The King's Speech 2026 – Background Briefing Notes (PDF)

THE KING’S SPEECH 2026

Prime Minister’s Office
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA

13 May 2026

© Crown copyright, 2026
This publication is licensed under the Open
Government Licence 3.0.

Contents
AN INTRODUCTION FROM THE PRIME MINISTER.............................................................4
HIS MAJESTY’S MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.......6
STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMIC SECURITY...............................................................10
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill...................................................................................10
Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill.........................................................................................13
European Partnership Bill.................................................................................................16
Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill.............................................................19
Clean Water Bill................................................................................................................22
Competition Reform Bill....................................................................................................27
Regulating for Growth Bill.................................................................................................30
Enhancing Financial Services Bill....................................................................................34
Highways (Financing) Bill.................................................................................................37
Overnight Visitor Levy Bill................................................................................................40
ENDING THE OPPORTUNITY CRISIS - A BRITAIN BUILT FOR ALL................................42
Social Housing Renewal Bill.............................................................................................42
Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill.........................................................................45
Education for All Bill.........................................................................................................49
Representation of the People Bill.....................................................................................54
Remediation Bill...............................................................................................................59
Draft Conversion Practices Bill.........................................................................................62
Draft Ticket Tout Ban Bill..................................................................................................64
Sporting Events Bill..........................................................................................................66
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SERVICES AND REFORMING THE STATE..........................68
Police Reform Bill.............................................................................................................68
NHS Modernisation Bill....................................................................................................71
Railways and Passenger Benefits Bill..............................................................................75
Digital Access to Services Bill..........................................................................................79
Public Office (Accountability) Bill......................................................................................82
Removal of Peerages Bill.................................................................................................84
Courts Modernisation Bill.................................................................................................86
Northern Ireland Troubles Bill...........................................................................................90
Draft Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Bill.............................................................................94
Civil Aviation Bill...............................................................................................................98
Sovereign Grant Bill.......................................................................................................101
STRENGTHENING OUR ENERGY SECURITY..................................................................103
Energy Independence Bill..............................................................................................103
Nuclear Regulation Bill...................................................................................................107
Electricity Generator Levy Bill.........................................................................................110
STRENGTHENING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY...............................................................112
Tackling State Threats Bill..............................................................................................112
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Armed Forces Bill...........................................................................................................114
National Security Bill.......................................................................................................117
Immigration and Asylum Bill...........................................................................................121
Cyber Security and Resilience Bill.................................................................................124
CONTACT DETAILS............................................................................................................127

3

AN INTRODUCTION FROM THE PRIME MINISTER

Our country stands at a pivotal moment. The world today is more volatile and
dangerous than at any point in our lifetimes. A war on two fronts – in the Middle East
and in Ukraine – threatens our living standards. And this is not a new feeling for the
British people. For two decades our country has been buffeted by crisis after crisis:
the 2008 financial crash, the Tory austerity that followed it, Brexit, Covid and the
Ukraine War. The response in each case was always a desperate attempt to get
back to a status quo. Even though that same status quo had repeatedly made
working people pay the price.

This time must be different. And this King’s Speech shows it will be different with a
plan to make this country stronger and fairer. Stronger, because it gives us the power
to act and stops us being blown off course by events far beyond our borders. Fairer,
because it is essential to unite the country and unlock our full potential.

Of course, we build on the strong legislative achievements in the last session of
Parliament: the Employment Rights Act, the Great British Energy Act, the Renters’
Rights Act and more. And it will continue our work to stabilise the economy and
support people with the cost of living. The fundamentals of our economy remain
sound and this will help us emerge from the Iran conflict stronger and fairer.

But in the light of that conflict, we now need to move with greater urgency. And so in
this King’s Speech, we will strengthen our economic security, energy security, our
defence and national security. We will unblock the barriers to growth and prepare our
country for a world where external shocks like this are ever more frequent. And we
will fight for every child to have the chance to go as far as their talent and effort will
take them.

The immediate challenge is to keep removing barriers to growth. That means
developing an industrial strategy to create more highly paid jobs, with an
apprenticeships plan to match. It means encouraging a new era of British nuclear
energy. And it means setting a new direction for Britain at the next EU summit:
putting Britain at the heart of Europe.

Landmark public service reforms in the NHS, police and special education needs will
also strengthen our country. We will bring forward a public duty of candour with a
Hillsborough Law. We will take control of our energy security with an Energy
Independence Bill, boosting clean British energy across Britain. We will protect
sovereign British industries, such as British steel, making them strong for the future.
We will reform the leasehold system to ensure that this unfair feudal system, which
has trapped millions of homeowners, is brought to an end. And through our
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Immigration and Asylum Bill we will deliver a firm but fair immigration system that
restores control and earns public trust.

Our defence and national security relies on rebuilding European alliances as well as
strengthening our defence and armed forces. We will end defence ‘austerity’ with the
biggest sustained increase in investment since the end of the Cold War. We will
stand strong with NATO, the most successful defence alliance in history and push
forward with our Defence Investment Plan. But we also know that our enemies seek
to exploit division in our communities. That is why we will take on extremism
wherever it appears, including where it is sponsored by foreign powers that are
hostile to the UK, such as Iran.

At moments like these, we face a choice. We can choose to sink into the politics of
grievance and division. Or we can choose to see it as an opportunity to deliver on
the change we promised the British people. The King’s Speech sets our course. And
we choose to build a stronger, fairer Britain.

5

HIS MAJESTY’S MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH TO BOTH HOUSES OF
PARLIAMENT

MY LORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

An increasingly dangerous and volatile world threatens the United Kingdom, with the
conflict in the Middle East only the most recent example. Every element of the
nation’s energy, defence and economic security will be tested.

My Government will respond to this world with strength and aim to create a country
that is fair for all. My Ministers will take decisions that protect the energy, defence
and economic security of the United Kingdom for the long-term. They will defend the
British values of decency, tolerance and respect for difference under our common
flag, and they will harness the potential of the pride felt across this country for its
communities. My Government will take urgent action to tackle antisemitism and
ensure all communities feel safe.

My Government believes that the United Kingdom’s economic security depends on
raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom. My Ministers will support
measures that maintain stability and control the cost of living. They will use public
investment to shape markets and attract further private investment. They will deploy
the power of an active State in partnership with business and enable reforms that
support higher growth and a fair deal for working people.

My Government believes that improved trading relations are vital for the United
Kingdom’s economic security, for significantly raising economic growth, and for
lowering prices for working people. My Ministers will introduce legislation to take
advantage of new trading opportunities, including a Bill to strengthen ties with the
European Union [European Partnership Bill]. My Government will also support the
economic security of British businesses. Legislation will be introduced to tackle late
payments [Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill] and to reduce the
burden of unnecessary regulation through innovation [Regulating for Growth Bill].

The United Kingdom’s economic security depends upon world class infrastructure.
Legislation will be introduced to unlock the benefits of airport expansion [Civil
Aviation Bill]; enable roads to be built at pace including the Lower Thames Crossing
[Highways (Financing) Bill]; and deliver a fair deal for the North of England through
Northern Powerhouse Rail [Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill]. My Ministers will
continue to take all action necessary to safeguard the domestic production of steel
[Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill].
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My Government will also improve the United Kingdom’s security by continuing to
invest in the renewal of public services. My Ministers will push forward with
significant reforms to the police [Police Reform Bill], the National Health Service
[NHS Modernisation Bill], and to the criminal justice system [Courts
Modernisation Bill] to help them deliver services the British people expect.
Legislation will be introduced to increase confidence in the security of the
immigration and asylum systems [Immigration and Asylum Bill]. My Government
will improve critical infrastructure with legislation to clean-up the water industry
[Clean Water Bill] and establish Great British Railways [Railways and Passenger
Benefits Bill].

My Government believes that the United Kingdom should be a country fair for all and
a place where every child is included in the nation’s highest aspirations. My Ministers
believe that every child deserves the chance to succeed to the best of his or her
ability and not be held back due to poverty, special educational needs, or a lack of
respect for vocational education. My Ministers will continue to invest in
apprenticeships and measures that tackle youth unemployment. They will respond to
the Milburn Review and the Timms Review and continue to reform the welfare
system to support both young and disabled people to flourish in work as the basis for
long-term economic security. A Bill will be brought forward to raise standards in
schools and introduce generational reforms of the special educational needs system
[Education for All Bill]. My Ministers will also proceed with the introduction of
Digital ID that will modernise how citizens interact with public services [Digital
Access to Services Bill].

Alongside strong public services and a strong economy, the highest standards of
trust in public office are essential for the social contract and the United Kingdom’s
collective security. My Government will introduce the Hillsborough Law to bring
forward a duty of candour for public servants [Public Office (Accountability)
Bill]. My Ministers will also introduce legislation to enable peerages to be removed
[Removal of Peerages Bill]. My Government will bring forward proposals that
strengthen the delivery, accountability, innovation and productivity of the Civil
Service. These proposals will also seek to safeguard its impartiality and core values,
to enhance trust and confidence in the institutions of government.

My Government will bring forward a Bill to speed up remediation for people living in
homes with unsafe cladding [Remediation Bill] and a draft Bill to ban abusive
conversion practices [Draft Conversion Practices Bill].

7

In this volatile world, my Government will continue to pursue foreign policy based on
a calm assessment of the national interest. It will continue its unflinching support for
the brave people of Ukraine, who fight on the frontline of freedom. My Ministers will
seek to improve relations with European partners as a vital step in strengthening
European security. It will continue to promote long term peace in the Middle East and
the Two-State solution in Israel and Palestine.

My Government will also uphold the United Kingdom’s unbreakable commitment to
NATO and our NATO allies, including through a sustained increase in defence
spending.

My Government will seek to reinforce the long-term energy, defence and economic
security of the United Kingdom as an essential component of strength on the world
stage. This will include housing, which can be a source of insecurity for many
people. My Ministers will bring forward legislation to increase long-term investment in
social housing [Social Housing Renewal Bill] and to reform the leasehold system,
including the capping of ground rents [Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill].

My Government will introduce legislation to tackle the growing threat from foreign
state entities and their proxies [Tackling State Threats Bill]. They will respond to
the horrific attack in Southport with measures to protect the British people from
extreme violence, and honour the victims, the injured and their families [National
Security Bill]. My Ministers will also introduce legislation to improve the country’s
defences against cyber-security threats [Cyber Security and Resilience Bill].

My Government will support our gallant Armed Forces and their families who make
considerable personal sacrifices for the collective security and freedom of everyone
in the United Kingdom. My Ministers will recognise this service with an Armed Forces
Bill that improves the service justice system and establishes the Armed Forces
covenant in statute [Armed Forces Bill].

My Ministers believe that energy independence must be a long-term goal of national
security and that the nation’s energy security requires long-term investment and
reform, as demonstrated by recent events in the Middle East. Increased production
of clean British energy will help to ensure that enemies of the United Kingdom
cannot attack the economic security of the British people. My Ministers will therefore
introduce an Energy Independence Bill to scale-up homegrown renewable energy
and protect living standards for the long-term [Energy Independence Bill].

8

My Ministers will also take forward recommendations of the Nuclear Regulatory
Review and encourage a new era of British nuclear energy generation [Nuclear
Regulation Bill].

My Government will remain a leading advocate for tackling climate change and
achieving a world free from poverty. The United Kingdom will also take action to
reduce humanitarian need and conflict around the world.

My Ministers will champion the rights of women and girls to live in a world free from
violence. This will include promoting women’s full economic and political participation
within their societies, with agency over the decisions that impact their lives.

Next year, the United Kingdom will take on the G20 Presidency and host the G20
Summit to drive global growth and reinforce global stability, which is essential for the
prosperity of working people across the country.

My Government is committed to the strength and integrity of the Union of the United
Kingdom and will continue to work closely with the devolved governments to deliver
for citizens across the whole of the nation.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.

MY LORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
Other measures will be laid before you.
I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.
9

STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMIC SECURITY
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill

● The UK steel industry is key to this country’s economic growth. It supports
around 37,000 direct jobs and over 60,000 in supply chains. But challenges of
global overcapacity compounded by high operating costs have made it harder
for UK-based steel companies to compete.

● Safeguarding the long-term future of Britain’s steel capability and capacity is
in our national interest. That requires us to take this urgent and extraordinary
action to introduce the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill now. This legislation
provides a route for the Government to nationalise steel companies or their
operations, such as British Steel, provided the public interest test in the
legislation is met.

What does the Bill do?

● The Government has set out a Steel Strategy - a long-term plan to fight to
revitalise the UK steel sector, restore domestic production to sustainable
levels and secure the industry’s role in supporting critical sectors such as
national infrastructure, defence, clean energy and supporting the economy of
the UK.

● The Government intervened in April 2025 by introducing the Steel Industry
(Special Measures) Act 2025 to avoid a sudden and disorderly halt of steel
making at British Steel Ltd. (BSL), following actions by BSL’s owner which put
steelmaking at the company in serious jeopardy. This would have been
unacceptable given the importance of this plant for the UK economy and
critical national infrastructure.

● The Government wants to see BSL play a major role in a revitalised steel
sector, but this will not be possible under its current ownership. Bringing BSL
under national ownership would allow the Government to explore what future
opportunities there may be for BSL, including a transition to decarbonised
steelmaking and to provide stability for BSL’s workers, suppliers and
customers.

● The Government has engaged in negotiations with the current owner of BSL
on a commercial sale, but it has not been possible to agree acceptable terms
which would represent a responsible use of public money. As a result, the
10

Government believes it is in the public interest to bring forward primary
legislation which will give the Government the powers to nationalise BSL. This
is a measure of last resort. Any nationalisation of BSL would be subject to the
public interest test being met before using the powers under the Bill.

● The Bill will:
Safeguard the future of the UK steel industry by providing the Secretary
of State powers to transfer ownership of steel undertakings (either by a
share or property transfer) to public ownership.

○ The Government has been clear in its objective to revitalise the UK
steel sector, restore domestic production to sustainable levels
and secure the industry’s role in supporting critical sectors
and supporting the economy of the UK.

○ The powers in the Bill will allow the Government to do this by taking
steel undertakings into public ownership where it is in the public
interest to do so.
Establish a public interest test that must be met for the Government to
exercise transfer powers in respect of a steel undertaking.
○ An indicative list of public interest factors is provided in the Bill which
includes national security, support for the economy and critical national
infrastructure.

○ This Government is committed to ensuring that the UK remains an
attractive place to invest and do business, and we would not use these
powers lightly.

○ The public interest test provides a key safeguard and framework for the
use of the powers by the Government.
Introduce compensation provisions for steel undertakings in respect of
which SoS’s transfer powers have been used.
○ Where the Government does exercise the transfer powers in the Bill,
regulations would follow to set out a compensation scheme.

○ This would allow those affected to obtain independently assessed
compensation.

○ The valuer will look at circumstances and determine what
compensation, if any, is required.
11

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend and apply to the whole of the UK.

