King Charles III will on Tuesday set out a highly political package of legislation that Rishi Sunak hopes will shape the next election, including bills on tougher sentencing, oil drilling in the North Sea, and encryption measures that put the government at odds with technology companies.
Separately, the prime minister will lay regulations to set out minimum service levels for critical sectors, including railways on strike days. Sunak claimed the measures would help stop rail unions ruining Christmas.
The King’s Speech, the first delivered by a male monarch for more than 70 years, marks the start of the final session of parliament before the next election and is an attempt by Sunak to sharpen the political divide between his Conservative party and Labour.