Sectors
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Specialisms
Rarely has a set piece political moment, such as today’s King’s Speech, been so overshadowed by political intrigue swirling around Westminster.
The King’s Speech was framed as a “reset” that will remove barriers to growth and strengthen the economy, energy, defence and national security. Thirty seven bills were introduced across planning, infrastructure, energy independence, technology, regulation and immigration reform.
And yet, the only question on anyone’s mind as the King arrived in Parliament was: will the Prime Minister have the opportunity to deliver this programme?
Following a damaging set of local election results, ministerial resignations and growing calls within the Labour Party for a leadership transition, Sir Keir Starmer faces the fight for his political life.
For policy, public affairs and communications professionals, the key question is how to respond to a legislative programme delivered in such turbulent and febrile political times? And will the programme survive an imminent change in leadership?
But firstly, what was announced?
Energy, infrastructure, defence, technology, transport and regulated utilities were central to the Speech, and will form the cornerstone of this year’s legislative programme. The Government has positioned them not simply as growth sectors, but as strategically important to national resilience and political delivery.
The proposed Energy Independence Bill is intended to accelerate investment in renewables, nuclear power and grid reform. Controversially the legislation will ban new North Sea drilling licences, formalising what is already Government policy.
Government has also committed to legislation supporting airport expansion, major transport projects including Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Lower Thames Crossing, and further planning reform to speed up nationally significant infrastructure delivery.
Technology, cyber security and regulated industries remain high on the political agenda.
The Speech included commitments to carry over cyber resilience legislation from the last parliament, and further digital modernisation measures including Digital ID infrastructure.
These point to a business environment in which government is seeking both faster innovation and tighter strategic oversight. Companies operating in AI, digital services, data infrastructure, telecoms, defence technology and critical national infrastructure should expect greater engagement and expectations from government, but also closer scrutiny around resilience, compliance and public trust.
Businesses should prepare for an operating environment that is increasingly shaped by political reactions.
Governments under pressure often move faster, intervene more directly and become increasingly sensitive to public perceptions around pricing, employment, tax, and investment.
The immediate challenge for business will be understanding not only what is in the legislative programme, but how the government’s political vulnerability shapes policymaking over the coming months.
Businesses that can demonstrate alignment with the Government’s potentially shifting priorities, particularly around kickstarting economic growth, making Britain a clean energy superpower and breaking down barriers to opportunity, are more likely to exert meaningful influence over policymakers.
It’s critical that businesses potentially impacted by legislation engage around it as early as possible. And yet in such a febrile political atmosphere, it might be hard to know where to start.
There are three key things that business leaders can do to create some stability around their engagement with policy makers.
The coming days and weeks have the potential to be a political rollercoaster. But time taken now to understand legislation, and prepare for multiple outcomes, will pay off in the long term.
If you’re looking for advice on how to navigate public affairs and policy in this new parliamentary session, please get in touch with [email protected].
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