Key facts

● Global competition, high costs and underinvestment in the steel sector
have led to plant closures and job losses – the UK steel industry supports
37,000 direct jobs and a further 60,000 in the supply chain, however
employment in the industry was at 323,000 in 1971, a decline of nearly 90 per
cent.

● Steel output has fallen sharply in recent years. UK production has dropped
below 4 million tonnes in 2024 – the lowest in decades.

● The UK now produces less than 0.3 per cent of global steel. It is a net
importer, with imports covering about 60 per cent of demand.

● The steel sector underpins other critical sectors such as construction,
defence, and clean energy – the UK steel industry contributed £1.7 billion to
the economy in 2024.

● Excess steel from subsidies produced in world markets drives down
prices and makes it harder for UK firms to compete and invest.

● The sector is transitioning to greener production. The Government has
committed up to £2.5 billion to support modernisation and decarbonisation.

● Director General of UK Steel, Gareth Stace, said “We strongly welcome the
prime minister’s announcement to legislate for the nationalisation of British
Steel. This provides vital certainty for the workforce, the company’s customers
and the wider supply chain at a critical moment. Steel is a foundation industry
and a recognised strategic national asset. Maintaining domestic production
capability for British Steel’s products is essential not only for economic growth
but also for our national security and resilience.”

12

Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill

“Legislation will be introduced to…deliver a fair deal for the North of England through
Northern Powerhouse Rail”

● The Bill (formally titled the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill) is
foundational to Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), unlocking the delivery of rail
capacity into Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester Airport so that people can
benefit from better transport links across the region.

● NPR will deliver faster, more reliable and more frequent services between the
North of England’s key cities. This enhanced transport network will lead to more
housing, improve access to jobs, make it easier for people to travel between
towns and cities across the North and provide opportunities for businesses to
expand.

What does the Bill do?

● The Government is investing up to £45 billion (2025 prices) to deliver
Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) turn-up-and-go railway services between
Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, with regular
services onward to Newcastle via Darlington and Durham, Hull, and Chester
for North Wales connections.

● This will transform intercity rail in the North, make travel more
convenient for people across the region and drive economic growth.
NPR will also support thousands of new homes and commercial
developments in places like Leeds South Bank, Bradford’s Southern Gateway,
York Central, Manchester city centre and around Manchester Airport.

● NPR will be delivered in three phases:
○ The first phase will include upgrades to lines east of the Pennines
for delivery in the 2030s, focusing on electrification and upgrades in
the Leeds-Bradford, Leeds-Sheffield and Leeds-York corridors,
including the stations.
○ In the second phase, the Government will take forward a new
route between Liverpool and Manchester via Warrington and
Manchester Airport. The adapted High Speed Rail (Crewe -
Manchester) Bill will provide the necessary powers to construct and
13

operate the connection into Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester
Airport.
○ In the third phase, the Government will deliver better
cross-Pennine links over and above the Transpennine Route
Upgrade already underway.
● The Bill will outline the proposed route from Manchester to Millington, via
Manchester Airport, and will provide the necessary powers to take forward
delivery when the design has been completed. By adapting the High Speed
Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill, the Government is making use of the
significant progress already made.

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend to the whole of the UK but most of the provisions will apply
in England only.

Key facts

● In 2023, the productivity of northern England was 10 per cent lower than
the UK average and 25 per cent lower than London and the South East.
This pattern is particularly apparent in the largest northern cities and their
surrounding regions.
● The largest northern Mayoral Strategic Authorities have recently seen
their productivity grow 2.2 per cent per year, which is higher than the UK
average productivity growth rate of 0.7 per cent. However, despite this growth,
average productivity in these areas is still 11 per cent lower than the UK
average.
● Growing the productivity of the five most populous northern Mayoral
Strategic Authority areas to the national average could add around £40
billion per year in Gross Value Added, alongside around £15 billion per
year in fiscal revenues.
● Northern city centres are far less accessible within reasonable
commuting times compared to international comparators, and have
lower residential population densities, meaning there is a smaller pool of
workers for firms to access and fewer job opportunities available to workers.
Only 38 per cent of residents can access the city centre of Leeds within 30
minutes by public transport compared to 87 per cent in Marseille, a similar
sized city.
14

● Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said “Finally, we have a
Government with an ambitious vision for the North, firm commitment to
Northern Powerhouse Rail and an openness to an underground station in
Manchester city centre. A modernised Manchester Piccadilly could become
the King’s Cross of the North, acting as a catalyst for major growth in our city
region and beyond. Over the past decade, we have become the UK’s fastest
growing city region, but underinvestment in rail infrastructure has long acted
as a brake on further growth. Today marks a significant step forward for
Greater Manchester.”
● The Chief Executive Officer of Manchester Airport Group, Ken O’Toole,
said that: “By placing Manchester Airport at the heart of a full Northern
Powerhouse Rail Network, people and businesses across the region will have
the direct access they deserve to the world.  That will help high-value
industries to thrive and attract investors and visitors to all parts of the North -
maximising the region’s contribution to national growth.”
● The Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Henri
Murison, said “Northern Powerhouse Rail will enable a single labour market
more like that of London and the South East so a young person in Bradford
could aspire to work in Sheffield or Manchester, or a business there attract
talent from further afield than they can today. The potential of the North will be
unlocked, giving us better paid jobs and new homes. The need for improved
global connectivity across the North is huge, and this will be achieved by
connecting Manchester Airport directly to Liverpool and across to cities like
Leeds.”
15

European Partnership Bill

“My Ministers will introduce legislation to take advantage of new trading
opportunities, including a Bill to strengthen ties with the European Union.”

● UK citizens back a closer relationship with the European Union (EU) where it
benefits the national interest. Businesses across the UK tell us they are being
held back by red tape when trading with Europe.

● The European Partnership Bill will help deliver the manifesto commitment to
improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU by facilitating
the implementation of new deals agreed with the EU now and in the future.
This includes deals on electricity, emissions trading, and food and drink.
Through tearing down unnecessary barriers to trade we will drive economic
prosperity, including growth and jobs, and ease cost pressures for UK
families. The Bill will support trade with both the EU, the UK’s largest trading
partner, and within the UK Internal Market.

● For example, the food and drink deal alone could add up to £5.1 billion a year
to the economy (and up to £9 billion when combined with the emissions
trading agreement), increase agricultural exports to the EU by 16 per cent and
cut queue times for lorries at the border. The agreement will also significantly
simplify the movement of food and plants between Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, while retaining Northern Ireland’s access to the EU’s single market.

What does the Bill do?

● Following the first UK-EU summit in May 2025, the UK-EU Common
Understanding set the stage for new agreements on food and drink,
emissions trading, and electricity. These agreements will reduce barriers to
trade, cut costs for businesses, and drive growth and investment. Since the
Summit, the UK and EU have been negotiating the detailed legal texts on the
new agreements, including UK decision shaping rights in areas where we will
be aligning.
● The Bill will provide a framework of powers to ensure agreements with the EU
can be implemented now and in the future, including:
o Powers to fulfil treaty obligations in the agreements with the EU
where it serves the national interest. This will enable the domestic
implementation of relevant commitments so that the benefits of the
16

agreements can be unlocked. These powers will mean that Parliament
has its say before EU law is applied in the UK.
o A power to extend the application of the Bill to new treaties with
the EU in the future. As highlighted by the Prime Minister, the Minister
for European Union Relations, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
the Government believes further alignment could support even more
prosperity. The Bill will set out how these powers can be used for future
treaties and ensure there is Parliamentary approval for any new
treaties before those powers can be used.
Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend and apply to the whole of the UK.

Key facts

● The EU is the UK’s largest trading market. In 2024, 46 per cent of the UK’s
total trade was with the EU, valued at £830 billion and almost 95,000 UK
businesses exported goods to the EU while around 158,000 businesses
imported goods. Nine of the UK’s top 20 export destinations for goods and
services are EU Member States, and 10 of the UK’s top 20 import sources are
EU Member States.
● There is a growing body of evidence showing that the trading
arrangements under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement have
weakened the UK’s trade and economic performance. 2020 estimates
predicted a four per cent reduction in the productivity of the UK economy in
the long run. More recent independent studies indicate the impact on Gross
Domestic Product could be as much as eight per cent.
● The emissions trading agreement, which will link the UK and EU
emission trading schemes, will establish a larger and more stable
carbon market. This will support industry confidence to invest in new
technologies and jobs, and to decarbonise more quickly and efficiently. It will
also create the conditions for mutual exemptions from respective Carbon
Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM), saving £7 billion of UK exports from
being exposed to the EU CBAM.
● The food and drink deal (the Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement) will
fulfil the manifesto commitment to deliver a veterinary agreement with
the EU. It will remove significant administrative costs for businesses, including
Export Health Certificates costing up to £200 for agri-food goods,
Phytosanitary Certificates costing approximately £25, and inspection fees
which can cost hundreds of pounds. It will also remove a broad and
17

wide-ranging set of requirements for goods and plants moving from Great
Britain to Northern Ireland, because the same regulations will be followed
across the UK.
● Combined, the food and drink deal and emissions trading agreement
could deliver up to £9 billion to the UK economy a year over the longer
term, as well as easing pressure on consumer food price inflation.
● Negotiating an electricity agreement with the EU will make electricity trade
with European partners more efficient, reduce average electricity prices,
increase exports, strengthen energy security, drive investment in the North
Sea, and help to achieve the Government’s aim of Clean Power by 2030.
● The Chief Executive Officer of Morrisons, Rami Baitiéh, said “Sweeping
away trade barriers with the EU will remove cost, complexity and delay in food
imports from the continent. This promises to ease a source of pressure on
food prices and is therefore good news for shoppers. As a fresh food
manufacturer we also welcome the prospect of key export markets for our
excellent meat and fish becoming more accessible.”
● The Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Financial Markets in
Europe (AFME), Adam Farkas, said “AFME welcomes the UK Chancellor’s
focus on growth and her pragmatic approach to the EU–UK relationship [...] A
stronger framework for deeper EU–UK financial services cooperation is
essential to support growth, enhance regulatory certainty and unlock
investment across Europe.”
● The Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, William
Bain, said “A permanent deal with the EU can’t come soon enough for UK
firms. In the talks ahead ministers must deliver a deal that truly unburdens
business and cuts costs. Consumers will then reap the benefits in their
shopping baskets. Making trade with the EU quicker, cheaper and simpler is
crucial to boosting economic growth in the years ahead.”

18

Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill

“Legislation will be introduced to tackle late payments”

● The scourge of late payments costs the UK economy £11 billion each year
and leads to the closure of 38 UK businesses every day. Delivering on a key
manifesto commitment, this Bill will be the most significant legislation to tackle
late payments in over 25 years and will give the UK the strongest legal
framework on late payments in the G7.

● These measures are at the centre of the Government’s ambition to make the
UK the best place in world to start, run, and grow a business – a place where
businesses and the millions of self-employed people are paid on time for the
goods and services they deliver, a place where money flows quickly through
supply chains, and a place where small companies and the self-employed
spend their time and resources running their businesses effectively instead of
chasing unpaid invoices.

● The vast majority of large companies already do the right thing by their
suppliers, and these reforms are deliberately targeted at firms that persistently
engage in poor payment practices. This will help deliver a more productive
economy and support small businesses to survive, thrive and grow.

What does the Bill do?

● There are three main ways that businesses delay payments to small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including: late payments after the agreed
payment date; long payment terms, where businesses are pushed to accept
long payment agreements; and frivolous disputes, where purchasers raise
disputes without foundation in order to delay payment. This Bill tackles these
late payments between businesses and improves the flow of cash through
supply chains, facilitating a more productive economy.
● The Bill will:
○ Impose maximum payment terms of 60 days, with strictly limited
exemptions (when both parties are large companies, when the purchaser
is the smaller party, or when the goods or services are being imported or
exported).
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○ Enforce mandatory interest for late payments at eight per cent above
the Bank of England base rate.
○ Introduce a time limit for raising invoice disputes, before payment is
due.
○ Require boards or audit committees of persistently late-paying large
companies to publish commentary on poor payment performance
and intended actions to address it.
○ Give the Small Business Commissioner new powers to: investigate
businesses suspected of conducting poor payment practices; adjudicate
disputes between businesses outside of the court process; and fine
businesses that persistently pay their suppliers late or fail to comply with
the legislation.
○ Take targeted action on the construction sector to ban the practice of
deducting and withholding retention payments under construction
contracts.
● The measures apply only to UK-to-UK business transactions and do not
affect global supply chains or international trade.

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend and apply to the whole of the UK.

Key facts

● Late payments have a significant impact on the UK economy, leading to
the closure of 14,000 businesses per year, equivalent to 38 businesses every
day, according to research by the Department for Business and Trade
published in July 2025.
● An average business spends 86 hours per year chasing late payments.
According to the same research, businesses are owed £26 billion in late
payments at any given time, which is an average of £17,000 per business
affected by late payment.
● The Bill will complement other initiatives from the Small Business
Commissioner to promote a better payment culture, including the highly
successful Fair Payment Code, which as of April 2026 has over 580 awardees
including numerous large businesses.
● The Small Business Commissioner recovered over £1.55 million in late
payments for small businesses in the 2025-26 financial year. This is more
than was recovered in the previous four years combined, and four times the
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previous year. Since the Small Business Commissioner was established, the
office has recovered over £10 million for small businesses.
● Chair of Policy and Advocacy at the Federation of Small Businesses,
Tina McKenzie MBE said “Late payments are a blight on our economy, so
FSB is pleased to have worked in partnership with the Government to deliver
the toughest legislation in the G7. The new laws will finally bring a stop to big
businesses using their small suppliers as sources of free credit.”
21

Clean Water Bill

“My Government will improve critical infrastructure with legislation to clean-up the
water industry”

● The Government was elected with a clear mandate to clean up the rivers,
lakes, and seas, having inherited record levels of pollution incidents from
water companies. In under two years, it has taken swift, decisive action:
introducing the Water (Special Measures) Act to raise standards, enforce
accountability, and make pollution cover-ups a criminal offence; banning more
than £4 million in bonuses for polluting water bosses; unlocking £104 billion of
private investment to rebuild vital infrastructure; and commissioning Sir Jon
Cunliffe to lead the most comprehensive independent review of the sector
since privatisation.

● The situation demands further bold action to deliver fundamental, long-term
reform. This once-in-a-generation Bill will shift the sector away from a system
where water companies mark their own homework by putting in place
stronger, active supervision and oversight through a powerful new regulator
capable of integrated management of the water system. Alongside the Bill, the
Government is also taking forward non-legislative reforms to end the era of
Operator Self-Monitoring. Together, these changes will deliver cleaner water,
strong protections for customers and the environment, more reliable services,
and a stable, long-term framework to support sustained investment.

What does the Bill do?

● The Bill will strengthen confidence in the water sector – restoring the public’s
trust, giving investors the stability to back long-term upgrades, and providing
the clarity needed to support economic growth. It will ensure the sector plays
its full part in delivering clean water and a healthy environment.

