In a first since 1951, King to preside over opening of Britain Parliament
LONDON, Nov 6: For the first time since 1951, Parliament is being opened with a King’s Speech rather than a Queen’s Speech. Elizabeth delivered 67 speeches during her 70-year reign, missing the occasion twice when she was pregnant and when she delegated Charles to read the one in May 2022 on her behalf.
As Britain’s head of state, Charles III reigns but does not rule. Monarchs are constitutionally obliged to follow the government’s advice as they carry out ceremonial duties such as opening Parliament and appointing new prime ministers.
It was always impossible to tell whether the queen approved of the policies she announced on behalf of “my government.” Observers will be watching to see whether Charles, who freely shared his views, especially on the environment, before he took the throne – will be equally inscrutable.
This is almost certainly the last session of Parliament before a general election next year, and the speech will give clues to how the Conservatives plan to campaign.
Details released in advance suggest a strong focus on law and order. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government intends to pass laws that “strengthen our society, help people feel safer in their own communities and give a sense of pride in the place they call home”.
There are likely to be tougher sentences for some offenses, and Home Secretary Suella Braverman has suggested the government could ban homeless people from sleeping in tents on city streets when those pose a nuisance.
There is likely to be legislation to enact Sunak’s plan to stop new generations from smoking by gradually raising the minimum age for buying tobacco.
Several bills will be carried over from the last session, including one to bolster protection for renters and a contentious plan to ban public bodies from imposing “politically motivated boycotts of foreign countries” – a law aimed at stopping boycotts of Israel.
The government also plans to continue the watering-down of environmental measures started by Sunak when he lifted a moratorium on North Sea oil and gas extraction in July.
It says the speech will include plans for a law requiring new oil and gas drilling licenses in the North Sea to be awarded every year. The government argues that would cut Britain’s reliance on foreign fuel and increase energy security.
Environmentalists and opposition parties say it will just make it harder for the UK to make a much-needed switch to renewable energy and to meet its goal of reducing UK greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. (AP)
