Last week, I set out my hopes for the King's Speech; this week, I want to reflect on the content of that Speech, which forms a part of the broader State Opening of Parliament.
Of course, the State Opening involves a great deal of pomp and pageantry, laden with symbolism and tied closely to Parliament's long history. However, today I want to focus on the substance. The King's Speech set out an ambitious agenda for the coming Parliament, which reflects this Government's priorities. It's an agenda that I'm proud to support, because I believe firmly that it also reflects the priorities of Hitchin and Harpenden.
First and foremost, the King's Speech made clear that the Government is committed to the five pledges made by the Prime Minister when he took office. We will continue to bring down inflation, grow our economy, and ensure that debt is falling as a share of GDP by the end of this Parliament. We're also committed to bringing down NHS waiting lists, while implementing our long-term NHS Workforce Plan, which will deliver more doctors and nurses. Finally, this Government has also reiterated its commitment to stopping illegal small boat crossings.
It also touched on 21 bills, including seven bills carried over from the previous session of Parliament. I won't subject you to the full list, but a brief taste should give you an idea of just how broad this Government's agenda is. Through the Renters' Reform Bill, we're working to abolish 'no-fault' evictions, and strengthen the rights of tenants - at the same time, we're working to deliver the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Bill, which will reform data rights and update our regulatory system to meet the demands of new innovations in digital markets.
The Government is also planning to reform the regulation of public service broadcasting, meet our manifesto commitment to banning the export of live animals, establish a new framework for self-driving vehicles, and reform policing and justice, particularly around digitally-enabled crime. I was struck by how many of these proposals were forward-facing, aiming to meet the challenges of the future, rather than dwelling excessively on the past. I am excited to see the full text of the Government's new Sentencing Bill, which will adjust criminal sentences to reflect the fact that our justice system must deliver just, proportionate sentences, and I am pleased to support the decision to issue new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea, as a pragmatic step which will help to shore-up our long-term energy security while we manage the energy transition.
This is just the tip of the iceberg; I urge you to seek out the full text of the speech. Suffice it to say, the Government has set out an ambitious plan to move our economy forwards, while reforming regulation in key areas of public life, and improving the provision of public services like healthcare and policing. I look forward to supporting the Government in the coming months in implementing this agenda.