● The Bill will:

○ Put consumers firmly first with a new Water Ombudsman to ensure
complaints are taken seriously and resolved quickly, strengthening
consumer advocacy, and providing stronger customer protections –
helping households understand, manage, and get better value from
their water bills. In delivering reform, the Government will ensure that
higher ambitions for the water sector and better, lasting outcomes for
customers are delivered in the most effective and efficient way, keeping
customer bills affordable and as predictable as possible.
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○ Create a new, independent and integrated water regulator by
bringing together the relevant functions of Ofwat, the Drinking Water
Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England. This will
end today’s fragmented oversight and ensure the regulator has a
complete view of company performance. With clearer accountability,
stronger teeth, and the right tools to identify problems earlier and act
decisively, the new regulator will help restore the public’s confidence
that the sector is properly overseen and drive the long-term investment
the system needs. This directly supports the Chancellor’s Regulation
Action Plan by ensuring the water regulator helps unlock growth rather
than hold it back.

○ Deliver cleaner rivers, lakes, and seas by providing the legislative
tools to ensure targets are ambitious, enabling pre-pipe solutions like
sustainable drainage systems to reduce spills and consolidating and
strengthening agricultural pollution rules. Outdated frameworks will be
updated so pollution is tackled at source and environmental standards
keep pace with new pressures. This will be supported by attracting and
securing the long-term investment needed to bring the waterways back
to good health.

○ Unlock economic growth and housing delivery through reforms to
the New Appointments and Variations framework, which enables new
water and wastewater companies to be appointed for new
developments. This will support the delivery of ambitious housing
targets, alongside strengthened planning powers, and measures to
promote competition in infrastructure delivery. These changes will help
unblock major growth corridors such as Oxford-Cambridge and support
the Northern Growth Strategy. This will help get critical water
infrastructure built faster, support new homes, and lower long-term
costs for consumers.

○ Strengthen the financial resilience and long-term stability of the
sector through a modernised economic regulation regime including the
new regulator taking a supervisory approach to improve oversight and
establishing a Performance Improvement Regime to ensure earlier
intervention for poorly performing water companies. Reforms to the
dispute process will align water regulation with other sectors, enabling
faster, more targeted decisions. These reforms will restore confidence,
reduce risk, and create a stable, long-term investment environment
needed to fund the upgrades the water system depends on.

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○ Build long-term resilience into the water system through statutory
resilience standards and better asset mapping. These reforms will be
underpinned by clearer long-term planning and strengthened strategic
guidance, giving the sector the stability needed to invest in resilient
assets for the future. This will be backed by stronger powers for the
regulator to enforce security, including no-notice inspections to ensure
realistic testing of security measures.

○ Strengthen drinking water protection and public health by giving
the new regulator stronger enforcement powers and responsibility for
convening expert advisory groups to keep drinking water standards
world-leading.

○ Boost water efficiency and secure future supplies by accelerating
the use of smart metering to enable customers to identify leaks, reduce
water wastage, and realise bill savings; all while encouraging the
uptake of water‑efficient appliances through the forthcoming water
efficiency labelling scheme. This will support fairer and more
transparent charging as bills reflect actual water use. This will be
complemented by the digital communication of drought and
temporary‑use restrictions, as well as by driving water reuse
infrastructure across homes and businesses, cutting leakage, reducing
bills, and easing pressures on supplies.

○ Create a stable, long-term planning framework by consolidating
existing water industry planning into two core planning frameworks and
exploring establishing national water targets. This would give
companies, investors, and regulators clear five, 10, and 25 year
direction and the potential to reduce duplication and unnecessary
administrative burden where planning and reporting are streamlined.

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend and apply to England and Wales, with some measures
expected to apply to Scotland.

Key facts

● The water industry in England and Wales was privatised in 1989, water
supply and sewerage are delivered by 16 private companies. However, unlike
most markets, water companies are regional monopolies with limited
competition. England and Wales are unusual in having a fully privatised water
system, whereby companies own the assets, infrastructure, and operation of
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water services.

● The water system, regulation and the regulators have failed customers
and the environment. In the 37 years since privatisation the population has
grown by 11 million, climate change and aging infrastructure has created
unprecedented demands on the water system and reform is now needed. This
has been compounded by a failure of regulation, with a system that relied too
heavily on water companies marking their own homework.

● The legislative and regulatory framework developed by successive
Governments has left a complex and fragmented regime. Within this
context, water companies are not delivering what is expected of them, both by
regulators and the public. This poor performance is evident in Ofwat requiring
companies to return £157.6 million to customers in 2025–26 due to
underperformance, and Ofwat’s 2024–25 performance-related pay
assessment confirmed more than £4 million of unfair bonuses were blocked
using new powers in the Water (Special Measures) Act.

● Pollution pressures have also come from agriculture, affecting around 41
per cent of water bodies (more than wastewater at 36 per cent). Between
2020-25, 49 per cent of farms inspected by the Environment Agency were not
fully compliant with agricultural water regulations.

● To address these challenges, the Government commissioned the largest
review of the water sector since privatisation. The Independent Water
Commission revealed the scale and severity of the problems in the water
sector. Gearing (levels of debt) at some companies has gone above 80 per
cent, making them vulnerable to financial shocks. The lack of strategic
direction is clear through the four different types of investment plans required
of companies, the 46 statutory obligations on companies set out in the Water
Industry Strategy Environmental Requirements, and the over 26 pieces of
legislation covering the sector.

● There is limited evidence of improvements without intervention. In
England, serious pollution incidents were up 60 per cent in 2024 compared to
2023. Data from Event Duration Monitors installed at storm overflows
nationwide shows that discharges into rivers, lakes and seas occur for millions
of hours each year - 3.61 million hours in 2024 and 1.8 million hours in 2025,
largely depending on rainfall. The National Infrastructure Commission has
stated that we will face a five billion litres a day shortfall for public water
supplies by 2055 if action is not taken.

● Around 19 per cent of water entering distribution in England is still lost
to leakage. This means almost one-fifth of treated drinking water never
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reaches a tap.

● Transformative change is therefore needed to secure a system that will
work for the long-term. This Bill delivers that change. The majority of
measures in this Bill are underpinned by the extensive engagement, research,
and recommendations made by Sir Jon Cunliffe in his final report and set out
in the Water White Paper.
26

Competition Reform Bill

● The Government is committed to promoting competition and ensuring markets
work well for consumers and businesses. Strong competition is a check on
excessive market power. It helps keep prices low, improves choice for
consumers, and supports higher productivity and living standards.

● Clear, predictable competition enforcement underpins growth by giving
businesses confidence to invest and innovate. The Competition and Markets
Authority (CMA) has already made changes to improve how it works, focusing
on taking decisions more quickly, using its powers proportionately, being
clearer and more predictable in its approach, and improving how it engages
with businesses.

● This Bill will deliver further reforms to support the CMA’s operational
transformation, to make competition investigations faster and more
predictable, reduce unnecessary burdens on businesses, and ensure
consumers benefit sooner, while protecting the CMA’s independence.

What does the Bill do?

● Over the past 18 months, the CMA has made significant changes to how it
operates and has reshaped its approach across its competition and consumer
tools to focus on pace, predictability, proportionality and process. This has
included moving more quickly to reach decisions, engaging earlier and more
clearly with businesses, and using its powers in a more targeted and
proportionate way. These reforms have improved transparency for businesses
and investors, reduced uncertainty, and strengthened confidence in the
system.
● Earlier this year, the Government launched a consultation on how to go further
to improve the UK’s competition system, so it continues to work well for
consumers, businesses and the wider economy. The final details of the
legislation will be shaped by this consultation and build on the CMA’s ongoing
improvements.
● Together, these changes will help ensure the UK remains one of the best
places in the world to do business, while maintaining strong protections
against excessive market power for the benefit of consumers.

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● The Bill will:
○ Improve decision-making at the CMA. It will deliver a new and more
consistent decision-making model, making the chain of accountability
clearer. Under the current system, some of the most significant CMA
decisions are led by an independent CMA Panel, and members of the
CMA Board are legally prevented from engaging in these decisions.
This can make it harder to ensure consistency and predictability in
decision-making, and clear accountability at the most senior level. The
Panel model is unique to the UK and difficult to explain to international
businesses and the wider UK public when describing who is
accountable for CMA Phase 2 merger and market investigation
decisions. The Bill will give the CMA Board a role in decisions on
mergers and market investigations, improving accountability to
Parliament, businesses and the public. We will ensure appropriate
governance and procedural safeguards to maintain expert
decision-making that is independent of government.

○ Make market reviews quicker and more focused. Market reviews
can currently take over three years. The Bill will speed these up so that
where markets are not working properly - such as when consumers
face high prices or businesses face barriers to entry - competition
problems are identified and addressed more quickly. In most cases,
reviews will take no longer than 18 to 24 months, with some completed
even sooner. This means competition problems in markets can be fixed
faster, so consumers and businesses can feel the benefit sooner. Any
remedies placed on businesses will be regularly reviewed, so they
remain necessary and proportionate. Where appropriate, regulators for
specific sectors will be able to take responsibility for ongoing remedies,
reducing the number of regulators that businesses need to deal with.

○ Providing more clarity and flexibility in merger reviews. The Bill will
give businesses greater certainty about whether a merger is likely to be
reviewed in the UK. This will help businesses plan transactions with
greater confidence, while ensuring the CMA can continue to intervene
where a deal could harm competition and risk higher prices or reduced
choice for UK consumers. This will be delivered by clarifying the tests
the CMA uses to assess whether it has jurisdiction to investigate a
merger. The Bill will also give businesses and the CMA more time at
the early stages of an investigation to engage and, where appropriate,
agree solutions quickly, thereby increasing the chances of resolving
concerns without the need for longer, more costly in-depth
investigations.

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Territorial extent and application
● The Bill will extend and apply across the UK.

Key facts
● The CMA is the UK’s primary consumer and competition authority. In the three
years to 2024-25, the annual average direct consumer saving resulting from
the CMA’s work was £3 billion (CMA Annual Report 2024-25).
● For every £1 spent on the CMA by UK taxpayers, the CMA has returned over
£24 in savings to consumers over the last 3 years (CMA Annual Report
2024-25).
● Multinational technology company International Business Machines
Corporation (IBM) said “These changes have the potential to make the UK
regime clearer and easier to navigate for businesses while retaining the
CMA’s ability to intervene where intervention is justified.”
● The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) said “We welcome the
government’s focus on pace, predictability, proportionality, and process.
These objectives matter greatly to SMEs. For smaller firms, uncertainty itself
can operate as a significant cost and barrier to growth.”
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Regulating for Growth Bill

“Legislation will be introduced to… reduce the burden of unnecessary regulation
through innovation”

● Regulation is vital to the UK economy, but too often it fails to keep pace with a
world of accelerating change. While effective regulation rightly protects
people, workers and consumers, the current system is frequently complex,
risk averse, slow to adapt and poorly suited to modern technologies and
business models. The Bill builds on the 2025 Regulation Action Plan to
modernise regulation so it supports growth and innovation while maintaining
essential safeguards.

● To compete on the world stage we must ensure regulation keeps pace with
the unprecedented speed of technological innovation. That means enabling
rapid but controlled testing of new approaches through regulatory sandboxes,
followed by the swift rollout of reforms. This approach will allow the UK to
safely seize opportunities, from artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging
technologies to breakthrough medical advances – to the benefit of UK
businesses, citizens and national security.

● Regulators also have a crucial role to play. They must prioritise growth more
clearly than they do today, while continuing to balance this with their core
responsibilities to protect consumers and citizens. As part of a suite of
measures including the strengthened growth duty, regulators will actively
support innovation, reinforced by clearer strategic steers from government to
individual regulators.

What does the Bill do?
● The current lack of agility and responsiveness to innovation and change in our
regulatory system is already undermining the UK’s competitive edge, while
other countries like the USA, China, Singapore and Canada are accelerating
market pilots, regulatory innovation and capital mobilisation. Without greater
agility, the UK risks falling behind and ceding technological leadership,
harming both innovation and growth.
● The Regulating for Growth Bill will make the UK’s regulatory system fit for the
future so that it plays a full role in delivering growth and supporting innovation.

30

● The Bill will:
○ Strengthen the Growth Duty, elevating consideration of growth in
regulatory decision‑making without undermining regulators’ core
objectives (e.g. on safety or the environment). It will give a list of
leading regulators such as Natural England, the Environment Agency,
and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a clear, statutory mandate
to prioritise growth without undermining their important core functions,
reducing unnecessary risk aversion and ensuring regulatory decisions
support investment, infrastructure and market creation. This will be
supported by a new statutory power for ministers to issue strategic
steers, enabling them to define what growth means in different
regulatory contexts, including through regulators enabling innovation.
The new strengthened Growth Duty also has additional legal measures
such as reporting requirements, to ensure that it has real measurable
impact.
○ Create sandbox powers. As announced by the Chancellor in her 2026
Mais Lecture, the Bill will create cross-economy “sandboxing powers”
so that businesses can test cutting-edge new products and
technologies safely, prove what works and then scale up delivery of
these changes more quickly. These sandboxing powers will be legal
powers to allow existing rules to be temporarily relaxed, under strict
controls, to test new products and technologies in real-world settings.
This will support the UK to unlock growth from emerging technologies
where current regulatory frameworks create barriers, with a focus on
the Industrial Strategy’s growth-driving sectors, but also enable citizens
to benefit (for example from accelerated access to medical treatments)
and support the UK’s national security (for example by testing next
generation defence technology).
● The intention is to enable controlled, live‑market trials where existing laws can
be modified or suspended to allow experimentation in relation to technologies
such as medicines, autonomous maritime and defence technology, AI and
other fast‑growing technologies. This enables ideas that are proven in testing
to be deployed at pace and scale, driving productivity and economic growth
but also unlocking wider benefits for society. In practice, these powers could
be used in a range of growth-critical sectors, for example:
○ Enabling controlled testing of innovative medicines or medical devices
including AI, improving patient access to new lifesaving treatment and
technologies;
○ Exploring the establishment of an ambitious regulatory sandbox for
Maritime Autonomous Surface Shipping (MASS), to trial safely
31

breaking down regulatory barriers and increasing UK competitiveness
on the global stage for commercial vessels. This in turn, could enable
controlled testing of next generation defence technology in closely
supervised environments, supporting national security while
accelerating innovation, productivity and growth across the UK defence
industrial base; and
○ Exploring cross-cutting AI sandboxes, enabling responsible testing and
adoption of AI-enabled products and services across multiple sectors
where existing regulatory frameworks currently slow innovation.
● These trials would operate under strict safeguards, including protections for
consumers, workers and human rights, with clear accountability and
regulatory oversight throughout. If a trial proves successful, the Bill will allow
these changes to quickly be embedded permanently into law.
● International examples show the power of agile frameworks. Singapore’s
Pro‑Enterprise Sandbox and Canada’s experimentation frameworks have
boosted investor confidence and reduced time‑to‑market, while the UK’s own
Financial Conduct Authority ‘Innovate’ initiative helped firms launch faster and
raise more capital. These successes highlight how structured regulatory
flexibility drives competitiveness.
● This legislation is not about deregulation. The Bill will strengthen regulatory
agility without undermining consumer protections, workers’ rights or
regulators’ operational independence. The strengthened Growth Duty will
make clear that regulators must continue to prioritise their core duties, but
doing so with an approach that actively supports growth; the sandboxing
powers will provide safeguards so regulatory protections are not undermined.
The Bill will modernise regulation so that protections remain robust while the
system becomes far more responsive to change, meaning we can keep pace
with other countries.

