Ahead of the speech, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the plans announced today would 鈥渢ake the brakes off Britain鈥�.
The King鈥檚 Speech marks the start of the parliamentary year and is part of the State Opening of Parliament ceremony. It allows governments to set out their priorities for the next year.
More than 35 bills and draft bills were announced with a focus on growing the economy and actioning key pledges on housebuilding, transport, and energy.
Responding to the speech, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: 鈥淚 am pleased to say we have heard this new government repeatedly state that food security is critical for national security. Now that it has set out its legislative activity for this session of parliament, we need to see a plan for food production which backs this up. With farmer confidence at an all-time low, investment in food and farming via an increased multi-annual agriculture budget is key to unlocking growth and future prosperity.
鈥淎 number of Bills included in today鈥檚 King鈥檚 Speech at the State Opening of Parliament will be significant for British farm businesses and the nation's food security, not least those relating to planning reform and infrastructure, crime and policing, mental health, skills and new technologies and renewable energy opportunities through the creation of GB Energy.
鈥淥ur farmers and growers are ambitious for the future, and with new policies that revitalise farm business confidence, government can help to kickstart economic growth, deliver affordable, climate-friendly, high welfare food production, improve the environment, and stimulate clean energy supply.
鈥淲e look forward to working in partnership with this new government to help shape the legislation that will deliver this change.鈥�
Read our summary of the key takeaways for the agricultural industry:
1. Energy and water
The government said it recognises the 鈥渦rgency of the global climate challenge鈥� adding that it is 鈥渃ommitted to a clean energy transition鈥�.
A bill for Labour鈥檚 much-trailed plans to set up GB Energy will be introduced, a publicly owned 鈥渃lean power company鈥� with its HQ in Scotland. This 鈥榳ill help accelerate investment in renewable energy such as offshore wind鈥�.
A new 鈥楳ission Control鈥� will also be launched, tasked with delivering clean power by 2030.
More legislation will also be introduced to strengthen the powers of the water regulator.
2. Workers鈥� rights
Labour鈥檚 plan to 鈥楳ake Work Pay: Delivering a New Deal for Working People鈥� formed a key part of Labour鈥檚 campaign bid.
Through the Employment Rights Bill, legislation will be introduced to strike 鈥渁 new deal for working people to ban exploitative practices and enhance employment rights鈥�.
The government will also establish 鈥楽kills England鈥� which 鈥渨ill have a new partnership with employers at its heart鈥� and it will reform the apprenticeship levy.
Through changes to the Low Pay Commission, it has said it will ensure the minimum wage is 鈥渁 genuine living wage鈥�.
3. Mental health
Last year, the now Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, confirmed that a Labour Government would introduce a bill to overhaul the Mental Health Act 1983.
The government today said it will legislate to modernise the Mental Health Act 鈥渟o it is fit for the twenty-first century鈥�.
There will be a focus on prevention and improvements to mental health provisions for young people.
4. Crime
Legislation will be brought forward to strengthen community policing, give the police greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour and strengthen support for victims.
5. Planning
Through its Planning and Infrastructure Bill the government has said it will 鈥済et Britain building鈥�, including through planning reform as it seeks to 鈥渁ccelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing鈥�.
The government will also look to encourage investment in industry, skills and new technologies in pursuit of 鈥渟ustainable growth鈥�.
6. Devolution
Devolution also featured heavily in the government鈥檚 set piece with pledges on greater powers for metro mayors and the introduction of an English Devolution Bill.
A new Council of the Nations and Regions will be established to 鈥渞enew opportunities for the Prime Minister, heads of devolved governments and mayors of combined authorities to collaborate with one another鈥�.
