pageantry is over. the king and queen are back now buckingham palace. we queen are back now buckingham palace. ~ ., ., ., palace. we will have a debate that will beain palace. we will have a debate that will begin on _ palace. we will have a debate that will begin on this _ palace. we will have a debate that will begin on this king's _ palace. we will have a debate that will begin on this king's speech. . will begin on this king's speech. the prime minister and leader of the opposition will both rise and give their speeches. that debate goes on for some time. in theory that debates, there will be about at the end of that. in theory, it is a test of the government. to see whether it can get through the commons. the last time a government failed to get a king's speech through was 192a. that is not an outcome we would expect. what you can get a bit of a sense of the debate that will happen our conservative mps enthused by this. that is a really big thing, because many of them are very concerned about the future of their seats in the coming election. they are sane majorities of 20,000 being overturned in by—elections so they are feeling quite nervous, unsure about the direction of the party and the leadership. that will be an interesting test. mps can make amendments and push some of their own ideas. you might get a sense about whether there are other issues that mps are focused on that they want to push and try to attach to the debate here. we will get a sense of that. ., , ., of that. the horse trading will be . in. of that. the horse trading will begin. damian, _ of that. the horse trading will begin. damian, thank- of that. the horse trading will begin. damian, thank you - of that. the horse trading will begin. damian, thank you for| of that. the horse trading will - begin. damian, thank you for being with us this morning. so much will begin now, all of the pomp and pageantry ends, but the real work for the politicians begins. a really significant day, as damien was telling us. this is the first king's speech of rishi sunak that he will be hoping it is not the last. he has just a year to enact some of what we heard this morning in that speech. time is tight, as we said. labour says thisjust amounts time is tight, as we said. labour says this just amounts to tinkering, it doesn't look like a radical programme for government. neighbour�*s chris brown sign they could do this in a fortnight, not in a year which has been laid out in the speech this morning. you will hear from the the speech this morning. you will hearfrom the prime minister in the speech this morning. you will hear from the prime minister in the house of commons a little bit later and we will hear from house of commons a little bit later and we will hearfrom sir keir starmer and mp5 will debate the content of that speech. today is a significant day because it is also the first king's speech in more than 70 years. the king has been here before either to accompany the late queen elizabeth, or give that speech on her behalf. let's talk about some of the implications of that. with me is katie nicholl, vanity fair's royal correspondent. the king's speech. a significant moment for him and for the country. yes. speech. a significant moment for him and for the country.— and for the country. yes, very much so. that and for the country. yes, very much s0- that word _ and for the country. yes, very much so. that word familiarity _ and for the country. yes, very much so. that word familiarity keeps - so. that word familiarity keeps coming back to me. while this is the king's first king's speech to parliament, he read the queen's speech last year and i remember watching that and thinking this paves the way for a very seamless transition. we have been so used to hearing the queen's voice at these sort of speeches, christmas day in our homes, many of us couldn't imagine what it would be like to hear at the king deliver important speeches like he has done today, but it feels very seamless. i was pleased to see all of the pomp and pageantry. thinking back to the last couple of parliament, it has been scaled down. we haven't seen the p°mp scaled down. we haven't seen the pomp and pageantry. the queen couldn't wear the imperial state crown because it was too heavy for her. to see the king and the queen consort in their state groups, and the tiara crown and the imperial state crown, it is all the pomp and pageantry that we have become used to. we pageantry that we have become used to. ~ ~' ., pageantry that we have become used to. ~ ~ ., �* , pageantry that we have become used to. «a, , ., to. we know the king's ambition was business as — to. we know the king's ambition was business as usual, _ to. we know the king's ambition was business as usual, continuity, - business as usual, continuity, familiarity. that is exactly what we got today. it was a return to something more normal after the years of the pandemic and with the ill—health of the queen. this is a return to something we all familiar with. we know the speeches written by the government, but it is delivered by the king if he has to do with a lot of neutrality. i think he managed _ do with a lot of neutrality. i think he managed to — do with a lot of neutrality. i think he managed to hit _ do with a lot of neutrality. i think he managed to hit the _ do with a lot of neutrality. i think he managed to hit the right - do with a lot of neutrality. i think he managed to hit the right note| he managed to hit the right note with that. he or head of state, he has to be apolitical. there were concerns before he came that he would be meddling in politics. he hasn't done. it was poignant that he chose to pay tribute to his beloved mother and spoke about her legacy of service and devotion. the queen also paid tribute to her late father in her first speech. charles watched her first speech. charles watched her first speech. charles watched her first state opening of parliament when he was just a toddler. that idea of heritage, continuity is very important to him. he passed anti—monarchy