Today was Sir Keir Starmer’s first King’s Speech since coming to power earlier this month.
Throughout the election, The Labour Party put forward a lot of health and safety linked proposals in their manifesto, but which ones will take priority? Which ones were mentioned by His Majesty today and will likely become law in their first year of Government? And are there any that are new, not mentioned prior to the election?
The speech includes the following :
A partnership between business and working people
The establishment of the Industrial Strategy Council
There will be investment in industry, skills and new technology
There will be a new deal for working people, including employment rights and “to ban exploitative practices”
Martyn’s Law will be enacted. This law, named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the Manchester Arena attack, will improve counter terrorism planning at venues and at large events.
Modernisation of the Mental Health Act to ensure the same attention is given to mental health as is given to physical health. A focus will be on young people’s mental health.
A duty of candour for public servants (Hillsborough Law) will be put in place after the poor way police and other public servants have conducted themselves with cover ups at inquiries into major disasters.
Renters' Rights Bill, which will extend a series of building safety rules for social tenants to private renters. (Awaab’s Law)
Changes to smoking laws, particularly focussing on starting a phase out over numerous years and changes in vaping laws.
There was no direct mention of many manifesto pledges, for example the introduction of a maximum working temperature.
We will have to wait for the derail of each Bill when it is announced. There were no real surprises but the real decisions will come in the Autumn when the Budget is announced.