King's Speech LIVE: Richard Tice lists five ways you will be 'poorer' under Labour's plan

Responding to Liz Truss' swipe to today's Labour King's Speech, her Labour successor who defeated her a fortnight ago joked that constituents should raise issues via email, not Twitter.

Terry Jermy, who won by a tiny 630 at the election, said: "I’ve really enjoyed receiving hundreds of messages from local residents since 4th July, but can I remind them, including Ms Truss, that should they wish for their Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk to be aware of their views, they need to go through the office".

A Bill to bring train operation into public ownership has been described by private rail companies as a "political not a practical solution".

Rail Partners, which represents private sector train operators, said legislation announced in the King's Speech will "increase costs".

The Railways Bill will ensure that appointing a public sector train operator as existing contracts expire will be the default position rather than a last resort.

The Government said this will avoid the need to pay compensation to current operators and will save taxpayers millions of pounds each year that are paid out in fees to private train companies.

It added that the first contracts will be brought into public ownership as soon as possible once the legislation is in place.

Reform UK leader and Clacton MP Nigel Farage said on X: "Labour’s King’s Speech is just more big state with the assumption that government can create wealth."

Gender crititical campaign group Sex Matters warned a ban on conversion therapy confirmed in the King's Speech could do "more harm than good".

CEO Maya Forstater said: "A ban on so-called 'trans-inclusive conversion therapy' could be a Trojan Horse, harming the very children it seeks to protect. Rather than promising to move ahead with it, the government should have first ensured it was necessary and could be passed without doing more harm than good.

"But we are glad it has stood firm against pressure from Stonewall for a 'no delays and no loopholes' approach and will instead move carefully by publishing draft legislation for consultation.

"What activists seeking to ban what they call 'conversion therapy' truly want is a law that threatens therapists with criminal investigation for providing ethical, evidence-based care for gender-distressed children. Any such law would run counter to the approach recommended by Dr Hilary Cass.

"The studies the government cited as evidence that conversion therapy happens in the UK have been widely debunked. They are methodologically flawed and label ordinary occurrences, such as a doctor exploring a trans-identifying person’s mental-health issues or a friend or family member expressing disapproval, as 'conversion therapy'."

Conservative Environment Network director Sam Hall said: “Environmentalists should welcome the ambitions of the new government to decarbonise further. Indeed, pro-growth planning reforms for clean energy are a welcome removal of state-imposed barriers to private enterprise.

"But the Labour government risks taking a more expensive route to net zero with some of the ‘big state’ legislation, potentially undermining long-term support for climate action.

“Conservative governments delivered the fastest decarbonisation in the G7 by unlocking private investment. But GB Energy risks crowding out private capital, wasting taxpayers’ money, and duplicating existing government bodies. Market-based solutions - such as competitive auctions, private investment in the grid, and a liberalised planning regime - would get clean energy built at lower cost."

Liz Truss has slammed the King's Speech as proof "Labour has no idea about the change Britain needs".

"Instead it expands the power of the unelected state and increases red tape on families and businesses."

She listed the policies she argues are "bad", including:

- Giving more powers to the failed OBR

- Reintroducing Stalinist housing targets rather than a zoning system

- More Government involvement in rail and energy, driving up costs

- A conversion therapy ban which will be misused by gender ideologues

- A counterproductive and unconservative smoking ban

She concludes: "The result of these policies will be further economic stagnation and cultural decline".

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: "Keir Starmer has failed his first test in government. This timid legislative programme is a missed opportunity that failed to deliver the change that people in Scotland were promised.

"People in Scotland voted for clear and substantial change at Westminster, and the Labour Government was handed a huge mandate to deliver it, so it's bitterly disappointing that they have thrown that opportunity away.

"While some of the small measures announced are welcome, they fail to deal with the major challenges facing the UK. There was no plan to eradicate child poverty, no plan to tackle the cost of living and no plan to end Tory austerity and boost NHS funding.

"And with no plan to reverse the damage of Brexit or properly invest in green energy - Starmer is restricting the potential for strong growth in the economy, wages and living standards.

"For Scotland, there was no plan to deliver the maximum devolution that Labour promised during the independence referendum and, despite promising to abolish the House of Lords for more than a century, they are only planning to tinker around the edges.

"The SNP will work with the Labour Government, wherever possible, to deliver the best outcomes for Scotland - but where that change isn't forthcoming we will hold them to account."

Responding to the King’s Speech, John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance pressure group, said: "Taxpayers will be deeply disappointed by a legislative programme that fiddles with everything while fixing nothing.

“With frontline services on their knees and the tax burden heading to a record high, Brits were expecting bold measures to deal with the genuine crises at the government’s door. Yet despite positive promises on planning, this agenda is dominated by low-priority issues and nakedly disastrous proposals, from a race equality bill to banning smoking, a football regulator and VAT on private schools.

“The government should ditch the vacuous virtue signalling and focus on improving frontline services."

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "After years of crisis and chaos under the Conservative Party, it is clear our country faces enormous challenges. The Liberal Democrats will carefully scrutinise the Government’s plans, striving hard to stand up for our constituents.

“We will continue campaigning to fix the NHS, boosting GP numbers, tackling delays to cancer treatment and improving access to dentists and pharmacists.

“We will make sure the voice of carers is heard, from increasing the Carer’s Allowance to the big challenge of fixing social care – so that our loved ones can get the support they need.”

From the throne in the House of Lords, King Charles III delivered the first speech setting out the plans of a Labour government in more than 15 years

Watched over by peers in their scarlet robes and smartened up MPs, he outlined the main bills that will be introduced in the first years of the Starmer era.

In the course of just 13 minutes, he talked about bus service reform, junk food advertising, the economy, workers rights and much more.

In all there are 40 new bills that will set the tone for the Labour government.

There were no surprises in the speech, which stuck to the themes in the manifesto on which the government was elected just a couple of weeks ago.

But Sir Keir is at his most powerful now and make no mistake, he is using it to his full advantage.

Under Labour, trust will be restored and real change will be delivered was the key message.

But the devil is in the detail and Sir Keir’s radical plans, which were kept deliberately vague during the election campaign, may well leave voters feeling as powerless and as frustrated as they ever were.

Protesters could be heard chanting "Not my King" to His Majesty as he left Parliament.

Activists from Republic held up yellow banners and placards outside the Treasury as Charles passed in a carriage through Whitehall.

Members of the public could be heard clapping and cheering the King on the other side of the road as he came through in a carriage with the Queen.

Labour has unveiled its legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary session.

It is the first King's Speech under a Labour Government for 14 years.

In all, the chunky package features 40 pieces of proposed legislation.

Here the Express looks at what was announced in the King's Speech.

The King and Queen are heading back to Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage following the State Opening of Parliament.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Rishi Sunak were pictured laughing together after returning to the Commons.

The King and Queen have departed from the Lords chamber after a speech that lasted around 12 minutes and 45 seconds.

Meanwhile, MPs have returned to the Commons chamber with Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak deep in conversation.

They were later joined by their deputies - Labour's Angela Rayner and Tory Sir Oliver Dowden - for the chat.

The Commons sitting will resume this afternoon for the remaining MPs to swear in and the first day of debate on the King's Speech.

On the Middle East, the King said the Government was committed to a two-state solution "with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state".

He also reiterated the Government's support for Ukraine and Nato in a section on foreign policy.

The King said: "My Government will seek to reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom's trade and investment relationship with the European Union.

"My Ministers will seek a new security pact to strengthen co-operation on the mutual threats faced by the United Kingdom and the European Union."

The King confirmed the Goverment will seek to remove the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords, while in the Commons he said a modernisation committee would be tasked with "driving up standards" and improving working practices.

The Government will go ahead with plans to "begin the process of repealing and replacing" the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act passed last year under the Conservatives.

The King confirmed plans set out by Labour to put VAT on private school fees.

That would "enable the funding of 6,500 new teachers", the King told the House of Lords.

He set out plans to give renters greater protection, including ending no-fault evictions.

And he also confirmed plans to introduce a football regulator and gradually phase out smoking, which were originally introduced under the Conservatives.

The King said the Government will "seek to strengthen the border and make streets safer".

"A Bill will be introduced to modernise the asylum and immigration system, establishing a new Border Security Command and delivering enhanced counter terror powers to tackle organised immigration crime," he said.

Measures would also give police greater powers to deal with antisocial behaviour.

The King said the Government would "ban exploitative practices" as part of a new package of workers' rights.

Local leaders will be given powers to take control of buses while train companies will be brought into public ownership.

The King also set out plans for a "clean energy transition" including the establishment of Great British Energy.

He also announced measures to increase the powers of the water regulator.

