The new British government wants to tackle problems. The “King’s Speech” is about housing, green energy and cigarettes. But the opening of Parliament is also full of bizarre traditions.
Around two weeks after the change of government in Great Britain, King Charles III opened Parliament with royal pomp. At the “State Opening of Parliament”, the monarch read out the government programme of the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The 61-year-old is the first head of government from the social democratic Labour Party in 14 years.
In the King’s Speech, a whole series of legislative initiatives were announced with which Starmer wants to tackle problems such as the housing shortage, problems with unreliable rail operators and long waiting times in hospitals. A rapprochement with the EU is also on the agenda.
“Stability will be the cornerstone of my government’s economic policy,” King Charles read from the programme, which includes more than 35 laws. Economic growth is the “fundamental mission”. The message behind it is that there should be no more financial crises like the one triggered by the tax cuts announced by Starmer’s predecessor Liz Truss.
“State Opening” follows centuries-old rules
The 75-year-old King and his wife, Queen Camilla, who celebrated her 77th birthday on Wednesday, had previously arrived with great pomp in a carriage procession from Buckingham Palace. The “State Opening” is one of the most important dates in the royal and political calendar and follows centuries-old rules. The King wears the Imperial State Crown.
Many onlookers gathered in front of Parliament, as well as royal opponents from the Republic group, who are calling for the abolition of the monarchy.
The legislative initiatives announced by the government also include a reform of planning law. This is intended to simplify the construction of residential properties and large-scale projects. Railway operators are to be gradually transferred to state ownership and more powers are to be given to local authorities. Labour wants to strengthen the rights of employees and tenants. With a new border protection command, Starmer wants to tackle gangs of people smugglers who do not smuggle migrants across the English Channel in boats.
Gradual tobacco ban to come after all
The monarch is strictly politically neutral in Great Britain, even if he acts as the mouthpiece of the government during the “King’s Speech”. Nevertheless, the environmentally conscious Charles would have found it easy to utter the words: “My government recognises the urgency of the global climate challenge (…)”.
A new state-owned company called GB Energy is intended to make investments in renewable energy more attractive. More powers for the water supplier regulator are intended to put an end to the increasing pollution of rivers and coasts. People in Great Britain are repeatedly demonstrating against the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea, for example.
Starmer is taking over plans from the previous government for a new football regulatory authority and a gradual ban on tobacco. The minimum age for purchasing tobacco products is to continue to rise in the coming years, meaning that younger generations will no longer be able to smoke legally. There is unlikely to be any opposition from the now conservative opposition led by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but there will be opposition to the plan to abolish the VAT exemption for private schools.
Tradition recalls the “Gunpowder Plot”
One of the curious rituals surrounding the “State Opening” is that guards descend into the basement of the House of Lords with lamps to see if anyone has hidden gunpowder there. This is reminiscent of the “Gunpowder Plot” of the Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes, who is said to have tried to blow up the Protestant King Charles I at the “State Opening” in 1605.
Envoy gets door slammed in his face
Equally strange is the tradition of a member of parliament being taken hostage by the palace during the ceremony in order to secure the monarch’s return from the domain of the people’s representatives.
To emphasise Parliament’s independence from the monarchy, the head of the guard in the House of Lords, known as the “Black Rod”, has the door to the House of Commons slammed in her face when she goes over to call the MPs into the upper chamber. She is only allowed in after knocking three times.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
