King's Speech latest: Keir Starmer pledges 'national renewal' as he faces Rishi Sunak in King's Speech debate (2024)

Former prime minister Liz Truss has accused officials of breaching the civil service code after her mini-budget was described as a "disaster" in documents about the King's Speech.

Ms Truss complained that references to the "mistakes" of her economic policy, which unleashed chaos in the markets and tanked the pound, were "untrue political attacks".

She has now urged the head of the civil service - Simon Case, to "urgently investigate how such material came to be included in this document".

In a letter, Ms Truss said: "It has been brought to my attention that the King's Speech background briefing notes published today and available online contain repeated references personally to me and actions undertaken by my government in the context of a political attack.

"Not only is what is stated in the document untrue, making no reference to the LDI crisis precipitated by the Bank of England's regulatory failures; but I regard it as a flagrant breach of the civil service code."

In a briefing made available online after the King's address at the State Opening of Parliament, the government had referred to the "disaster" of Ms Truss's radical tax-cutting agenda.

Ms Truss has previously conceded her plan to quickly abolish the 45p top rate of tax went too far, but otherwise defended her failed bid to boost growth.

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Away from the House of Commons for a moment...

It has just been confirmed that the government will hold fresh talks with Aslef in a bid to resolve the two-year-long train drivers pay dispute.

Aslef said there will be an initial meeting with the Department for Transport next Tuesday, voicing hopes of "constructive" talks.

It is understood the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies involved in the row, will not be involved in the discussions.

Aslef members have taken 18 days of strikes since the dispute started two years ago, causing huge disruption to passengers.

Next up in the Commons is Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey.

He begins by congratulating the Labour Party and Sir Keir Starmer on his victory, adding they now have an "enormous undertaking - and we wish them well".

Sir Ed says: "The challenges awaiting this new government are certainly great, and set against that challenging backdrop there is much to welcome in the programme set out today."

He points to plans to get the economy growing, saying the prime minister is "right to say that building more homes is an essential part of that".

Turning to the matter of care - which is close to the politician's heart - Sir Ed says this subject has "been in the shadows for far too long".

"Let this be the parliament when carers' voices are heard, when we become the caring nation."

He says the Liberal Democrats will work to get a "fair deal" for carers.

Sir Ed adds he is "encouraged by reports" that Labour is planning a crossbench commission on social care, even though it wasn't mentioned in the King's Speech.

The prime minister goes on to insist that "the fight for trust is the battle that defines our political era".

Addressing the Commons, Sir Keir Starmer adds this is a "task not just for this government, but for the whole parliament".

"We are all responsible for the tone and standards that we set."

He then thanks Rishi Sunak, saying he has gone "well beyond the usual standards of generosity" since Sir Keir became prime minister.

Sir Keir also thanks Mr Sunak for his indication of cross-party support on the likes of Martyn's Law.

He says the government will "move quickly" on the lessons learned from the infected blood scandal, that the "House debated in almost the final act of the last session".

"Scandals like infected blood, Windrush, Horizon, Hillsborough are united not just by the scale of the injustice, but also by the indignity that the victims and their families have been put through merely for standing up for truth and justice."

The prime minister says a government of service must also "be a government of accountability and justice - that is what service means".

"This government has been elected to deliver nothing less than national renewal," Sir Keir Starmer says.

"To stop the chaos of the last 14 years, turn the page on an era of politics as noisy performance, and return it to public service."

The prime minister adds that there will be a "determined" and "patient" rebuilding of the UK under Labour.

He says what people really want is "change" - and this is what he will deliver.

"A King's Speech that takes the brakes off our economy, and shows to the British people that politics can be a force for good.

"A vehicle for improving the lives of millions - no matter who you voted for."

Sir Keir then thanks Peter Dowd and Florence Eshalomi for the Loyal Address, which was earlier given in the House of Commons.

He also pays tribute to Sir Tony Lloyd, the former Labour member for Rochdale, who died at the start of the year.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now up in the Commons, responding to remarks on the King's Speech just made by Rishi Sunak.

He, too, wishes the Queen a happy birthday - and sends well wishes to Donald Trump after an assassination attempt over the weekend.

Sir Keir then points to a plaque to "our dear friend Jo Cox", a Labour MP who was killed in her constituency in June 2016.

Referring to the attack on Mr Trump, he says: "We cannot think that this is something that only happens elsewhere.

"We must heed the words of President Biden to lower the temperature of our democracy, work across our disagreements, and find each other's common decency."

He also mentions England's loss at the Euros final on Sunday, paying tribute to the players and manager Gareth Southgate.

Sir Keir says he wanted "to congratulate the England football team for their achievements in the Euros, something the Leader of the Opposition and I were talking about this morning".

He adds: "Yes, the trophy eluded us again, but the team can be proud of another exceptional performance, something I'm sure the whole House will be only too pleased to recognise."

Rishi Sunak is on his feet in the Commons, where he will face off with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a debate over the King's Speech.

Sir Keir had set out his plans for the country - which comes in the form of around 40 bills - in a speech delivered by the King earlier today.

He begins by wishing the Queen a happy birthday, and paying tribute to Sir Tony Lloyd, the former Labour member for Rochdale.

Mr Sunak also "deplores" the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump, saying: "Violence and intimidation have no place in the democratic process."

He then briefly responds to Loyal Addresses given by MPs Peter Dowd and Florence Eshalomi in the Commons earlier today.

Mr Sunak then offers some words of advice to those now on the government benches.

"Life comes at you fast," he says. "Soon you might be fortunate enough to be tapped on the shoulder and offered a junior ministerial role.

"Then, you'll find yourself attending cabinet, then in the cabinet.

"And then when the prime minister's position becomes untenable, you might end up being called to the highest office."

He jokes that "before you know it, you have a bright future behind you and you are left wondering if you can credibly be an elder statesman at the age of 44".

Mr Sunak goes on to congratulate Sir Keir on his "decisive" victory in this month's general election.

"But they now must deliver change," he says. "In the national interest, we will not oppose for the sake of it but when we disagree with the government it is our responsibility as the opposition to say so."

The former prime minister says the Conservatives will be guided by their "principles".

He hails the steps taken in the King's Speech for Martyn's Law, and that the government will continue plans for a smoke-free generation - which started under the Tories.

Mr Sunak urges Sir Keir to commit to boosting defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, warning the world is now in a dangerous place.

He also stresses that Labour has inherited an economy on an "upward trajectory", after inflation fell sharply during Mr Sunak's tenure in Number 10.

On potential reforms to the House of Lords, Mr Sunak says Labour's proposed changes should "proceed on a cross-party basis".

He concludes that the Conservatives will "fulfil our duty as the loyal opposition".

Away from the King's Speech, our Wales reporter,Tomos Evans, has been looking at who could replace Vaughan Gething as Welsh first minister.

Yesterday, four of Mr Gething's own ministers quit the government and called for him to go.

The timetable for the race to succeed Mr Gething is expected to be agreed in the coming days.

But who could succeed him?

Names in the frame include former leadership contenders Jeremy Miles and Eluned Morgan.

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