King's Speech latest: Keir Starmer pledges 'national renewal' - Liz Truss complains about mini-budget reference (2024)

A short while ago, our chief political correspondent Jon Craig spoke to former minister Chris Philp in Central Lobby, where MPs have been busy today.

He asks the MP how morale is in the Conservative Party in the wake of a dramatic election loss earlier this month.

"It's obviously a very different situation," Mr Philp says.

"When we were in before the election, it's been a pretty bruising defeat and we're now adjusting to being in opposition rather than government.

"It's quite a big change. We're going to have to get used to that."

Jon then asks about a timeline for selecting a new party leader, which Mr Philp says the party will learn more about "as soon as tomorrow".

"My own view is we should take more time to make a thoughtful choice, for the various contenders, to set out their stool and be tested in debates at party conference and so on," he says.

"There's no need to rush into this, so I hope we do take a bit more time to have a considered decision."

King Charles has delivered the new Labour government's first King’s Speech setting out their priorities for the months ahead.

On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson looks at what the government has promised with Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates and economics and data editor Ed Conway.

Plus, Niall speaks to people and politics correspondent Nick Martin about what the Labour government are doing to tackle the "ghost children" epidemic.

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There was a jovial atmosphere in the House of Commons today, with MPs attempting to make each other laugh in the Loyal Address that came after the King's Speech.

Even Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer appeared to put old differences aside in the House, filmed chatting as they walked through Central Lobby.

You can watch the moment for yourself below:

Shifting focus back to the Commons, where Labour MP John McDonnell has just urged Sir Keir Starmer to scrap the two-child benefit cap and "lift 300,000 children out of poverty".

It comes after Labour today confirmed it will launch a child poverty taskforce, but did not lay out the exact remit of this group.

He told the Commons: "I was in this House when the Tories introduced it, it was introduced as part of the stigmatising of all those on benefits.

"I did a speech, I actually think I said I'd swim through vomit to vote against this piece of legislation, and some of the nauseous speeches from the Tories at the time almost meant I would have to.

"It was [an] appalling form of attack on the poorest within our communities. I think we just need to lift that stigma, lift that impact, but we need to do it quickly.

"So yes, set up this taskforce by all means, but produce a timetable that within weeks we will scrap the two-child limit."

The MP for Hayes and Harlington said "the resources are there" and appealed to the government to "take the benefits" of the growing economy and scrap the policy.

If you're just joining us, let us get you up to speed with the announcements made in the King's Speech today.

The announcements focus on improving living standards by driving economic growth, the first of Sir Keir Starmer's five "missions for national renewal".

Big ticket items include a plan to build more houses and infrastructure, nationalise the railways and give greater powers to the UK's fiscal watchdog over spending commitments to prevent a repeat of the Liz Truss mini-budget fiasco.

You can read the key points in the link below:

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.

Our weeknight politics showPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgewill be live on Sky News from 7pm.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

After a busy day in Westminster, Sophy will be joined by Lucy Powell, the leader of the House of Commons, and Conservative frontbencher Andrew Griffith.

On Sophy's panel are:

• Former Tory MP Jonathan Gullis;
• Former Labour adviserBaroness Ayesha Hazarika.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

WatchPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgefrom Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.

While MPs in the House of Commons continue their debate, we're going to turn away to other news in and around Westminster.

Don't worry - we'll keep you updated with any key developments.

And stay with us from 7pm for Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge.

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.