Wednesday’s King’s speech will introduce ‘more than 35 bills’, the government revealed in an unusual preview today. The number compares with the 21 measures announced in Rishi Sunak’s legislative programme last November. 

According to the announcement, the government will ’use its mandate for change to put economic growth at the heart of its legislative agenda’. Legislation will include 'a bill to enforce tough new spending rules, designed to ensure economic growth, while avoiding the chaos which left families with spiralling bills and wreaked misery on people’s lives'.    

Other measures expected include planning law reforms to encourage the building of houses and infrastructure. An artificial intelligence bill, along the lines of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, is also expected to be in the programme. Employment law reforms are likely to crack down on zero-hour contracts and ‘fire and rehire’ practices. 

With the exception of the creation of a new ‘border security command’, the government does not appear to be heavily trailing measures to do with crime and justice. However a crime and policing bill is expected to crack down on the possession of dangerous knives,

Keir Starmer, prime minister, said: 'From energy, to planning, to unbreakable fiscal rules, my government is serious about delivering the stability that is going to turbo charge growth that will create wealth in every corner of the UK.'

 

This article is now closed for comment.