The "fundamental mission" of the Government will be to secure economic growth, the King said.

"My Government will seek a new partnership with both business and working people and help the country move on from the recent cost-of-living challenges by prioritising wealth creation for all communities," Charles said.

The Government will set up an industrial strategy council and will seek to achieve "rising living standards in all nations and regions in the United Kingdom".

The King added: "My ministers will get Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing.

"They will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies."

The King told MPs and peers gathered in the House of Lords: "My Government's legislative programme will be mission led and based upon the principles of security, fairness and opportunity for all.

"Stability will be the cornerstone of my Government's economic policy and every decision will be consistent with its fiscal rules."

In a measure being introduced to prevent a repeat of the Liz Truss mini-budget chaos, the Government will legislate to ensure all significant tax and spending changes are assessed by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Charles has just started reading the King's Speech in the House of Lords.

Black Rod Sarah Clarke, a senior Lords officer, arrived at the House of Commons and knocked on the door three times before being allowed to enter the chamber.

She requested MPs attend the Lords to hear the King's Speech.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle led MPs to the Lords, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer walking alongside Conservative leader Rishi Sunak. The pair chatted as they left the Commons.

Some MPs opted to stay in the Commons.

The King has entered the House of Lords chamber, along with the Queen, to deliver a speech setting out Labour's plans for this Parliament.

The royals sat down on two side-by-side thrones in front of a sea of red-robed peers, foreign dignitaries and wigged members of the judiciary.

The room is silent as Black Rod goes to summon the Commons Speaker and the MPs to the Lords chamber.

The glittering Imperial State Crown is carried in to the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords.

The King and Queen have now arrived in Parliament.

Charles will deliver the King's Speech in the Lords at 11.30am.

There are two TV screens in the House of Lords which are displaying the King’s procession towards the Palace of Westminster.

Within minutes, the King will disappear from the screen and enter the chamber.

One attendee - who is wearing a tiara glistening more than all others beside it - has brought binoculars to marvel at the Sovereign’s Throne

The King and Queen have left Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.

They were accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry as they travelled in the carriage procession to the House of Lords.

Camilla is wearing an off white silk crepe embroidered dress by Fiona Clare, George IV State Diadem, a diamond collet necklace, diamond Van Cleef and Arpels earrings and a diamond bracelet.

The King is wearing his Admiral of the Fleet Royal Naval Number 1 Dress with cap and sword.

In the Robing Robe at the House of Lords, Charles will put on the Imperial State Crown and his crimson Robe of State, which was made for his grandfather George VI's coronation in 1937.

Camilla will be dressed in her crimson Robe of State, which was made for Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, in the Robing Room.

The Crown Regalia - the Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State - has left Buckingham Palace on their way to the House of Lords.

The ancient symbols of royal authority are being ferried in a carriage, Queen Alexandra's State Coach, drawn by four Bay Horses.

The Imperial State Crown - the famous symbol of the monarchy - is a working crown and worn by the monarch at State Openings of Parliament.

It contains 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, five rubies and more than 270 pearls and weighs more than a kilogram.

Among its jewels is the Black Prince's Ruby - one of the late Queen's favourite gems - as well as the Cullinan II diamond and a large oval sapphire known as the Stuart Sapphire.

Charles also wore the priceless crown on his return journey to the palace after his coronation, but he was crowned in the 17th century golden St Edward's Crown.

Protesters from Youth Demand have been arrested in central London after police accused them of planning to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament.

The Metropolitan Police said 10 activists were arrested in Westminster on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance on Wednesday morning.

Further arrests were taking place in Victoria Embankment Gardens where up to 25 more demonstrators had gathered.

This followed a protest by the group, which is calling for action on climate change as well as an end to the sale of UK weapons to Israel, near the Cenotaph on Monday.

There is light chatter in the House of Lords ahead of the King and Queen’s arrival.

The VIPs, including diplomats, have taken their seats beside the peers.

Some are wearing traditional dress although most of the Upper Chamber is a sea of red-and-ermine robes, and there are at least eight tiaras glistening.

Sir Keir Starmer has left 10 Downing Street and is heading to Parliament ahead of the King's Speech.

The royal bodyguards, known as the Yeoman of The Guard, took part in a Ceremonial Search in the House of Lords Chamber, ahead of the State Opening of Parliament.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn says he "hopes and expects" some Labour MPs will back his party's amendment to the King's Speech calling for an end to the two-child benefit cap

Mr Flynn said he has been sounding out MPs across the House of Commons to determine their position on the SNP amendment to Sir Keir Starmer's legislative programme.

Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme, the Aberdeen South MP said there is still time for Labour to "do the right thing".

He said: "Should they choose not to act, as it appears to be the case, this no longer sits as a Tory two-child cap, it's a Labour two-child cap and voters in Scotland will need to reflect on that."

Asked if he has spoken to Labour backbenchers about the SNP amendment, he added: "I would hope and expect that some Labour members would support us in that."

Shadow House of Commons leader Chris Philp told Times Radio that the Government's plans to find what it calls "grey belt" land to build on is "shameless spin".

The Conservative MP said: "Obviously we accept and agree that more houses need to be built, but they need to be built in the right places.

"For example, in my view, they should be built on brownfield sites in city centres, those kinds of places first looking at maybe new towns, but what we should not be doing is ripping up the green belt."

He said housing should be built on brownfield sites and by building high in town and city centres - for example in Canary Wharf or the Greenwich Peninsula in London.

He said: "They are talking about huge chunks of the green belt, not the odd car park. You can't just suddenly claim that a whole load of green belt is now called the grey belt and it's okay to build on it. I mean, that's just obviously a piece of nonsensical and shameless spin."

Protesters from the anti-monarchy group Republic are set to hold a demonstration during the King's Speech.

Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said: "Our Parliament is opened by a King wearing a crown while sitting in the Lords.

"It is just weird we continue with this pantomime that celebrates the worst, least democratic aspects of our political system."

The King is to deliver the second King's Speech of his reign at the State Opening of Parliament.

Charles, fresh from a busy two-day official visit to the Channel Islands, will wear his Imperial State Crown and don royal robes for the ancient occasion full of pomp and ceremony.

His appearance comes despite his treatment for cancer during a challenging year when his daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales was also diagnosed with the disease.

It is the monarch's duty as head of state to formally open each new session of Parliament amid tradition and customs dating back centuries.

The 75-year-old sovereign will be accompanied by the Queen - who is celebrating her 77th birthday and also nursing a sprained ankle - in a carriage procession from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords.

The State Opening of Parliament and the King's Speech features lots of pomp and ceremony.

At 9.30am on Wednesday, the royal bodyguards, known as the Yeoman of The Guard, conduct a ceremonial search of the cellars of the Palace of Westminster for explosives.

This is a nod to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 in which a group of English Catholics failed to blow up the House of Lords and kill the protestant king.

An MP is also ceremonially taken hostage in Buckingham Palace while the monarch attends Parliament. This is designed to ensure the King's safe return from Parliament.

Traditionally a Government whip known as the vice-chamberlain of the household performs this task and this position is currently held by Labour's Samantha Dixon.

The King will read out a speech in the House of Lords that outlines the new Labour Government's legislative priorities for the parliamentary session following a royal procession from Buckingham Palace to Parliament.

The speech is written by the government of the day and is read out in neutral tones by the monarch. It will contain details of bills that the Government intends to introduce in the session and other policy priorities.

The length of the speech depends on how much information the Government wishes to include in it. Wednesday represents the first time such a speech has been delivered by a monarch under a Labour government in 14 years.

It is expected to include around 35 Bills with a heavy emphasis on securing economic growth, the first of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's five "missions for national renewal".

The new Government will kick off its legislative agenda today with the State Opening of Parliament and the King's Speech.

The Express has rounded up what we expect to be included.

Labour will "take the brakes off Britain" with its plans in the first King's Speech, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The new Government is set to present a "packed" legislative agenda focused on improving living standards by driving economic growth, the first of the Prime Minister's five "missions for national renewal".

The address - the first Speech from the Throne under a Labour government for 14 years - is expected to contain more than 35 Bills and draft Bills with an emphasis on improving transport, creating jobs and accelerating the building of houses and infrastructure as Labour seeks to escape Britain's recent cycle of low growth.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's State Opening of Parliament, the Prime Minister said: "Now is the time to take the brakes off Britain.

"For too long people have been held back, their paths determined by where they came from, not their talents and hard work.

"I am determined to create wealth for people up and down the country. It is the only way our country can progress, and my Government is focused on supporting that aspiration."

Good morning and welcome to our live blog. We'll be bringing you all the latest from today's State Opening of Parliament and the King's Speech.