Labour braces for Gaza and welfare rebellions in first King's Speech

Keir Starmer vows focus on economic growth as it prepares its legislative programme for King Charles III

Keir Starmer's Labour government is preparing a speech for King Charles III to read out to Parliament, setting out the legislative agenda for the year ahead. Getty Images

Britain's Labour government will announce an economic policy blitz in its first King's Speech this week as it puts dozens of bills before the new Parliament.

But Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a first test of loyalty from his massed Labour ranks as back bench MPs look to sway his position on Gaza and welfare.

King Charles III will read out Labour's legislative programme as part of the ceremonial opening of Parliament on Wednesday.

Labour is working on 35 bills in its first year as it aims for an "ambitious parliamentary session that will be built on a bedrock of economic security", Downing Street said.

The package will include laws to create a national wealth fund, relax rules on house-building and hand more powers to local politicians.

Mr Starmer is also promising "unbreakable fiscal rules", to avoid a repeat of the unfunded Liz Truss tax cuts of 2022 that sent financial markets into a tailspin.

Amendment debate

The speech is followed by several days of debate on a 'humble address', which nominally thanks the King for his speech but also acts as a vote of confidence in the government.

Two back bench Labour MPs have already announced plans to derail the address with amendments on arms sales and child benefits.

Zarah Sultana has promised to table an amendment to ban arms sales to Israel, which is also a demand of five pro-Gaza independents who won seats from Labour.

"The Israeli military is using British-made weapons in its horrifying assault on Gaza. Our new government must end this complicity and uphold the rights of the Palestinian people," Ms Sultana said.

The Labour leadership has stopped short of supporting an arms embargo, although Foreign Secretary David Lammy has not ruled out the possibility of a shift.

Labour's huge majority means it should defeat any rebellion comfortably but any vote could reveal the extent of pro-Gaza sentiment on its benches.

Pro-Palestinian candidates stunned Labour in several heartland seats at the election, capturing five and running it close in others.

Mr Lammy said Labour "recognises the agony of communities” after its vote share crashed in constituencies with a large Muslim population.

Ministers will also face a call from Labour backbencher Kim Johnson to scrap a two-child benefit cap brought in by the Conservatives.

"This policy is cruel, punitive and is pushing struggling families into further poverty," said Ms Johnson, who was re-elected in Liverpool.

The monarch's speech, the first under Labour since 2009, is written for King Charles by the government and read out from a throne in the House of Lords.

MPs are asked to attend by a messenger of the King who symbolically has the door of the House of Commons slammed in their face, asserting its independence.

The speech will include measures that Labour has already announced in its first days in office, such as a new border command to tackle illegal migration.

Any financial measures such as tax changes would normally be announced in a Budget by new Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves.

Mr Starmer said there is "no time to waste" as he said Labour is "hitting the ground running by bringing forward the laws we will need to rebuild our country".

"This is just the down payment on our plans for the next five years, but the legislation set out at the King’s Speech will build on the momentum of our first days in office and make a difference to the lives of working people," he said.

On Thursday he will host a meeting of the 47-nation European Political Community, an informal gathering of leaders from both EU and non-EU countries.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak will lead the opposition's response to the King's Speech, having decided to stay on as caretaker Conservative leader.

The Conservatives have yet to set out a timetable for their leadership election after winning just 121 seats, their fewest ever.