Territorial extent and application
● The Bill will extend and apply to the whole of the UK.

Key facts

● The UK’s regulatory system is increasingly misaligned with the speed and
nature of modern innovation. Businesses describe growing pressure from
global competitors who are benefiting from faster, more coordinated and more
digitally enabled regulatory systems, while UK processes remain slow,
fragmented and administratively heavy.
32

● Only around one in five businesses say regulators support innovation or
understand their business well enough to provide tailored advice - limiting the
adoption of new products, technologies, and business models.
● In medicines regulation, existing innovation pathways for streamlining the
development of new medical treatments (Innovative Licensing and Access
Pathway and the Innovative Devices Access Pathway) operate within current
legislation. This limits the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency’s ability to support novel products and regulatory approaches, even
when statutory flexibilities, including Emergency Use Authorisation, are
maximised.
● In healthcare, nearly 750,000 patient imaging cases were not reported within
four weeks over the past year, a 31 per cent increase year-on-year, driven by
a mismatch between demand and workforce growth. Imaging demand is rising
by approximately seven per cent annually, while the radiology workforce is
projected to grow by only approximately 3.9 per cent per year over the next
five years. Evidence shows that every four week delay in starting cancer
treatment increases mortality risks by around ten per cent. Research indicates
that AI could materially improve capacity and productivity, with AI performing
better than 78-90 per cent of radiologists on certain prediction tasks.
● In maritime, the global market for autonomous technologies was valued at
$89.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $217.6 billion by 2033. With
effective and proportionate regulation, analysis suggests the UK could capture
around ten per cent of this global market, supporting growth, inward
investment, UK intellectual property exports and high-value jobs across the
maritime and defence industrial base.
● Existing UK shipping legislation was conceived on the assumption that ships
would be navigated by a master and seafarers onboard, creating complexity
and uncertainty for businesses developing Maritime Autonomous Surface
Ships (MASS). Streamlining regulatory pathways through clearer and more
consistent certification and approval routes could significantly reduce
administrative burdens, with preliminary estimates suggesting savings of
around £1.3 million per year for industry, while maintaining high safety and
environmental standards and supporting rapid development of innovative
technologies.
● AI alone contributed an estimated £11.8 billion to UK GDP in 2025, with over
£1 billion in venture funding raised in just the first quarter — and it is only one
part of a wider technological wave.
● Nearly one third of UK AI startup leaders are considering relocating overseas
due to regulatory complexity and capital constraints.
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Enhancing Financial Services Bill

● The financial services sector plays a vital role in the UK’s economy – it is one
of the most successful export sectors, a key enabler of growth in other
sectors, and a provider of payments, credit, insurance and investment
services to households and businesses all across the UK, including through
credit unions supporting communities nationwide.

● The Enhancing Financial Services Bill will deliver key parts of the Leeds
Reforms set out by the Chancellor in 2025. It will modernise how the sector is
regulated, enable it to grow and to lend more to businesses, and make
consumer protections fit for the digital age – all while maintaining high
standards of regulation and oversight, supporting the UK’s position as a
leading global financial centre.

What does the Bill do?

● The financial services sector is one of the UK’s greatest economic
success stories – playing a vital role in the economy, responsible for around
20 per cent of UK exports and underpinning the provision of payments, credit,
insurance and investment services to households and businesses. The UK is
the world’s largest net exporter of financial services and a leading global
financial centre, serving people and businesses across the world. It supports
jobs across the country in places like Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh and
London.
● The UK financial services sector has continually been at the forefront of
innovation. However global competition has intensified and the UK needs to
keep up the pace. This has meant that in recent years, the sector has
experienced slower growth and productivity gains, and higher costs. We want
Britain to be more competitive globally, and to harness the UK’s global
leadership in financial services, so it is better able to support UK businesses
and consumers.
● The Bill will:
○ Modernise consumer protections and redress arrangements to
reflect today’s markets and maintain confidence. It will ensure
consumers are appropriately protected when something goes wrong,
making sure protections are fit for the digital age. Reforms to the
Financial Ombudsman Service will increase consistency and clarity of
34

decision-making, helping people resolve disputes more quickly and
with greater certainty.
○ Consolidate the regulatory framework to enable stronger
coordination and clearer responsibilities, reduce fragmentation of
the regulators and support innovation. By streamlining the
regulatory architecture and consolidating the Payment Systems
Regulator within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), firms will deal
with fewer overlapping regulators, providing clearer accountability and
faster decision-making.
○ Ensure that the administrative burden on firms is proportionate
without compromising on core consumer, prudential and market
protections. This includes reducing the overall burden of the Senior
Managers and Certification Regime - the framework that holds senior
leaders in financial firms personally accountable - by 50 per cent with a
focus on accountability of the most senior figures in financial services;
freeing up firms to focus on serving customers and invest in growth,
rather than dealing with overly burdensome compliance processes.
○ Enable credit unions to expand by improving the rules on who can
become a member. This will allow credit unions to serve more people
and communities, widening access to affordable finance and
supporting the Government’s aim to double the size of the mutual and
co-operative sector.
○ Support lending and investment including by updating the statutory
framework underpinning the ring-fencing regime, which requires major
banks to separate their UK retail banking services from investment
banking activities. The reforms will unlock more finance for UK
businesses. Improved competition in Small and Medium-Sized
enterprises’ (SME) lending will help small businesses access finance.

Territorial extent and application

● The majority of measures will extend and apply to the whole of the UK.

Key facts

● The financial services sector accounts for around 8 per cent of UK output
and employs more than 1.1 million people across the country. It is one of the
UK’s most globally competitive sectors, with London ranked second only to New
York in the 2025 Global Financial Centres Index.
35

● The sector also makes a very significant tax contribution. According to
TheCityUK figures, in 2023 the sector contributed £79.3 billion, or around 9 per
cent of total UK tax receipts.
● The UK is the largest global net exporter of financial services totalling
£102.2 billion in 2025, representing half of the UK’s services export surplus. ONS
figures show that excluding the US, UK financial services exports in 2025 were
greater than the rest of the G7 combined.
● Despite its strengths, the sector has not grown in real terms since 2010, in
contrast to several international financial centres that have recovered more
strongly since the Global Financial Crisis. Slower growth can harm
productivity, innovation and jobs, and risks losing jobs and investment overseas.
● The financial services regulatory framework has grown significantly over
time. Responses to the Government’s ‘Financial Services Growth and
Competitiveness Strategy: Call for Evidence’ indicated that the complexity of the
UK regulatory environment is detracting from the UK’s overall attractiveness, with
many respondents indicating that it was more complex and burdensome to be
regulated as a financial services firm in the UK than in other countries.
● Credit unions are financial co-operatives currently serving over 1.5 million
people across Great Britain, according to Bank of England data. These reforms
will make it easier for the 220 credit unions in Great Britain to attract more
members, allowing millions more people to potentially benefit from the expansion
of affordable, community-based financial services. This supports the
Government's ambition to double the size of the mutual sector and, as credit
unions are deeply embedded in their communities, promote growth across all
regions of Great Britain.
● The Chief Executive Officer of Santander UK, Mike Reigner, said “We welcome
the announcement of the Leeds Reforms… which set out a positive vision for UK
financial services. The changes outlined within the package are important steps
to modernising the UK’s regulatory architecture, and will enable banks like ours to
support our customers better and drive growth within the wider economy.”
36

Highways (Financing) Bill

“Legislation will be introduced to… enable roads to be built at pace, including the
Lower Thames Crossing;”

● A strong transport network is essential for economic growth. It allows freight
to run smoothly, helps businesses run more easily, and gives people better
access to jobs, education, and wider opportunities. Improving vital road
infrastructure is an important part of strengthening the country’s economy, as
well as delivering safer and more reliable journeys for people.

● The Highways (Financing) Bill will enable a new financing approach to fund
large-scale road schemes, supporting the Government’s commitment to
deliver a modern transport network that helps people get to where they need
to more easily and safely. The Bill enables the delivery of schemes through
private investment, reducing the financial burden on taxpayers while ensuring
strong regulatory oversight to protect the interests of users.

● The Government is already delivering on improving the road network through
investing £27 billion to make everyday journeys on motorways and major A
roads safer, smoother, and more reliable for the people and businesses that
depend on them. A record £8.4 billion of this will be invested in renewing
ageing assets across the network, strengthening the performance and
resilience of the network through better road surfaces, clearer signs and
modernised roadside technology. The Government is also investing a record
£7.3 billion over the next four years to repair and renew local roads and fix
potholes.

What does the Bill do?

● The Highways (Financing) Bill will introduce a new Regulated Asset
Base (RAB) funding model to unlock greater levels of private capital
investment in road infrastructure. This will supplement the work already
done by National Highways in England to maintain and increase road capacity
and improve the road network to help people travel around more easily.

● The Bill will:

○ Introduce a licence regime to allow private companies, as licence
holders, to deliver key road schemes to improve the road network. The
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Bill will set out the powers and responsibilities of the licence holders.

○ Name an independent regulator to provide strong oversight of
licence holders, to ensure that the infrastructure built under this model
remains well maintained, efficiently managed, and provided at a fair
and proportionate cost to users.

○ Introduce backstop measures to protect vital publicly used assets
managed under the model, helping ensure that the roads remain open
even if the private company fails.

● The RAB funding model will support the delivery of vital road infrastructure
projects across England in future. The Government expects that the Lower
Thames Crossing will be the first road scheme to use this model.

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend to England and Wales, and apply to England only.

Key facts

● Delivering road schemes effectively and affordably is essential for the
UK’s future economic prospects and to help people get around more
easily. Over 85 per cent of passenger journey kilometres are made on roads,
as well as around 80 per cent of freight journeys.

● The RAB model that the Bill will deliver offers a long-established way of
financing major infrastructure in England. It has been successfully used in
sectors like energy and aviation. Most recently, it has been used on projects
such as the Thames Tideway Tunnel and the Sizewell C nuclear project.
Applying the lessons learned from those projects will enable the model to
work even better in the roads sector.

● By establishing an independent regulator as part of the RAB model, the
Government can ensure transparency in operations, clear performance
standards, and protection for users. If the regulated company does not
meet the standards required, the regulator can take enforcement actions – for
example by issuing the company with penalties or ultimately by revoking its
licence to operate the road.

● The Chief Executive of Logistics UK, Ben Fletcher, said that “…A reliable
road network is critical for the UK’s logistics sector and the nation’s economic
prosperity, with delays and costs caused by poor infrastructure felt by
businesses and consumers alike. It is estimated that every £1 invested in the
38

Strategic Road Network returns over £2 to society, and a reliable road
network is also critical for increasing the resilience of the UK’s supply chain by
enabling better connectivity with all other modes of freight transport.”

● The multinational energy company, Iberdrola, states that “The RAB model
offers stability and predictability: investors know they will be able to recover
their investment over time, while consumers benefit from tariffs controlled by
the regulator. This balance makes the RAB an effective tool for attracting
private capital to long-term strategic projects, reducing perceived risk and
therefore the cost of financing.”
39

Overnight Visitor Levy Bill

● The Overnight Visitor Levy Bill will deliver on the manifesto commitment to
transfer power out of Westminster by devolving new revenue raising powers.

● This is the first step in a new era of fiscal devolution in England, giving mayors
and potentially other local leaders of Foundation Strategic Authorities the
power to introduce a levy to raise and invest money into projects that improve
their areas, raise living standards and drive growth.

What does the Bill do?

● In the 2025 Budget, the Government committed to a new overnight
visitor levy and launched a consultation on its design. This Bill delivers
on that commitment. The Government will shortly publish a response to the
consultation, setting out stakeholder views and providing further detail on the
design and implementation of the levy, including a position on extending this
power to Foundation Strategic Authorities.

● The levy will enable places to reinvest revenue in local priorities,
support economic growth, strengthen public services, and improve the
visitor experience – helping destinations remain attractive to visitors while
ensuring tourism contributes to thriving local communities. The Overnight
Visitor Levy will enable mayors and potentially other local leaders to raise
revenue and reinvest it back into their local economies.

● This Bill will bring England in line with Scotland and Wales, as well as
international peers. Scotland and Wales have already introduced powers for
local authorities to raise a visitor levy. Visitor levies are common in Europe
and the rest of the world, and all other G7 countries already maintain some
form of tourism or accommodation levy.

● This Bill will provide a legislative framework to enable mayors and
potentially other local leaders to introduce a levy. It is anticipated that the
Bill will address the broad conditions under which a levy may be introduced,
as well as the structure of the tax.

Territorial extent and application

● This Bill will extend to England and Wales and apply to England only.

40

Key facts

● Mayors and local leaders in the UK are left far behind their international
equivalents in their ability to raise revenue locally. According to the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the share
of national taxes collected at the sub-national level in the UK is 5.8 per cent:
just a fifth of the European Union average, and the lowest of the G7 by far. In
France, the share is 20.4 per cent; in Japan, 36.0 per cent, and in the USA,
45.7 per cent.

● Extending the power to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy will bring
England in line with leaders in similar destinations. All other G7 countries
already have some form of tourism or overnight accommodation levy in place.
Some of these are well established – France has had an equivalent levy in
place since 1910. Others are more recent: Norway, for example, is introducing
their visitor contribution from summer 2026. Cities such as New York,
Amsterdam, and Rome apply overnight charges to fund local services.

● Similar powers are used worldwide to support communities and the
visitor economy. Visitor levies have supported projects from large scale
infrastructure works, such as expanding the capacity of public transport
networks, to attracting and supporting major cultural and sporting events, to
smaller public realm improvements like street cleaning around tourist sites.
The exact amount raised by local areas to support such projects in England
will be dependent on decisions by mayors with their constituent authorities.

● Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said "Mayors have made a strong
case for the introduction of this levy as the first step toward fiscal devolution,
and we're delighted the government has listened. By asking visitors to pay a
small fee on overnight stays, we'll be able to invest more into making our
regions even better places to visit - driving tourism and growth, unlocking
opportunities, and helping our businesses thrive. This is a further vote of
confidence in devolution and shows the government is backing mayors to
deliver our ambitions.”

● Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said “Giving mayors the powers to raise a
tourist levy is great news for London. The extra funding will directly support
London’s economy, and help cement our reputation as a global tourism and
business destination.”

● Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said “Our visitor
economy is worth more than £6 billion a year and supports over 55,000 local
jobs. A modest levy is money that would stay local and be reinvested in the
things that make our region stand out.”
41

ENDING THE OPPORTUNITY CRISIS - A BRITAIN BUILT FOR ALL
Social Housing Renewal Bill

“My Ministers will bring forward legislation to increase long-term investment in social
housing”

● Everyone deserves to live in a decent, safe, secure and affordable home. Yet far
too many families in need of a social rented home are languishing on local
authority waiting lists, forced to struggle in the private rented sector or in
expensive temporary accommodation, driving up rents and housing benefit costs
in the process. At the same time, the ability and willingness of social housing
providers to invest in the building of new social rented homes is undermined by
the steady and significant loss of existing stock through the Right to Buy scheme.

● The Bill will protect much needed social housing stock, give affordable housing
providers the clarity and confidence they need to build more social homes, and
better protect tenants who are victims of domestic abuse by providing them with
greater security and stability. The Bill delivers on the manifesto commitments to
prioritise the building of new social rented homes and better protect our existing
stock. It builds on the funding and regulatory certainty that the Government has
provided to the sector and supports the five-step plan published in July 2025 to
deliver a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing.

What does the Bill do?

● The Bill has three core objectives. First, to protect much-needed social
housing stock and thereby incentivise the building of more social rented
homes. Second, to create a fairer system with greater protections for tenants
in instances of domestic abuse. Third, to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy
and give providers greater regulatory certainty so that they can invest in new
social and affordable homes with confidence.

● The Bill will:
Protect existing social housing stock and incentivising the building of
more social homes.
○ The Right to Buy scheme provides an important route for social
housing tenants to own their own homes. However, many of the homes
sold under the Right to Buy scheme have not been replaced. Not only
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has this depleted much-needed stock, but it has also reduced the
motivation and confidence of councils to build, and restricted broader
investment in council housing. Measures in the Bill will increase the
eligibility requirement to 10 years, amend percentage discounts to
better align with new maximum cash discounts and exempt newly built
social housing for 35 years. The Bill will also ensure that councils and
other potential buyers are notified before social homes are sold to
maximise opportunities to retain stock.
Protect tenants who are victims of domestic abuse by providing them
with greater security and stability.
○ All social housing tenants deserve to live in decent homes, to be
treated with fairness and respect, and to have their problems resolved
quickly. Measures in the Bill will increase protections for victims of
domestic abuse to remain in their property away from their abuser or
move to suitable alternative accommodation.
Clarify the statute book and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, so
providers can invest in new social and affordable homes with
confidence.
○ The Bill will repeal unimplemented provisions from previous legislation
that would not have worked in the interests of tenants or providers.
These include requirements for local authorities to sell high-value
homes, grant flexible (fixed-term) tenancies, and to charge higher
income tenants higher rents. It will also reduce bureaucracy for
councils by streamlining housing consents.

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend to England and Wales, but apply to England only.

Key facts

● The social housing sector plays a critical role in our housing system,
making up approximately 16 per cent of all households in England. It is
home to a large proportion of vulnerable groups, with 61 per cent of
households having at least one member with a long-term illness or disability,
and 50 per cent of households in the lowest income quintile (English Housing
Survey 2024-25).
● This country has not built enough social and affordable housing for
decades. Over 175,000 children are living in temporary accommodation, and
more than 1.3 million households are on local authority waiting lists for social
43

housing. Between 2015 and 2025, the number of households on local
authority housing registers increased by approximately 6.7 per cent (equating
to around 84,000 households) (Local Authority Housing Statistics open data:
2024-25).
● Social and affordable housing is critical to boosting housing supply
overall. Almost one in three of all new homes built in recent years are social
or affordable - in 2024-25, there were nearly 60,000 social and affordable new
build completions (Affordable Housing Supply in England: 2024-25). However,
the path to 1.5 million homes requires further growth in this sector and social
house building remains far below its peak in the 1950s and 1960s.
● Over two million tenants have bought their homes under the Right to
Buy scheme since its introduction in 1980, though much of this stock
has never been replaced and the threat of losing homes through the
scheme reduces the motivation and confidence of councils to build.
Between April 2012 and March 2025, there have been around 133,000
council Right to Buy sales with over 51,000 homes replaced over the same
period (Right to Buy sales and replacements, England: April 2024 to March
2025).
● In 2024-25, 39,410 households were considered homeless, or threatened with
homelessness, where the reason for the loss of their last settled home was
domestic abuse (Statutory Homelessness in England: Financial year
2024-25). The Bill will look to provide additional protections to those
individuals in the social housing sector.
● The Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, Kate
Henderson, said “At a time when 4.2 million people are in need of social
housing in England, we strongly support the Government’s aim to protect the
country’s social housing and welcome confirmation that Right to Buy will not
be extended to housing associations… The outcome from the various
measures the Government is taking should mean that the Right to Buy is a
much more sustainable scheme than it has been since 2012.”
44

Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill

“My Ministers will bring forward legislation to… reform the leasehold system,
including the capping of ground rents”

● For far too many leaseholders, the reality of home ownership has fallen
woefully short of the dream – their lives marked by a recurring struggle with
unregulated and unaffordable ground rents; unjustified permissions and
administration fees; unreasonable or extortionate charges; and onerous
conditions imposed with little or no consultation. This is not what home
ownership should entail.
● The Bill will modernise property law, deliver a fair and efficient modern
housing market and transform the experience of home ownership for millions
of leaseholders across the country. Alongside the ongoing implementation of
those reforms to the leasehold system already in statute, the Bill progresses
key reforms necessary to honour the manifesto commitment to finally bring
the feudal leasehold system to an end in this Parliament.

What does the Bill do?

● The Bill marks the beginning of the end for the feudal leasehold system that
has tainted the dream of home ownership for so many. It will transform the
experience of home ownership for millions of leaseholders across the country
and support them with the cost of living by giving them greater control over
how their homes are managed and the bills they pay.
● The current leasehold system in England and Wales has a number of
fundamental, structural flaws that mean it is weighted against the interests of
leasehold homeowners:
○ Third-party landlords exercise control over the management, shared
facilities and related costs of buildings rather than the leaseholders
who live in them and who have a direct stake in their upkeep.
○ Leaseholders do not own their homes forever and their value tends to
fall over time as the years remaining on leases reduce.
○ Leaseholders and residents on freehold estates can be viewed by
freeholders and managing agents not as homeowners or customers,
but as a source of steady profit, whether that be through unregulated
and unaffordable ground rents, unjustified fees, or rentcharges.
45

○ Leaseholders and residents on freehold estates are vulnerable to
disproportionate enforcement mechanisms such as forfeiture.
● The Bill will:

○ Create a new legal framework for commonhold, providing full
freehold ownership for flats and a bespoke approach to communal
living without control by third-party landlords; ensuring this radical
improvement on leasehold will be available for as many as possible by
making it workable for more types of buildings.
○ Introduce a ban on the use of leasehold for new flats to ensure that
in future commonhold is the default tenure for flatted development.
○ Implement a new process for converting to commonhold to make
conversion easier for existing leaseholders.
○ Cap ground rents at £250 per year, falling to a peppercorn after 40
years.
○ Abolish the disproportionate leasehold enforcement regime of
forfeiture, and replace it with a fairer system that strengthens
protections for leaseholders, removes the automatic risk of home loss
and protects leaseholders’ equity.
○ Repeal the draconian powers relating to enforcement
of maintenance charges (estate rentcharges) and require notice
before pursuing ordinary enforcement on freehold estates to protect
homeowners.
○ Amend enfranchisement provisions in the Leasehold and
Freehold Reform Act 2024 that make it cheaper and easier for
leaseholders to extend their lease or buy their freehold.
○ Create a new right for leaseholders in flats to request improvements,
such as a gigabit capable broadband connection.
● The draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, published in January
2026, included all of the above measures apart from the necessary ‘fixes’ to
the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and provisions relating to
gigabit capable broadband connections. The Housing, Communities and
Local Government Committee are currently undertaking pre-legislative
scrutiny on the draft Bill. The Government will consider any recommendations
made by the Committee before introducing the Bill.

46

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend and apply to England and Wales.

Key facts

● Each year an estimated 30,000 - 40,000 new flats are delivered across
England and Wales (HM Land Registry: Price Paid Data) and over 99 per
cent of flats for sale are sold as leasehold (Leasehold housing in England
Statistics, House of Commons Library). Commonhold offers a better
alternative to leasehold for flat ownership. Ownership is on a freehold basis
from the outset and owners are part of a commonhold association, which
gives them more control over their homes and greater opportunity to have a
say over key decisions affecting how their building is used, managed and
financed.
● The existing model of commonhold has not worked - there are fewer
than 20 commonholds despite the tenure being available for over 20
years (The Law Commission on Commonhold, July 2020). Without reform to
make commonhold workable for modern developments, including mixed-use
and mixed tenure blocks, that number is unlikely to increase.
● The Bill will ensure that existing leaseholders can take advantage of the
reinvigorated commonhold model. Although commonhold has been
available since the regulations came into force in 2004, we are aware of only
one conversion having taken place. The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform
Act 2002 requires 100 per cent leaseholder consent, freeholder consent and
lender consent, meaning a single hold‑out can derail the entire process. This
makes conversion virtually impossible except in the smallest and simplest of
blocks.
● Although actual forfeiture cases are thought to be relatively rare, the threat of
forfeiture is routinely leveraged by landlords to ensure compliance. In
2024, the Property Tribunal recorded 786 breach determinations, providing a
partial indication of how regularly in a given year landlords are taking formal
litigation steps towards forfeiting a residential lease. Stakeholder estimates
suggest 80 to 90 per cent of forfeiture cases are triggered by a financial
breach of a lease, which can be initiated for unpaid amounts of as little as
£350 (Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill: Impact Assessment,
Annex 3).
● Approximately 3.8 million residential leaseholders in England and Wales
have a ground rent obligation. Of these, around 770,000 to 900,000 pay
over £250 a year in ground rent of which 490,000 to 590,000 are in London
47

and the South. In total, leaseholders pay over £600 million per year in ground
rent (The ground rents cap, House of Commons Library).
● There are up to 1.75 million homes on private estates in England, where
estate rentcharges could apply, although we do not know how many of
these are privately managed (English Housing Survey 2020-21). Competition
and Markets Authority analysis shows over 80 per cent of new freehold
homes built by the 11 largest housebuilders have estate management
charges (Housebuilding market study).
● Rentcharge owners can currently take enforcement action without prior
notice once arrears reach 40 days, including taking possession of the
property, granting long leases (sometimes 99 years) to third parties that can
continue even after arrears are paid, or appointing a receiver with
mortgagee-like powers. These powers are widely regarded as
disproportionate and can create significant difficulties for homeowners,
lenders and prospective buyers.
● The Chair of the Leasehold Advisory Service, Martin Boyd, said “This is a
significant milestone for leaseholders and marks the beginning of the end for
the leasehold system as we know it. The draft Bill tackles some of the most
damaging features of leasehold … the Bill signals a decisive shift away from
leasehold as the default form of home ownership. Moving
towards commonhold and making it easier for existing buildings to convert
where leaseholders choose to do so, has the potential to give homeowners
genuine control, security and long-term certainty over their homes.”
48

Education for All Bill

“A Bill will be brought forward to raise standards in schools and introduce
generational reforms of the special educational needs system”

● Every child deserves the chance to achieve and thrive, whatever their
background and whatever their need. That means raising standards and raising
expectations for all, because when we get things right for children and young
people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), every child
benefits.

● This Bill will transform support for children and young people with SEND by
providing early access to support close to home and ensuring all schools,
nurseries and colleges deliver the stretching, rewarding education that all
children and young people deserve. The Government will build a truly inclusive
education system that works for every family.

What does the Bill do?

● The Government is consulting on SEND proposals and will carefully consider
the responses. Subject to this, and ongoing engagement with families, the
sector and experts, the Government will meet the reform principles by
providing support that is:

○ Early: Children and families should receive the support they need as
soon as possible, with a quick response to changing needs.

○ Local: Children and young people with SEND should be able to learn
at an education setting close to their home, alongside their peers,
rather than travelling long distances from their family and community.

○ Fair: Every education setting should be resourced and able to meet
common and predictable needs, including as they change over time,
without parents having to fight to get support for their children.

○ Effective: Reforms should be grounded in evidence, ensuring all
education settings know where to go to find effective practice that has
excellent long-term outcomes for children and young people.

○ Shared: Education, health and care services should work in
partnership with one another, Best Start Family Hubs, local
49

government, families, teachers, educators, experts, the voluntary
sector and representative bodies to deliver better experiences and
outcomes for all children and young people.

● The Bill will:

○ Provide early support to Children with SEND by legislating to
require settings to produce an individual support plan for every child
and young person with SEND. It will equip early years providers,
schools, and colleges to intervene early and effectively by creating
National Inclusion Standards to support settings to identify and
implement best practice.

○ Enable local support by making mainstream settings more
inclusive. The Bill will ensure more children and young people receive
the right support early on, by delivering more training on SEND and
inclusion than ever before. This will be underpinned by a new
requirement set out in the SEND Code of Practice, to ensure staff in
every nursery, school, and college receive training on SEND and
inclusion. This will be backed by over £200 million in investment
which will cover children with SEND in their earliest years through to
age 25, with all teachers, leaders, and teaching assistants and support
staff benefiting from new training.

○ Improve fairness across the system by funding schools on a fair and
consistent basis, wherever they are in the country, and requiring
schools to pool a portion of their funding for SEND. It will ensure
children and young people with the most complex needs receive high
quality, consistent support, through new Specialist Provision Packages.
It will end the postcode lottery for children and young people with
Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) by introducing a new
national template, and moving from a system of annual reviews to
reviews at the end of every key stage for school-age children, with
parents able to request an earlier review. The role of the SEND tribunal
will also be reformed.

○ Ensure a smooth transition from the current to the new system via
a triple lock of transitional protections that will mean no child loses
effective support already in place. Every child with a specialist setting
place in September 2029 will be able to stay in a specialist setting until
they finish education.

○ Ensure that support is effective and grounded in best practice by
embedding inclusive practices and enabling leaders to determine their
50

overall approach to identifying and meeting the needs effectively by
requiring settings to publish an Inclusion Strategy to encourage
strategic, cohort-level planning to remove barriers to education, and
hold settings to account on strengthening inclusive practice. Inclusion
strategies would need to be based on new National Inclusion
Standards, developed by a panel of independent experts.

○ Utilise partnerships and ensure that support is shared across
settings. The Government will ensure that specialist services are
available for mainstream settings to support children and young people
with SEND. This will mean that early years, school, and college
settings can quickly access specialist services such as speech and
language therapists. It will establish smoother transitions between
school and post-16 education by ensuring that schools and post-16
providers work together and transition planning for SEND learners
starts 12 months in advance. Targeted support will also be provided for
those identified as being at risk of becoming Not in Education,
Employment or Training (NEET).

