The king’s speech may have contained 40 proposed bills, but some previously mooted ideas were missing. Here are the proposals it could have contained but did not. Votes for 16- and 17-year-olds This was in the Labour manifesto and remains a commitment, but it failed to make the cut for a first round of bills that Keir Starmer and his team wanted to be mainly focused on the economy and growth. Another reason for delay is the idea that expanding the voting system is most important before a general election, and all being well there will not be one of those for a while. There has nonetheless been speculation that it could be dropped altogether. Crackdown on overseas workers Another bill, one touted by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, would require employers to limit the use of overseas workers and promote UK staff, in part through more focus on skills training. While the king’s speech does have a “skills England bill”, the change connected to overseas staff has been delayed for now. AI bill
Among the measures predicted before the speech was one intended to improve legal safeguards connected to the most advanced AI systems, which would mimic EU efforts to legislate on the issue rather than seeking voluntary codes. However, it has not appeared. Mandatory retirement for older peers There was one Lords-related bill in the speech, finally removing the last hereditary peers from the chamber. There was, however, no mention of another way to cut numbers in the house – making all those aged 80 and above step down. This could be because the move may not need legislation. But it could be a result of a pushback from some older peers and their supporters who point out that a number of 80-plus Lords members contribute significantly, and that a better metric than age could be activity. Social care There are two elements to this subject, with their own timelines. The longer term one, about restructuring a care system every party agrees is broken, was not addressed in this king’s speech. More immediately, however, the government says it will seek to address one pressing problem, with action on improving pay for the sector within its first 100 days. Leasehold reform This did make the cut for the speech, promising an end to leasehold for new flats and measures to stop prohibitive ground rent charges. However, it will be introduced as a draft bill. These are subject to consultation before being formally introduced, which can help iron out complexities – but campaigners on leasehold may worry it could mean some measures being watered down.