King’s Speech LIVE: Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak debate in Commons after King’s Speech

Sir Keri Starmer congratulated the England football team in his opening remarks.

“Yes the trophy alluded us again but the team can be proud of another exceptional performance, the whole House will only be too pleased to recognise,” he told the Commons.

“We pay tribute to Gareth Southgate who shouldered the burden of national leadersip with such dignity.”

Rishi Sunak earlier condemned abuse aimed at candidates during the General Election, saying: “The intimidation that some candidates received in this election – both physical and digital – was completely unacceptable and is a threat to our electoral process.

“There can be no excuse for threats of physical violence or intimidatory protest outside politicians’ homes.”

In a light hearted speech following the King’s Speech he also made a joke related to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he referenced the popularity of Labour MP Peter Dowd (Bootle).

He noted Mr Dowd is the “most popular constituency MP”, adding: “Enjoying the biggest majority of any member of this place and in a recent election he even won an astonishing 84 per cent of the vote.

“He might be the only person who can persuade Kim Jong Un of the benefits of democracy, although the people’s republic of Bootle doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.”

The Conservative Party leader earlier paid tribute to the King, telling MPs: “It is typical of his dedication to duty that despite the medical challenges he has recently faced he was here today to open Parliament and will travel to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa and Australia this autumn.

“The King is a true model of public service.”

Rishi Sunak said he was pleased that Labour will continue with plans for a “smoke free generation”.

“I know there are deeply held views on both sides of this issue… Measures that end access to products are never easy but I do believe that ensuring that our children can be the first generation that doesn’t have to suffer the false choice to quit smoking or not because they will have never started is a truly worthy aim.

“It will make us a healthier, fairer country where people will love longer and better lives.”

Sir Keir revived plans to phase out smoking and impose restrictions on the sale and marketing of vapes to children.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has been responding to the King’s Speech in the House of Commons.

In a friendly speech he congratulated Sir Keir Starmer on his “decisive victory” and added that “he deserves the good will of all of us in this house as he takes on the most demanding of jobs in the increasingly uncertain world in which we now live.”

He added that Labour must now deliver the change they have promised.

One of London’s most deprived boroughs has welcomed changes proposed in the King’s Speech.

The Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz said she was “pleased to see encouraging signals” on the number of affordable homes proposed and protections for renters.

She said: “The announcement of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is one of the Government’s main measures to streamline and speed up planning and associated infrastructure needs, to get more housing built. 

She added: “But building new homes alone isn’t the solution for Newham, as the sheer scale of the housing crisis affecting the whole of London means that we can’t build our way out of the crisis – the homes simply won’t be delivered fast enough.

“We know that local government across the UK has spent around £1bn (sic) since 2018 on hotels to meet temporary accommodation statutory obligations.

“That is why I particularly hail the announcement of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which will finally introduce an end to “no fault” evictions- a measure which has been long promised but never previously delivered.

“This will have an immediate and dramatic effect on the number of hard working families who are made homeless – as it is this alongside the rising cost of living, which has contributed to a 16 per cent increase in homelessness in Newham in just the last year.”

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he hopes never to receive another phone call relating to the murder of an MP, as he insisted security is top of his agenda.

Making the traditional statement at the start of a new parliamentary session about the duties and responsibilities of MPs, Sir Lindsay highlighted the murders of two serving MPs – Labour’s Jo Cox and Conservative Sir David Amess – in their constituencies in recent years.

Sir Lindsay told the Commons: “Whatever I can do to support you, I will. Make sure you follow all the security measures. I never, ever want to receive another phone call like I’ve done previously.”

He said MPs should use language that reflects that they are treated as honourable members in the Commons, adding: “If we fail to treat each other with respect in debate this diminishes our worth and also risks raising the temperature of discussions outside this place, particularly on social media – which already too often descends into online abuse against honourable members.”

Victims of the infected blood scandal have welcomed plans in the King’s Speech to
introduce a “legal duty of candour” for public servants in an effort to tackle the “defensive culture” highlighted in the Hillsborough and Infected Blood inquiries.

Campaigners say the Hillsborough Law can save and change lives.

Debbie Caine, campaign director of Hillsborough Law Now said: “Only those who have endured a long and arduous battle with the state for truth and accountability will realise the significance of this announcement.

“But make no mistake, this announcement has the potential to save and change lives for the many, not the few.”

Campaigners have been calling for new legislation to prevent the experiences of families of the 97 Liverpool fans who were killed in the 1989 disaster happening again, and to help victims of other scandals to get justice.

Des Collins, solicitor to 1500 victims of the infected blood scandal, said: “Once enacted this should prevent future victims of injustice from years of fighting the state to uncover what happened and why, a courtesy sadly not afforded to the thousands of victims of the infected blood scandal or others affected by the failures of public bodies.

“The truth matters if trust and respect in our public services is to be restored.”

Unleashing London’s full potential as an economic engine for the whole UK will be essential for Labour, a key lobby group in the capital has said.

Reacting to the King’s Speech John Dickie, Chief Executive at BusinessLDN, said the Government was right to put accelerating growth at the heart of its agenda.

He added: “Now the Government has committed to greater devolution, the Mayor of London – and other metro mayors across the country – should be given additional powers and funding as they are best placed to meet the needs of their local areas.

“As part of this, Transport for London should be granted a multi-year funding deal to bring the capital in line with other regions.”

A Bill to bring train operation into public ownership has been described by private rail companies as a “political not a practical solution”.

Rail Partners, which represents private sector train operators, said legislation announced in the King’s Speech will “increase costs”.

The Railways Bill will ensure that appointing a public sector train operator as existing contracts expire will be the default position rather than a last resort.

The Government said this will avoid the need to pay compensation to current operators and will save taxpayers millions of pounds each year that are paid out in fees to private train companies.

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Ninja swords are set to be banned in a crackdown on knife crime, it was announced on Wednesday.

The weapons were left out of laws prohibiting the sale of machetes and zombie knives under the previous government.

In proposed legislation outlined in the King’s Speech, “strict new sanctions” could be placed on senior executives of online retailers who allow the sale of the deadly blades.

Read the full story here.