● The Government has announced over £4 billion investment in SEND
reform over the next three years. Early Years settings, schools and
colleges will benefit from £3.7 billion of capital investment from this year
to 2030 to create tens of thousands of new places in Inclusions Bases in
mainstream settings, make buildings accessible, and create new special
school places. The Government will also invest £1.8 billion over the next
three years to create a new national offer called “Experts at Hand”,
wrapping professionals such as educational psychologists, speech and
language therapists, and occupational therapists around mainstream settings.

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend to England and Wales and apply to England only.

Key facts

● The current system is not delivering for children and young people with
SEND. Government research shows the gap between the GCSE results of
children with SEN compared to their peers without SEN has not meaningfully
narrowed over the last six years (2018-19 and 2024-25). 86.1 per cent of
16-17 year olds with SEN support were in education and training in March
2025, compared to 93 per cent of those without SEN.

● Many have to travel long distances to attend school and they are
disproportionately likely to be suspended, excluded, or persistently
51

absent. In 2023-24 the suspension rate for pupils with SEN support was 29.4
per cent - nearly four times higher than pupils with no identified SEN,
according to government research.

● Families are having to fight an ineffective system despite significant
increases in funding. Whilst “high needs” funding for local authorities
increased by 87 per cent between 2019-20 and 2025-26, outcomes have not
meaningfully improved. In January 2026, the number of children and young
people on a waiting list for speech and language therapy was 65,540,
alongside 17,353 for occupational therapy, 17,195 for physiotherapy, and
1,528 for vision screening (NHSE, Community health services waiting lists).
Less than half of EHCPs are produced within the statutory 20-week period.

● Pupils with SEN in mainstream schools can achieve better outcomes
compared to similar pupils in special schools, according to government
research. Pupils with SEN in mainstream schools achieve around half a
grade higher in GCSE English and Maths compared to similar pupils in
special schools. International evidence highlights that young people educated
in inclusive settings are almost twice as likely to have secured economic
independence by the age of 23 to 25 than similar pupils who were in special
classes.

● Families have been pushed towards securing EHCPs because of a lack
of reliable high-quality support in mainstream settings. Since 2014, the
number of children and young people receiving an EHCP has doubled –
comparisons with Wales suggest that around half of that rise is likely specific
to the English system and context.

● EHCPs are increasingly used for a broader range of commonly
occurring needs. EHCPs were designed for the most complex needs.
However, many pupils whose needs were met by mainstream schools are
now being met via EHCPs.

● The number of appeals to the SEND Tribunal has risen rapidly in recent
years, leading to longer delays before children and young people receive
support and increasing the pressure on the courts. In the academic
year 2024-25 there were 25,002 registered appeals recorded in relation to
SEND, an increase of 18 per cent compared to 2023-24, and an increase
of 694 per cent from 2014-15.

● The Director of the Council for Disabled Children, Amanda Allard, said
“Today’s publication of the White Paper "Every Child Achieving and Thriving"
is a milestone on a long journey, one which provides a vision and hope for
much-needed improvement in the support for disabled children and young
52

people and those with special educational needs. This publication is not the
end of this journey, but a critically important landmark. We are pleased to see
the scale of its vision and commitment of resources for transforming our
education system and ensuring it values children and young people with
additional needs and their families.”

● The Chief Executive of Mencap, Jon Sparkes OBE, said “We’re pleased
the Government is committed to reforming the SEND system, which is
currently failing children with a learning disability.” “Right now, too many
families are left waiting, fighting and worn down. No child’s future should
depend on parents battling for support. That isn’t fair, and it isn’t sustainable.
“The move to make mainstream schools more inclusive is welcome news.
Families must have their children's needs identified early and for them to be
given the right help straight away, backed by services fully funded to do the
job, and rights underpinned by law.”

● The Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, Leora
Cruddas, said “The current ‘deficit model’ approach too often focuses on
what children can’t do. Encouraging inclusive support within mainstream
schools while recognising the crucial work of the specialist sector offers a
more positive approach, with quicker and more local support to help all
children succeed.”
53

Representation of the People Bill

● The Representation of the People Bill renews and protects democracy. The
Bill is focused on bringing British democratic traditions into the modern era,
ensuring that they are stronger, safer and more inclusive, while protecting our
democracy from external threats. Most notably it extends the right to vote to
16 and 17 year olds, the most significant expansion of the franchise in over
half a century.

● The Bill also protects the integrity of elections by tightening political finance
rules, strengthening enforcement by the Electoral Commission, improving
transparency around digital campaign material, and introducing tougher
measures to tackle harassment and intimidation of candidates, campaigners,
and electoral staff.

What does the Bill do?

● The Bill is designed to secure UK elections against those who threaten them;
to protect those who participate; to ensure democracy remains open and
accessible to legitimate voters; and to strengthen and preserve democracy for
the next generation.

● The Bill will:

○ Give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in all UK elections,
increasing the engagement of young people in our vibrant democracy,
as committed to in the manifesto. Early engagement by younger voters
will build the foundations for their lifetime participation in the electoral
processes.

○ Broaden the range of ID that can be used at a polling station in
Great Britain to allow the use of UK-authorised bank cards.
Legitimate electors should not be prevented from voting, and we are
committed to ensuring everyone eligible to vote is able and encouraged
to do so. While the existing requirement to show ID is valuable to
protect electors from the risk of personation, the current rules are too
restrictive. This change will allow a greater proportion of legitimate
electors to more easily meet the voter identification requirements.

○ Work to test new automated registration systems. Automated
registration could remove a key barrier to eligible citizens participating
54

in democracy. The Bill will provide a legal power to run pilots on
electoral registration. This is intended to provide a route to test novel
approaches to registration now and in the future.

○ Introduce tougher rules on political donations to protect UK
elections, safeguarding against foreign interference, improving political
transparency, adding tougher checks for donations and closing
loopholes by reinforcing electoral legislation against foreign
interference. These changes will meet an evolving and sophisticated
threat, while making sure legitimate donors can continue to fund
electoral campaigns.

○ Strengthen the role and powers of the Electoral Commission to
maximise the impact of reforms to political finance rules. As the
independent regulator, the role of the Electoral Commission is
invaluable in upholding trust in democracy. Through addressing
historical enforcement gaps, expanding the Electoral Commission’s
civil sanctioning powers, and improving operational effectiveness,
these reforms will ensure that enforcement provides a clear deterrent
against breaking the law whilst remaining proportionate.

○ Tackle harassment and intimidation of voters, electoral staff
and campaigners, both online and in person. This conduct is totally
unacceptable and has a profoundly detrimental impact on the
democratic process, deterring people from campaigning and standing
for public office. The Bill expands the law so those who are convicted
of intimidating or abusing electoral staff can be disqualified from
standing for or holding elected office. It also empowers courts to give
tougher sentences to those who abuse candidates, campaigners,
elected representatives and electoral staff, and removes
the requirement for candidates who are acting as their own election
agents to have their home address published on the notice of election
agents.

○ Introduce measures to improve the transparency of digital imprint
rules, and placing enforcement on a clearer and more
proportionate footing. Transparency around who is promoting
political advertising is a key part of equipping people with the tools to
scrutinise political messages and make informed decisions in elections
and referendums. Digital imprints are designed to make it clear to the
public which person or organisation is responsible for promoting an
advert. Under existing rules, third party campaigners who spend under
a certain threshold, are not required to include imprints on their organic
digital campaigning material. To close this loophole, we will add any
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person who is a third party campaigner, but is not a recognised third
party or an individual, to the list of entities who are required to include
digital imprints on their organic digital campaigning material.

○ Improve the resilience and capacity of the postal voting system,
by bringing forward the deadline for candidate nominations; moving the
postal vote application deadline earlier; and clarifying key processes to
Returning Officers to reduce risk and improve delivery. Postal voting is
now a significant part of UK elections, with more than a quarter of votes
at the 2024 General Election cast by post. Growing demand is placing
pressure on local election teams and the supply chain –
including specialist suppliers and postal services – these measures are
designed to relieve such pressure.

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill extends and applies differently across the UK. This is to take account
of differences in electoral systems with local government and devolved
legislature elections being devolved in Scotland and Wales, and the unique
electoral system in Northern Ireland.

Key facts

● There are around 1.7 million eligible 16 and 17 year olds who will be able
to have a say in UK Parliamentary elections for the very first time once
these reforms have passed.

● Evidence from places that have lowered the voting age shows that doing so
can increase turnout when implemented in a supportive environment,
according to a 2023 Electoral Commission report.

● Young people have told us that they not only want their voices to be heard but
for action to be taken as a result. They want the power and agency to take
control of their lives, make their own choices and be part of decisions that
affect them.

● At the 2024 UK General Election, a small but significant number (0.25
per cent, approximately 50,000) of electors were initially turned away
from polling stations because they did not have an accepted form of
photographic identification. Of these, approximately 16,000 (0.08 per cent
of electors) did not return to vote, according to the Electoral Commission’s
report into Voter ID at the 2024 UK general election, July 2024.

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● At least two per cent of people in Great Britain do not hold a form of ID
on the current list, according to research by Ipsos on Electoral Integrity,
published February 2025. Around four percent of non-voters in the General
Election cited voter ID as a factor in their not turning out to vote (Electoral
Commission report “Voter ID at the 2024 UK general election”, July 2024).

● Research by MHCLG shows that allowing the use of bank cards will reduce
the proportion of electors without an accepted form of ID to under one per
cent - making it far easier for legitimate electors to meet the voter ID
requirements and vote at the polling station (Electoral Resilience and
Democratic Engagement Programme: Voter identification research, November
2025).

● In its 2023 report “Electoral Registers in the UK”, the Electoral
Commission estimates that between seven and eight million eligible
people are either incorrectly registered or not registered to vote at all.
Certain groups including young people, renters, some ethnic minorities, and
those from lower-socio economic groups are less likely to be registered to
vote.

● The maximum fine the Electoral Commission can currently impose for
breaches of the political finance framework is £20,000 per offence. Given
party spending limits during UK Parliamentary General Election campaigns
stand at £35 million, key stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission,
the Ethics and Integrity Commission (formerly Committee on Standards in
Public Life), and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs
Committee have described the current maximum fine as an inadequate
deterrent.

● In 2024, the police investigated 445 cases under the Representation of
the People Act 1983 and currently have only issued a single police
caution (Electoral Commission’s 2024 electoral fraud data, March 2025). This
included 17 cases relating to expense returns, none of which have resulted in
convictions or police cautions. There is currently an ‘enforcement gap’ in
relation to candidate, local third party and recall petition campaign finance
where breaches of the rules can only be investigated by the police and
referred for criminal prosecution which is often considered to be
disproportionate to the offence and not in the public interest.

● The Electoral Commission’s submission of evidence to the Speaker’s
Conference found that 55 per cent of respondents had experienced
some form of harassment, intimidation or abuse, with ethnic minority
and female candidates being more likely to report having experienced
serious abuse. 52 per cent of MPs reported they did not feel safe doing their
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job. 49 per cent said they had experienced anxiety or depression due to the
abuse and intimidation. One in three MPs had considered not standing
for re-election due to the scale of threats and abuse. One in six MPs had
considered resigning from public office altogether.

● At the 2024 General Election, just over one in four of the votes cast were
cast by post. 89 per cent of postal voters reported satisfaction with the
process of voting at the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election 95 per cent
in Northern Ireland, 91 per cent in Wales, 89 per cent in England and 85 per
cent in Scotland. This is according to the Electoral Commission’s
report into the May 2024 elections.

● The Electoral Reform Society’s view is that “This Representation of the
People Bill is a major step forward for our democracy. It will give more young
people a say, modernise our outdated registration system, and strengthen
rules around campaign finance.”
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Remediation Bill

“My Government will bring forward a Bill to speed up remediation for people living in
homes with unsafe cladding”

● Nearly nine years on from the Grenfell Tower Fire tragedy, there are still too
many buildings with unsafe cladding. The cladding safety crisis continues to
endanger lives, and leave people stuck in unsuitable homes they’re unable to
sell.

● The Remediation Bill delivers on the manifesto commitments to fix the
cladding crisis and make those responsible pay towards fixing the problem
they caused.

What does the Bill do?

● The Government is committed to driving forward remediation, that is, the
removal of unsafe cladding which is putting lives at risk. This Bill will tackle
those who are blocking remediation, restore confidence in the housing
market, and make sure no building, and no resident, is left behind.

● The Bill will:
○ Make construction product manufacturers pay towards fixing the
problem they caused, by fixing long-standing gaps in the law and
ending years of inaction. For the first time developers, contractors and
others who have paid to make buildings safe will be able to properly
pursue manufacturers, rather than being blocked by technical legal
barriers.
○ Equip regulators with the powers they need to compel action, and
bring the cladding safety crisis to an end. It is unacceptable that the
current regime lacks the severe sanctions needed to punish those who
continuously and egregiously block remediation.
○ Introduce a new legal duty to remediate, compelling those
responsible for the safety of their buildings, such as freeholders, to
identify, assess, and fix their buildings without delay. Those responsible
must act, or face the consequences, including criminal prosecution, in
the most egregious and severe cases.
○ Mandate how external wall assessments are carried out, to ensure
a nationally consistent approach to remediation work, and introduce an
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11-18 metre register to identify all remaining buildings requiring
remediation work. For the first time, the Government will have a
complete record of all medium-rise buildings in England – putting an
end to the information gap and improving system readiness if new risks
affect homes.
○ Implement a remediation backstop to allow a third party, such as
Homes England, to step in and carry out remediation work themselves,
ensuring that residents have a route to remediation even where the
responsible party is determined to ignore their duty to keep residents
safe. This will be backed by tough sanctions so they cannot benefit,
including cost recovery and potential sale of their interest.
○ Fix gaps in previous legislation to protect residents and
guarantee a route to remediation – even where ownership is absent,
unclear, or negligent.
● Every building made safe allows those who are stuck in unsuitable housing,
through no fault of their own, to sell their flats and move on with their lives.
Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend to England and Wales. The majority of measures will apply
in England only.

Key facts

● Of the 4,310 buildings that are 11 metres and above in England that have
been identified with unsafe cladding, work has been completed on only
35 per cent. Too many of those responsible are not complying with their
obligations to make their buildings safe. Regulators have had to take
enforcement action at over 800 buildings with suspected unsafe cladding.

● The Government, and some members of the construction industry, are
funding the cost of remediating external wall defects. The Government
has committed £5.15 billion to remediate buildings in England, and the cost to
the 53 developers who have signed the Developer Remediation Contract is
estimated at £4.2 billion for buildings they are responsible for. Construction
product manufacturers have yet to contribute towards the cost of fixing the
problem they caused. As yet, no claim against a manufacturer has been
brought to court. The Remediation Bill takes important steps to address this
position, and the Government will continue work to ensure manufacturers play
their part, including financially.