protest in the state coach. there is no ignoring any of that. at the heart of his monarchy, yes there has to be adapting and revolution, but that all important heritage and pomp and pageantry and all that comes with thatis pageantry and all that comes with that is what the people want. talk to me about _ that is what the people want. talk to me about the _ that is what the people want. talk to me about the significance of that separation. what we see today is perhaps a little bit confusing. we see the monarch, the pomp and pageantry, all the politicians mixed in that the same place. at the same time we have the reminder of the separation between crime and politics. that is an important part of our constitution. it is fundamental. _ of our constitution. it is fundamental. many - of our constitution. it is i fundamental. many people of our constitution. it 3 fundamental. many people watching around the world will find it alien. many people will find the idea of a hereditary monarchy quite alien. this is part of our constitution, it is part of our heritage and the royal family is very much a part of that. ~ , ,, ., royal family is very much a part of that. ,, ., that. we saw the procession, as well. we that. we saw the procession, as well- we saw — that. we saw the procession, as well. we saw the _ that. we saw the procession, as well. we saw the king _ that. we saw the procession, as well. we saw the king and - that. we saw the procession, as. well. we saw the king and queen leave make their way back to buckingham palace. now the real work is under way with the politicians. the king must sit there and wonder what comes next. we may face a general election next year. there has been a lot of turbulent politics. there is a lot for the politicians to think about. the king, fresh into his reign, he will be looking at the future. his king, fresh into his reign, he will be looking at the future.- be looking at the future. his role as not to be _ be looking at the future. his role as not to be political. _ be looking at the future. his role as not to be political. he - be looking at the future. his role as not to be political. he hits - be looking at the future. his role as not to be political. he hits all| as not to be political. he hits all the right notes. he is an apolitical head of state. 50 the right notes. he is an apolitical head of state.— the right notes. he is an apolitical head of state. so good to have you with us. katie _ head of state. so good to have you with us. katie nicholl— head of state. so good to have you with us. katie nicholl from - head of state. so good to have you with us. katie nicholl from vanityl with us. katie nicholl from vanity fair. the weather out here is glorious in westminster. as we digest all of what we heard and that speech from the king, laying out the government's plans for the year ahead, let's talk about some of the content. what is often interesting at times like this, we get the headlines but the real details comes in the documents and the releases that come after the speech. let's talk to danny shaw, crime, justice and policing correspondence. what did you make of the contents of that speech? i wasjust did you make of the contents of that speech? i was just talking there, a lot of this feels domestic, the sort of stuff that voters worry about at the sort of stuff that could determine who is in number ten next year. determine who is in number ten next ear. , . ., , . , year. yes, criminal 'ustice is obviouslyfi year. yes, criminal 'ustice is obviously a h year. yes, criminal 'ustice is obviously a key h year. yes, criminaljustice is obviously a key focus - year. yes, criminaljustice is obviously a key focus of - year. yes, criminaljustice is obviously a key focus of this| year. yes, criminaljustice is- obviously a key focus of this king's speech. there are five bills relating to crime and justice. a sentencing, criminaljustice bill, and investigatory powers bill, a terrorism bill and also a victim is an prisoners bill, which i think is being carried overfrom previously. i think the key takeaway here is a lot of the headlines and a lot of the narrative has been how the government is getting tough on sentencing and increasing the time served by rapists and the most serious sexual offenders in prison and more whole life orders for the most serious murders that have a sexual, sadistic elements. these are important measures and i think they will command wide public support. but what the government is not flagging and what the headlines that it wants you to read are not about are a couple of very important key measures that will reduce the prison population, orthey measures that will reduce the prison population, or they are designed to reduce the prison population and in some cases let prisoners out early. what the government is intending to do is to extend an early release scheme called home detention curfew, under which prisoners are released on an ad a chronic tag and curfew. that scheme has been in operation for many years. the government wants to extend it to prisoners serving four years or more in prison. they could be released up to six months before their scheduled release date. the government is not talking much about that, but that is in the bill in the king's speech. one of the other measures in the king's speech is this presumption against prison sentence —— prison sentences of under 12 months. what that means is thousands of people whom i go to prison for short prison terms would instead have their sentences suspended and will be given community penalties. that could apply to lower—level offenders and some people may welcome bats, but there is a concern among some people that it could also apply to people convicted of domestic abuse, stalking and harassment. some secific stalking and harassment. some specific conditions _ stalking and harassment. some specific conditions there - stalking and harassment. some specific conditions there in - stalking and harassment. somel specific conditions there in those plans. talk to me about what detail, if any, we got relating to forcing criminals to attend their sentencing hearings. we know this —— this has beenin hearings. we know this —— this has been in headlines lately, i'm thinking specifically of the case of olivia pratt—korbel, whose parents want those found guilty to appear at their sentencing. thatjust didn't happen, they didn't show up. this will a- -l happen, they didn't show up. this will apply to _ happen, they didn't show up.t'13 will apply to defendants who refused to turn up for their sentencing hearing and disobey the judge's ordered to appear. the police will be allowed to use reasonable force danny, apologies, we can see you but we can't hear you. that force danny, apologies, we can see you but we can't hear you.