## Key Policies of Britain’s New Labour Government
The new Labour government in Britain has unveiled its first legislative agenda, aimed at “rebuilding” the country. The following highlights some of the key policy plans announced in the King’s Speech:
**Planning & Infrastructure:** The government plans to streamline the planning process to expedite home construction and infrastructure projects. They will limit local residents’ ability to block new developments, emphasizing democratic engagement in “how” rather than “if” these projects are built.
**Workers’ Rights:** An Employment Rights Bill aims to ban zero-hour contracts, outlaw unfair dismissal practices, and strengthen worker protections by providing parental leave, sick pay, and flexible working as the default for new jobs. It also includes provisions for stronger protection for new mothers.
**Economic Safeguards:** A Budget Responsibility Bill will require independent assessments of any significant tax or spending changes by the Office for Budget Responsibility, to prevent similar situations to the 2022 mini-budget debacle.
**Illegal Migration:** The government seeks to increase law enforcement powers to target gangs involved in human trafficking, including stop-and-search authority for border officers and harsher penalties for advertising smuggling services.
**Housing Reform:** Renters will gain the ability to challenge unreasonable rent increases, with the Renters’ Rights Bill eliminating “no fault” evictions, prohibiting rental bidding wars, and outlawing discrimination against families with children or those on benefits.
**Financial Regulations:** The new financial legislation aims to consolidate smaller pension schemes, improve bank rescue procedures, and strengthen the powers of the auditing regulator.
**Climate & Energy:** The government will establish GB Energy, a £8.3 billion ($11 billion) entity dedicated to co-investing in green energy technologies and supporting large-scale projects.
**Railways:** Existing private railway contracts will revert back to government control upon expiration, with a focus on improving east-west connectivity in northern England.
**Constitutional Reforms:** The House of Lords will see the removal of hereditary peers’ voting rights, addressing concerns about unelected positions.
**Crime & Punishment:** The crime and policing bill seeks to ban “ninja swords”, crack down on shoplifting, and target harassment and public intoxication.
**Cyber Security:** A new law will update cyber security regulations to mirror the EU’s proposed Cyber Resilience Act, requiring companies to report cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks.
**Devolution:** The government plans to empower local leaders with more authority over economic decisions, including transport and job creation.
**Conversion Therapy:** Legislation will be introduced to ban conversion therapy targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, while ensuring that legitimate psychological support remains accessible.
**Smoking:** A gradual phase-out of cigarette sales is planned, with children born after January 1, 2009, prohibited from ever legally purchasing cigarettes.
**Private Schools:** Labour plans to eliminate tax breaks for fee-paying schools, reallocating those funds towards improving government-run schools.