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● Too many buildings still lack clear, robust assessments of their external
walls, delaying remediation and leaving residents exposed to
unacceptable risk. The Bill will put into law the standards and assurance
practices already proven across government remediation programmes. It will
legally require Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEWs) surveys to
follow the PAS 9980 framework, providing a clear, proportionate and
evidence-based methodology for assessing external wall risks. The Building
Standards Institute is also working to finalise its review of PAS 9980 in
summer 2026.

● The ongoing cladding safety crisis is blighting lives across the country.
Those stuck in unremediated buildings are unable to feel safe in their homes,
and unable to sell up and move on. They also face higher costs. The Financial
Conduct Authority has found there was an 187 per cent increase in insurance
premiums for buildings with identified flammable cladding from 2016 to 2021.
The continued presence of unsafe cladding undermines confidence in the
safety, value, and viability of living in, and owning, flats.

● The Chair of the Building Safety Regulator Board, Lord Andrew Roe
KFSM, said “The Remediation Bill will give us additional tools we need to
compel reluctant landlords to take action to remediate their buildings and
remove unsafe cladding, or face severe sanctions.” “Everyone deserves to
feel safe and be safe in their homes. The Bill will help us achieve that goal.”

● The London Fire Brigade Commissioner, Jonathan Smith, said “We
welcome this announcement and the continued progress toward legislation
that will help address fire safety risks in high-rise residential buildings.” “Nearly
nine years on from the Grenfell Tower Fire, there remain far too many
buildings with serious fire safety issues. Ensuring that remediation progresses
more effectively is critically important to restoring the confidence of residents
in the safety of their homes.”
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Draft Conversion Practices Bill

“My Government will bring forward… a draft Bill to ban abusive conversion practices”

● Conversion practices are abuse, and the Government will deliver the
manifesto commitment to bring forward a trans-inclusive ban on conversion
practices.

What does the Bill do?

● The Conversion Practices Bill, which will be published in draft for
pre-legislative scrutiny, will seek to fill the gaps in criminal law to target
conversion practices.

● The Government wants to ensure that the criminal law offers protection from
these practices, while also preserving the freedom for people, and those
supporting them, to explore their sexual orientation and gender identity.

● The Government is clear that the ban must be balanced and targeted, so as
not to impinge on legitimate healthcare and the range of broader support that
those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity might seek or
receive. It is also not intended to interfere with people’s right to religious belief
and expression.

● There is cross-party and cross-society consensus to see these practices
banned. However, we need to ensure that the ban is effective in the
long-term. The draft Bill will therefore be put forward for pre-legislative
scrutiny, which will allow us to seek expert views from a range of
stakeholders, and inform the subsequent legislative approach.

● Reports and case studies highlight that individuals are being subjected to
conversion practices today - this is not just an historical issue. These
practices are often damaging and have long-term impacts. The Government
will act to protect all individuals from harmful and abusive attempts to change
their sexual orientation or transgender identity.

Territorial extent and application

● The draft Bill will extend and apply to England and Wales.

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Key facts

● Conversion practices are often hidden, covert, and associated with shame,
which results in a reluctance of victims to come forward and therefore makes
it difficult to ascertain the true extent of the problem. However, current
evidence consistently shows that conversion practices still happen today.

● A nationally representative survey of 2,000 LGBT+ individuals in Great Britain,
conducted by Opinium on behalf of Stonewall in 2024, found that around one
in ten (11 per cent) had experienced a form of conversion practice in the
previous year.

● A survey of LGBT+ individuals in the UK carried out by Galop in 2022 found
that:

○ Nearly one in five (18 per cent) of LGBT+ people in the UK have
been subjected to someone trying to change, ‘cure’, or suppress
their sexual orientation or gender identity.

○ Transgender respondents were much more likely to report having
been subjected to conversion practices (43 per cent).

● In 2017, the Government at the time conducted the National LGBT+ Survey.
The open access survey received around 108,000 valid responses from
across the UK. Of these:

○ Two per cent of respondents reported having “undergone
conversion or reparative therapy in an attempt to ‘cure’ them of
being LGBT,” and a further five per cent reported having been offered
it.

○ Transgender respondents were much more likely to report having
undergone or been offered conversion therapy than
non-transgender respondents (13 per cent vs seven per cent).
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Draft Ticket Tout Ban Bill

● For far too long, fans have been ripped off by touts buying large volumes of
tickets online and reselling them for vastly inflated prices. The Government
wants to help fans keep more of their hard-earned cash with action to make it
illegal for tickets to live events to be resold for more than their original cost,
eliminating the scourge of industrial scale ticket touting.

● These measures will support our creative industries, one of the Government’s
eight Industrial Strategy growth sectors, by diverting profits away from
unscrupulous touts and back into our world-famous live events sector – as well
as putting money back into the pockets of hard-working people.

What does the Bill do?

● The Bill, which will be published in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny, will seek to
destroy the operating model of ticket touts, improve access for genuine fans
when tickets originally go on sale, and end rip-off resale prices once and for
all.

● The Bill will:

○ Make it illegal to resell a ticket for a live event at more than its
original cost, reducing the average price of a resale ticket by £37 and
saving fans £112 million collectively each year.

○ Cap the service fees charged by resale platforms, preventing them
from inflating their fees to profit share with touts.

○ Make it illegal for someone to resell more tickets than they were
originally entitled to buy on the primary market.

○ Place strict obligations on ticket resale platforms to make sure they
are truly accountable for ensuring the new rules are adhered to on their
sites.

○ Empower the Competition and Markets Authority to impose tough
fines of up to ten per cent of global turnover upon those found to be
breaching the new laws.

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● Taken together, this will mean that ticket touting will no longer be a profitable
business in the UK, whilst still allowing genuine fans the ability to resell tickets
for events they can no longer attend in a safe and secure way. Tackling touts
will also help support the cost of living crisis by making it easier for genuine
fans to buy tickets from primary sellers when they first go on sale, enabling
more affordable prices on resale platforms, and creating a fairer system
where hard-working people get the access they deserve.

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend and apply to the whole of the UK.

Key facts
● Ticket touts, enabled by advances in digital technology, are using bots to buy
up large numbers of tickets for live events on the primary market and resell
them at vastly inflated prices on resale platforms.
● Typical mark-ups on secondary market tickets exceed 50 per cent, whilst
investigations by Trading Standards have found evidence of tickets being
resold at six times their original cost.
● These issues have been subject to intense media reporting around the
release of tickets for popular events, most notably the Oasis Live ‘25 Tour
announced in 2024.

● The secondary ticketing market is dominated by a relatively small
number of touts operating at scale. It is estimated that the 200 largest
resellers accounted for around 50 per cent of the ticket sales (by value) being
sold on secondary ticketing platforms.

● Government analysis suggests that these measures could save fans around
£112 million annually, with 900,000 more tickets bought directly from primary
sellers each year. Inclusive of all fees paid, the average ticket price paid by
fans on the resale market could be reduced by £37.
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Sporting Events Bill

● Sport brings people together like nothing else. Hosting major sporting events
brings significant economic benefits, inspires the next generation and drives
pride in our communities.

● The Sporting Events Bill will support and enhance the UK's status as a
world-leading host of major sporting events. It will ensure these events –
including EURO 2028 - can be delivered as efficiently as possible and
enhance our competitive advantage when bidding for future global
tournaments. It builds on our world-class reputation for delivering major
sporting events and shows the world we are ‘event ready’, in line with the
manifesto commitment.

What does the Bill do?

● The UK is a world-class host of major sporting events. To further strengthen our
reputation and capability, and deliver the manifesto commitment, this Bill
establishes a common legislative framework that can be applied to major
sporting events in the UK to ensure we can meet commitments to international
sporting event owners confidently, without the delay or uncertainty caused by
having to legislate for each one.

● The Bill will:

○ Enable Ministers to determine what specific measures are
appropriate for each future event and apply those provisions
accordingly via secondary legislation.

○ Deter touts by creating a UK-wide offence for the resale of tickets
for major sporting events. This will also ensure greater access to
tickets for fans.

○ Protect commercial rights by introducing a UK-wide prohibition on
unauthorised association with a sporting event and measures to restrict
advertising and trading around event locations.

○ Coordinate transport planning for major sporting events. These
measures, covering the requirement for a designated body to prepare,
consult on, and publish a statutory transport plan and enhanced road
regulation powers, ensure that appropriate traffic management
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measures can be put in place for major sporting events and minimise
the risk of relying on voluntary arrangements.

● This Bill will be used to support the delivery of the 2028 UEFA Men’s
European Football Championships (EURO 2028). The regulatory framework
created by the Bill will go further, providing confidence in the UK’s ability to
host the world's biggest sporting events in the future, such as the FIFA
Women's World Cup which the UK is seeking to host in 2035.

Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend and apply to the whole of the UK.

Key facts

● Sport is estimated to be worth over £53.6 billion a year in Gross Value
Added to the UK’s economy, as referenced in the Sport Satellite account for
the UK 2024, and major sporting events play a significant role in delivering
continued growth across many of our key sectors.

● Major sporting events drive significant spending in a number of areas,
particularly tourism and hospitality, creating jobs and boosting growth
across the country. On its own, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth
Games generated approximately £1.2 billion Gross Value Added of UK
economic output and nearly £80 million of social value, as set out in the ‘One
year post Games evaluation’ report.

● Alongside generating jobs and driving economic growth, major sporting
events bring significant non-monetised benefits, including social
cohesion, national pride, showcasing the UK internationally, strengthening soft
power and trade, and creating a legacy which improves health, wellbeing and
participation.

● The Chairwoman of the Football Association (FA) and UK & Ireland 2028,
Debbie Hewitt MBE, said “We welcome the UK Government’s announcement
today that reaffirms the nation’s commitment to being a world-leading host of
major sporting events, including UEFA EURO 2028. UK & Ireland 2028 and
UEFA are working together to ensure the tournament offers a world-class fan
experience and this legislation, including measures to tackle ticket touting, will
help protect supporters and keep the event accessible.” “With the UK
currently bidding for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035, the Bill also strengthens
our ability to secure future global events, creating opportunities to develop
grassroots sport and ensure our communities feel long-lasting benefits.”
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STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SERVICES AND REFORMING THE STATE
Police Reform Bill

“My Ministers will push forward with significant reforms to the police”

● The Government is determined to restore the public’s trust in policing by
driving down waste, cutting bureaucracy and empowering officers to focus on
issues that matter most to their communities, turning around years of decline
in neighbourhood policing.

● The Bill will deliver the biggest reform to policing in decades, strengthening
local policing, improving standards, and equipping the police with the
technology and skills to keep pace with criminals and tackle rapidly changing
threats.

● It will create a police service that is more rooted in local communities and
focused on their needs, more coherent in the way it is organised, more
consistent in achieving high standards, and more capable in terms of its
workforce, technology, and use of data.

What does the Bill do?

● The Bill will:

○ Ensure responsive and accountable local policing, by making sure
that in every force there are Local Policing Areas headed by a senior
officer and responsible to the public for delivering the policing their
community needs. The Government will deploy more officers into local
neighbourhoods, tackling everyday crime and antisocial behaviour
impacting local communities. Local Policing Areas will form the
foundation of fewer, larger police forces, which will have the resilience
to manage complex investigations and deliver specialist services that
protect the public.

○ Create a new national police force, the National Police Service,
that will deliver a unified response to the most serious crime, set
stronger national standards, and ensure a more consistent service is
received by the public regardless of where they live. The National
Police Service will bring together the National Crime Agency, Counter
Terrorism Policing, regional organised crime capabilities, the College of
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Policing and other national operational functions and specialist
capabilities.

○ Abolish Police and Crime Commissioners and put in place
successor arrangements. This will bring better outcomes for the public
and policing, promoting collaboration across services and driving a
whole-system approach to crime prevention.

○ Establish clear national priorities, from a more active Home Office.
Establishing a single set of ‘National Strategic Policing Priorities’ will
give policing clarity on core priorities, align policing towards a single
vision, and enable the Government to drive progress in halving
violence against women and girls and knife crime.

○ Set and enforce standards for policing to ensure that all police
forces across England and Wales are delivering high quality and
consistent services for their local communities. The new policing
performance system will provide greater grip and oversight of policing,
driving improvements to ensure the public get the service they deserve.

○ Establish a new legal framework to underpin law enforcement use
of facial recognition and similar technologies, making it clear when
use of these technologies can be justified, including creation of a
single, expert regulatory body to provide independent advice and
oversight. This will be world-leading and is essential for boosting public
and policing confidence in the use of these innovative technologies,
which has the potential to transform crime outcomes while also
generating major efficiencies.

Territorial extent and application

● The majority of measures in the Bill will extend and apply to England and
Wales.

Key facts

● The Government is already delivering for communities. Knife crime is
down, homicides are at their lowest levels in almost 50 years, and tens of
thousands of dangerous weapons have been taken off our streets.

● The Government will deliver 13,000 additional neighbourhood policing
personnel into roles across England and Wales by the end of this Parliament.
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By February 2026, more than 3,100 additional police officers and police
community support officers had been delivered into neighbourhood roles.

● Neighbourhood policing has been deprioritised, leaving communities
exposed to crime, disorder and a declining sense of public safety, with
officers too frequently covering shortfalls elsewhere. The percentage of
people reporting that they never see the police or police community support
officers on foot patrol in their local area has risen from 25 per cent in 2010-11,
to 54 per cent in 2023-24.

● Overall confidence in local police in 2024-25 is 67 per cent, up two
percentage points from 65 per cent in 2023-24 and down 12 percentage
points from 79 per cent in 2015-16.

● Trust in police in 2024-25 is 71 per cent, up two percentage points from 69
per cent in 2023-24 and down nine percentage points from 80 per cent in
2015-16.

● The Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) model has not achieved the
connection to local communities that was intended. 41 per cent of the
public are not aware their PCC even exists.

● Police performance has declined and is inconsistent across the country.
In 2024-25 the proportion of people who thought their local police force was
doing a good or excellent job ranged from 39 per cent to 62 per cent across
England and Wales.

● The National Police Chiefs’ Council said “This is the most significant
change in policing in the last half a century, to get policing ready to fight crime
and protect the public over the next half a century. The current policing model
was designed in the 1960s. The postcode lottery of 43 police forces doing
things 43 different ways, alongside a complicated mesh of regional
collaborations, national agencies and funding streams, is both inefficient and
ineffective. The need for significant police reform has been there for more
than a decade and is now urgent, in a world where 90 per cent of crime has a
digital element. We are grateful to ministers for clearly listening to the views of
policing and putting together a package of ambitious and far-reaching
measures which reflect the voice of our service.”
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NHS Modernisation Bill

“My Ministers will push forward with significant reforms to… the National Health
Service”

● The NHS Modernisation Bill is integral to the Government’s plans to improve
care for patients through investment and modernisation. It will enhance
patient safety and experience through a new Single Patient Record, enabling
joined-up, proactive care and empowering patients. The Bill puts power and
resources in the hands of frontline NHS organisations by abolishing NHS
England and stripping back national bureaucracy.

● These are necessary steps to reduce inefficiency, drive innovation, and
support early intervention to help people stay well for longer. This will help put
the NHS back on its feet so it’s there for patients when they need it, a better
place for staff to work and better value for taxpayers.

