effort to identify these barriers and provide targeted support to those who they affect.

“Some of the measures announced in today's King's Speech do just that. We look forward to working with the government and other stakeholders to help those who need it the most.”

Dave McDonald, the Growth Company’s Director for Justice, added: “The appointment of James Timpson as the new Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation suggests that the government is determined to cut reoffending and reduce overcrowding in jails.

“We are also committed to this agenda. By providing support to help people move away from a life of crime, we can play a part in stopping the ‘revolving door’, which results in many offenders returning to prison soon after release.

“If implemented correctly, such a strategy can, in the long run, tackle overcrowding and ensure that people in custody receive more effective resettlement assistance and rehabilitation support.”

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a mission to generate growth, create jobs, and improve lives.

We help people and businesses across the UK to develop, grow and succeed through a range of employment, skills and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire and Humber.

Contact us today to find out more.