Research briefing setting out the government’s commitments covering devolved affairs for the House of Lords debate on the 2024 King’s Speech.
King’s Speech 2024: Devolved affairs (339 KB , PDF)
In 2023, Sir Keir Starmer said that a “take back control bill” would be a centre piece of a Labour government’s first King’s Speech. Mr Starmer said Labour would spread out control from Westminster and devolve new powers to communities. In its 2024 general election manifesto, the Labour Party made commitments to devolve new powers to local areas in England over employment support, transport, education and housing and to reset UK-devolved government relationships. The Labour Party has also committed to repealing and replacing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.
The Library’s briefings for the King’s Speech draw on the Labour Party’s manifesto and other material in the public domain. They have been written in advance of the 2024 King’s Speech to help members of the House of Lords prepare for the debate on the speech. They do not constitute official information about the government’s intentions or provide a complete list of bills to be announced.
King’s Speech 2024: Devolved affairs (339 KB , PDF)
Ministers are needed in the House of Lords to take legislation through the House and answer for the government during questions and debates. Some cabinet ministers are appointed from the Lords. For example, the leader of the House of Lords is always a member of the Lords. This briefing looks at the role of ministers in the House of Lords and how they are scrutinised.
The government has recently changed the entry requirements for certain non-EU goods being imported into Great Britain to enable them to move onwards under the Northern Ireland retail movement scheme. The House of Lords is due to consider a motion to annul the regulations that made these changes. This comes in the context of wider debates about the impact of the Windsor Framework on Northern Ireland.
This proposed law would introduce a new “think again” procedure in the House of Lords so members could ask the House of Commons to consider their concerns before a draft affirmative statutory instrument is approved.
![Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 14 of 2024–25](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/House-of-Lords-568x426.png)