What does the Bill do?

● Lord Darzi’s 2024 Review of the NHS in England found the NHS in a critical
condition. A system too rigid and complex, over-centralised and with unclear
accountability, using fragmented and outdated information systems resulting
in poor patient care and experience.

● The 10 Year Health Plan for England sets out the Government’s vision to
deliver high-quality healthcare for the public. An NHS that harnesses digital
technologies, unlocks the value of health data, empowers patients and
clinicians, embeds patient voice in decision-making, and gives greater power
to local leaders, supported by a streamlined and accountable national centre.

● The Bill will:

○ Build the Single Patient Record - by enabling the NHS to bring
together patients health and social care records into one place to
improve patient safety and experience. It will enable people to see their
own health records securely on the NHS App, empowering them to
make informed decisions about their own health. This will apply to
those receiving maternity and frailty care by 2028, with learning from
this applied to the wider rollout.

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○ Abolish NHS England - by transferring NHS England’s functions into
the Department of Health and Social Care or the wider system, it will
reduce bureaucracy, freeing up resources to be reinvested in the
frontline – and in doing so will restore democratic ministerial
accountability for national decision-making.

○ Strengthen local democratic accountability in health systems - by
placing new requirements for mayoral nominees to be on Integrated
Care Boards (ICBs).

○ Streamline the patient safety landscape and ensure better outcomes
for patients and staff by transferring the Health Services Safety and
Investigations Body functions to the Care Quality Commission. It will
also help bring confidence that the Government has learnt from
previous experiences by extending the time limit for the Care Quality
Commission to bring legal action against a provider.

○ Embed patient voice in national decision-making by transferring the
functions of Healthwatch England to the Department of Health and
Social Care, and developing a new Patient Experience Directorate in
the department to make the public's voice more directly involved in the
formulation of policy.

○ Support ICBs to become strategic commissioners by transferring
responsibilities for all but the most specialised commissioning functions
to ICBs, including primary care, dentistry, ophthalmology and
pharmacy.

○ Give ICBs the flexibility in how to manage their local systems by
refining the membership of their boards. The Bill will also streamline
the planning process to ensure there are ICB plans at neighbourhood
and strategic level, eliminating the requirement on a local area to have
an Integrated Care Partnership and allowing for greater flexibility.

○ Empower providers through Foundation Trust reform, giving them
more flexibility to design and deliver healthcare around local needs by
removing the requirement for a Council of Governors. The power to
deauthorise Foundation Trusts as a last resort option will also return to
Ministers.

○ Ensure the voices of patients, service users and local people feed
directly into the services they receive, by transferring the functions
of Local Healthwatch to where local decisions are made. The functions
relating to healthcare will transfer into ICBs, while the functions relating
to social care move to local authorities. Putting patients at the heart of
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care means devolving decisions to a local level, so those who truly
understand the needs of their communities are trusted to shape and
integrate services more effectively.

Territorial extent and application

● The majority of the Bill will extend to England and Wales, with some
provisions extending to the whole of the UK. The majority of provisions will
apply to England only.

Key facts

● Accountability has been lost in layers of bureaucracy. Since NHS
England’s creation in 2013, the number of staff working in NHS England
(including previously independent digital, workforce and trust regulator bodies)
and the Department of Health and Social Care has risen by 50 per cent. Local
leaders have complained of “two centres”, creating confusion and inertia, and
diluting democratic accountability for the NHS. The public rightly expects to
hold politicians to account directly for the quality of the services they are
paying for.

● The reintegration of NHS England and the restructuring of ICBs is expected to
save £1 billion a year by the end of this Parliament.

● The wider national health and care landscape includes 23 arm’s length
bodies, some of which have overlapping responsibilities, creating confusion
and slowing decision-making. This Bill will clarify the role of local health
bodies, giving them real flexibility to design and deliver health services to best
meet the needs of their local populations.

● The Hewitt Review of integrated care systems, published April 2023,
highlighted challenges to the system from competing requests for information
from both NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care. For
example: “... in December 2022, in one instance one integrated care system
received 97 ad-hoc requests from DHSC and NHSE, in addition to the 6 key
monthly, 11 weekly and 3 daily data returns.”

● There are more than 70 different channels or organisations that offer a
place for patients or users to share feedback. The Dash Review of patient
safety across the health and care landscape, published July 2025, concluded
that even though there are multiple organisations representing the voice
of the user (including local Healthwatch), patient experience has not been
given the attention that it deserves.

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● A cluttered patient safety landscape has resulted in an overwhelming
number of recommendations, varying in quality and value with
recommendations overlapping or contradicting others. The Thirlwall
Inquiry found that there have been over 1,400 recommendations from 30
inquiries that have taken place in England and Wales in the last 30 years,
related to its Terms of Reference alone. The various inquiries and reviews into
maternity care over the last five years resulted in over 450 recommendations.

● Information silos across hospitals, GPs and community care force
patients to repeat their stories and clinicians to work with incomplete
data. This is not just an inconvenience: it puts patient safety at risk. When
clinicians do not have all the relevant facts available, they cannot make the
best decisions, and patients lose out. A lack of joined up care records also
means that the NHS misses opportunities to diagnose and treat people early.

● According to Healthwatch England’s May 2025 Report, nearly one in four
adults have noticed inaccuracies or missing details in their medical
records, such as incorrect personal details, inaccurate records of medication,
diagnoses, treatments, and conditions. Over one in four of those who have
noticed inaccuracies say they have had to repeat their patient history.

● Independent public deliberations showed support for the Single Patient
Record was strong and wide. It was described as a “long overdue fix to
fragmented care” and 76 per cent were in support of a single patient record.

● A survey of 1,888 English adults (aged 18-75), by the King’s Fund in
February 2025, found that nearly two in three patients and carers have
experienced at least one problem over the last year with their care, such
as having to chase for test results, attending an appointment but the right
information was not available, or inability to change or cancel appointments.
The survey concluded that this is leading to patient frustration, with four in 10
who faced administration problems less likely to seek care in the future.

● In the year up to April 2018, there were over 11 million occasions of a
patient presenting to a hospital using a different Electronic Patient
Record system to their previous attendance (Warren et al, ‘Measuring the
Scale of Hospital Health Record System Fragmentation in England’, August
2020).

● In the year up to April 2018, nearly 4 million patients accessed care at
two or more NHS hospitals trusts, highlighting the demand for effective
inter-hospital data sharing. 65 per cent of maternity complaints to the
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman between 2020 to 2022 related
to communication failures.
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Railways and Passenger Benefits Bill

“My Government will improve critical infrastructure with legislation to… establish
Great British Railways”

● Our railways are essential for ensuring reliable, affordable and accessible
transport. They offer a crucial route for people to get to work and education,
they connect friends and families, and they support businesses and the wider
economy. The rail sector and its supply chains support more than 220,000
jobs and generate wide economic benefits by connecting people and places.

● However, the railways have suffered neglect. Services have fallen below
expectation, customers deserve more and taxpayers have been getting poor
value for their hard-earned money. The Bill will finally address this, delivering
on the manifesto commitment to establish Great British Railways and provide
new leadership, accountability, and passenger focus to a sector that has been
in desperate need of it.

● The Bill ensures the railway delivers for those who rely on it most. It
establishes a strong Passenger Watchdog to ensure passengers’ voices are
championed at every turn, simplifies the current confusing and fragmented
ticketing system, and includes duties to protect and grow the freight industry –
unlocking the economic growth opportunities the Government is committed to
delivering.

What does the Bill do?

● Low public trust and pride in today’s railway are symptoms of a system which
has lost sight of the very people and customers it is meant to serve. The
Government is delivering Britain a railway fit for its future.

● The Bill will:

○ Establish Great British Railways (GBR), a new publicly owned
company that will be at the core of the reformed rail industry. GBR will
unite track and train under a single body for the first time in a
generation. GBR will be unambiguously accountable for making the
railway work for passengers, customers, and taxpayers. Whether
reuniting family and friends, transporting critical goods across the
country, or connecting Britain’s business, GBR will ensure that the
railways deliver for all those that rely on it.
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○ Set up a powerful Passenger Watchdog that will set consumer
standards for the railways, investigate poor service, and provide an
independent rail ombudsman service to resolve disputes between
passengers and operators. This means passengers will have an
independent voice fighting their corner and holding GBR to account.

○ Simplify fares and tickets. Buying a ticket is frequently confusing and
opaque for passengers, with no less than 55 million different fare types
available. GBR will consolidate the 14 existing operator websites into a
single online platform, and reform the outdated fares structure making
it easy for passengers to find the most affordable fare. For each
journey there will be one transparent price available to everyone.

○ Realise the benefits of rail freight and ensure freight is properly
considered within GBR’s planning and decision-making, through two
new statutory duties. This means that there will be a single strategic
body empowered to deliver the ambitions for freight and with the levers
to drive progress towards set targets.

○ Provide long-term confidence. GBR will be steered via a new
Long-Term Rail Strategy. This is the first time in railway history the
sector will have a strategy of this kind, providing confidence and
certainty for the industry. The Strategy will inform GBR about the
Government’s priorities for the railway, helping it to make long-term
choices which align with key priorities on housing, the economy, and
the environment.

○ Make best use of the railway. The Bill makes GBR the single
accountable body for deciding access to its rail network. This will rid
the sector of the current complexity and fragmentation which has led to
disagreements on which services to run, delays in producing timetables
and an inability to cope with growing capacity constraints. The only way
to solve this is to put one body in charge of it all, to consider the whole
network holistically and fairly, and to make the best use of it in the
public interest.

○ Empower devolved leaders. The Bill puts power back where it
belongs – closer to passengers and communities. Mayors in Mayoral
Strategic Authorities will have a statutory role, ensuring they have a
powerful voice and are empowered to work in partnership with GBR.
Devolved governments will have bespoke agreements giving them a
clear role in the management of GBR. This is a genuine step-change
and will ensure local interests across Great Britain are considered in
every aspect of GBR’s decision-making.
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Territorial extent and application

● The Bill will extend to the whole of the UK, with most measures applying to
England, Wales and Scotland.

Key facts

● Once all currently franchised services have transferred, public ownership will
save the taxpayer up to £150 million a year in fees that would otherwise
have been paid to private operators.

● Reforms will simplify the industry and unlock £1 billion in efficiencies, which
will greatly outweigh the investment required to deliver a once in a generation
improvement in the way train services are planned and delivered.

● Passengers will save £600 million as part of the Government’s regulated
fares freeze, with passengers on some routes saving more than £300 a year,
as part of plans to put passengers back at the heart of the railway.

● The railway faces a significant affordability challenge. Government funding
for the operational rail industry was around £12 billion in 2024-25. This
covers nearly half of total industry costs and equates to around £400 per
household in Great Britain. It is vital that taxpayers are getting value for
money and a rail service they can rely on and have confidence in.

● Overall levels of government support for operational costs remain nearly £4
billion higher than pre-pandemic. GBR will be incentivised to drive up
revenue, reduce subsidy, and deliver for taxpayers.

● There were around 1.7 billion journeys made by rail passengers in Great
Britain in 2024-25, a 7 per cent increase from the year prior. However, rail
passenger usage has not quite yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Integrating track and train through GBR will support more efficient service
planning and improved performance of the railways.

● Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said “This is a
once-in-a-generation opportunity to overhaul how the railways are run –
creating a service that puts passengers first, with more reliable trains and
simpler fares and tickets.”

● Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuinness, said “Passengers are crying out
for a rail service that works for them. We need our train services to be joined
up and much more reliable – helping more people get to where they need to
be for the right price.”
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● The Chief Executive Officer for the Campaign for Better Transport, Ben
Plowden, said “An accessible, affordable and reliable rail network integrated
with the wider transport system is key to delivering sustainable economic
growth and improving regional productivity. [This] marks another important
step on the road to realising this vision and delivering a railway that works for
passengers, freight operators and the country as a whole.”
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Digital Access to Services Bill

“My Ministers will also proceed with the introduction of Digital ID that will modernise
how citizens interact with public services”

● The Government is renewing Britain with accessible public services that work
for citizens, and come together on the GOV.UK app. The app will become the
front door to accessing public services - as with online banking or shopping
apps - with the Digital ID system at its foundation.

● Digital ID will be free to access for anyone who wishes to use it, providing
people with a trusted, useful, and secure proof of identity for use across public
services and the wider economy, without needing to carry around physical
documents that can be lost, forged or stolen. Whether picking up a parcel or
accessing public services like free childcare, or proving your right to work, it
will give people greater control over their data, with a safe and simple way to
decide who gets to see their details when using their Digital ID.

● With inclusion at the core of its design and delivery, the national Digital ID will
be a necessary foundation for tackling the exclusion of those who cannot
access traditional forms of ID like a passport or driving license. By providing a
free to access, trusted proof of identity, this is an opportunity to empower
those who often lack the time, connections, and resources to navigate
confusing and time-consuming checks, forms, rooms, and front-desks.

What does the Bill do?

● Too often, accessing public services and proving identity in the UK can be
frustrating, inefficient, and insecure. Digital ID moves away from the
annoyance of endless telephone calls, complicated printed forms, and the
need to tell your story multiple times to different parts of the Government, with
hours on hold and not knowing where you are in the process. Modern, digital
public services will make everyday interactions easier, free up traditional
routes for those who need them, and save the taxpayer money.

● Digital ID aims to tackle these problems head-on. It will:

○ Be a convenient way for people to prove who they are. The public
will have the option to use Digital ID to prove who they are quickly and
easily across public sector services and the wider economy. Existing
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routes will remain available for those who prefer to access services that
way.

○ Use the latest security technology and put people more in control
of their data. Unlike physical documents that expose name, address,
and date of birth all at once, Digital ID will share only the specific
information required.

○ Reduce bureaucracy and help the Government to build the
intuitive, efficient, and responsive public services the UK
deserves. A national Digital ID system is key to enabling streamlined,
digital, public service provision. It will support the join-up of public
services, saving time and taxpayers’ money.

● The Bill will:

○ Establish the legal framework for the Government to create, issue and
use Digital ID.

○ Set out the information the Digital ID credential will contain, and
provide for how it can be issued, maintained, stored, and verified, as
well as eligibility requirements.

○ Include provisions to create and maintain the Digital ID credential,
enable its use, and aid public sector join-up, alongside appropriate
safeguards.

○ Include provisions to enable the use of Digital ID in priority areas
across the public and wider economy, as well as establishing an audit
function for Digital Right to Work checks.

● One of the first use cases for the Digital ID will be for Digital Right to Work
Checks by the end of this Parliament, creating a more secure, efficient and
reliable system, while acting as a deterrent to illegal working. Digital ID will be
one way to verify your right to work digitally, along with other forms such as a
digital check of documents like your passport or eVisa. Digital checking services
will be supplied by a private provider that meets Government standards.

Territorial extent and application

● The majority of the measures will extend and apply to the whole of the UK.

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