Post: Government sets out plans in state opening of parliament

Government sets out plans in state opening of parliament

At the state opening of parliament on 17 July a package of more than 35 bills was announced to “unlock growth and improve living standards” and based upon the principles of “security, fairness and opportunity for all”.

One of Labour’s “five missions” set out in its manifesto for the 2024 general election was to make the UK “a clean energy superpower”. Labour has committed to decarbonising the UK’s electricity system by the end of the decade, a step which it said would bring the UK closer to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It also said its plans for the clean energy transition would lead to lower household energy bills, deliver energy security and create 650,000 jobs across the UK by 2030.

Ahead of the King’s Speech Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “now is the time to take the brakes off Britain […] Today’s new laws will take back control and lay the foundations of real change”.

For the energy sector, it was announced that the government is committed to a “clean energy transition”. To facilitate this, it was announced that:

• a bill will be introduced to set up a new publicly owned power company, Great British Energy,  headquartered in Scotland, which will help accelerate investment in renewable energy
• legislation will be brought forward to help the country achieve energy independence
• introduction of an English Devolution Bill that will “give new powers” to metro mayors and combined authorities to help “support local growth plans”
• ministers “will get Britain building” as they work to “accelerate” the delivery of “high-quality infrastructure”
• ministers will also pursue “sustainable growth […] by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies”