King Charles III unveils UK Labour govt’s agenda focusing on economic growth

British monarch, King Charles III has delivered Labour’s first programme for government as the UK parliament reopened following the July 4 election.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer placed economic growth at the forefront of his legislative agenda as Labour returned to power after a long hiatus.

The new government in the United Kingdom will focus on attempting to drive economic growth, modernizing border security and nationalizing the country’s rail networks, King Charles III said on Wednesday, reading a speech written by the Labour government he authorized.

Those efforts were included in the more than three dozen bills that were expected to be introduced as the new government begins its legislative agenda, according to the speech.

In a grand ceremony to mark the start of a new parliament, King Charles delivered a speech, addressing the House of Commons with the laws the new government plans to set out since Keir Starmer’s center-left Labour Party was elected in this month’s U.K. election.

The king donned Imperial State Crown, originally made for Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1838. He was draped in the famous Robe of State, a regal red cape trimmed with Miniver.

The tradition of the King’s Speech dates back to 1660, first given by King Charles II.

This year, Charles delivered his speech whilst still undergoing cancer treatment.

Downing Street said prior to the speech that the new government’s agenda would focus on economic grown, including “more jobs and turbocharging building of houses and infrastructure.”

The speech also began laying out Labour’s foreign policy agenda, including its views of the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

“My Government will continue to give its full support to Ukraine and its people and it will endeavour to play a leading role in providing Ukraine with a clear path to NATO membership,” the king said.

The speech also said the new U.K. government would “play its part in trying to secure long term peace and security in the Middle East.”

“It is committed to a two state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state,” the king said.