Today’s King’s Speech marked the official opening of the UK’s new Parliament.
Outlining Labour’s priorities for the months ahead, it shared the government’s intention to ‘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.’
Pledging ‘economic benefit to communities’
The King’s Speech also stated that ‘greater devolution of decision-making is at the heart of a modern, dynamic economy, and is a key driver of economic growth’. A forthcoming English Devolution Bill will ‘give new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities. This will support local growth plans that bring economic benefit to communities.’
There was also recognition of the need for green job opportunities that rise to the challenge of global climate crisis, recognising the urgency of this, and the need to lead ‘the development of the technologies of the future’. A publicly owned, clean Great British Energy company is part of Labour’s solution.
Our plan for community-powered growth
Last week, The Young Foundation published our plan for fairer, greener, community-powered growth across the UK, envisioning safe and inclusive places, equitable prospects and prosperity, a fair green future, and strong and connected societies. This included a call for new community rights, including a Community Right to Buy, which has long since been called for by the We’re Right Here campaign.
Reflecting on the speech, our Chief Executive, Helen Goulden, said:
“The Young Foundation’s vision for fairer, greener, community-powered growth across the UK invites policymakers to rewrite the rulebook and do things differently. I am pleased to see some seeds of change for our places and neighbourhoods held within this King’s Speech, indicating an ambition to work collaboratively with local communities, businesses and institutions to transform local places.
“Our plan notes this moment to rebuild trust in our politics, reimagining how UK people can help shape their prospects, planet and local places. We hope to work with policymakers, sharing insights from communities and businesses around the UK to inform the significant and vital changes needed for fair and green national renewal.”
The King’s Speech includes:
- plans to share power and increase investment to metro mayors and local authorities, including Local Growth Plans
- a new Community Right to Buy as part of an English Devolution Bill, empowering communities to take ownership of local assets
- investment in renewable energy, supporting green growth through Great British Energy, a publicly-owned clean energy company
Read Rewriting the Rulebook, our plan for greener, fairer, community-powered UK growth
Photo by Mike Erskine on Unsplash
Climate change Community Local government & public services Systems change Posted on: 17 July 2024