- you but we can't hear you. that is danny shaw— you but we can't hear you. that is danny shaw talking _ you but we can't hear you. that is danny shaw talking to _ you but we can't hear you. that is danny shaw talking to us. - you but we can't hear you. that is danny shaw talking to us. we - you but we can't hear you. that is danny shaw talking to us. we will try to re—establish that line with danny to make sure we are able to hear him. also in that speech we heard a lot of proposals that will be particularly relevant for homeowners, particularly things like rental reform but also leasehold reform. let's talk to polly higgins. paula, lovely to have you with us. talk to me about what you heard in that speech that you welcome. we are deli . hted that speech that you welcome. we are delighted that — that speech that you welcome. we are delighted that it _ that speech that you welcome. we are delighted that it is _ that speech that you welcome. we are delighted that it is included _ that speech that you welcome. we are delighted that it is included in - that speech that you welcome. we are delighted that it is included in the - delighted that it is included in the king's speech, that is an important milestone. the government has been promising leasehold reform for many years and now we are looking forward to the second stage. the devil is in the detail, of course. they promised that they could abolish leasehold, that they could abolish leasehold, that may not happen just yet, but we want them to go for it.— want them to go for it. explain why leasehold is _ want them to go for it. explain why leasehold is on _ want them to go for it. explain why leasehold is on certain _ want them to go for it. explain why leasehold is on certain types - want them to go for it. explain why leasehold is on certain types of- leasehold is on certain types of properties are a problem. leasehold, tenerall properties are a problem. leasehold, generally flats. _ properties are a problem. leasehold, generally flats, you _ properties are a problem. leasehold, generally flats, you only _ properties are a problem. leasehold, generally flats, you only own - properties are a problem. leasehold, generally flats, you only own to - generally flats, you only own to rent a home for a certain length of time. it is generally 90 years, 120 years. then it goes back to the freeholder. there are a lot of costs involved with that. it is a very feudal system and we want leaseholders to actually own their own home. , leaseholders to actually own their own home-— leaseholders to actually own their own home. , .,, , _, ., leaseholders to actually own their own home. , , ., ., own home. this has been common for flats and apartments _ own home. this has been common for flats and apartments but _ own home. this has been common for flats and apartments but not - own home. this has been common for flats and apartments but not for - flats and apartments but not for houses. this is where there has been a real issue. people with leases on houses that they wouldn't expect to have finding themselves having to pay a lot of extra fees then asking for permission to put on a conservatory, that sort of thing. that is where it becomes a huge problem. it that is where it becomes a huge roblem. , ., ., , problem. it is the government has recognised — problem. it is the government has recognised that. _ problem. it is the government has recognised that. they _ problem. it is the government has recognised that. they have - problem. it is the government has recognised that. they have been l recognised that. they have been promising these reforms since 2017. to be honest, new houses are not being sold as leasehold any more. that is good news but it is important to get the legislation right so it happen again. what important to get the legislation right so it happen again. what do ou want right so it happen again. what do you want to _ right so it happen again. what do you want to see? _ right so it happen again. what do you want to see? what _ right so it happen again. what do you want to see? what we - right so it happen again. what do you want to see? what we hear. right so it happen again. what do - you want to see? what we hear today is the plan, but we don't have too much of the detail. the is the plan, but we don't have too much of the detail.— much of the detail. the devil is in the detail and _ much of the detail. the devil is in the detail and it _ much of the detail. the devil is in the detail and it is _ much of the detail. the devil is in the detail and it is really - the detail and it is really complicated. it is things to make it easier and cheaper and more transparent for people to be able to extend their leasehold. we want to make sure there is a ban on all future leaseholds. so if a new block of flats is being built, they are not leasehold. have had something called called commonhold which has been on the statute books for years. why has it taken so long? it is been on the statute books for years. why has it taken so long?— why has it taken so long? it is a very lucrative — why has it taken so long? it is a very lucrative asset _ why has it taken so long? it is a very lucrative asset for - why has it taken so long? it is a i very lucrative asset for developers, you can make money off leasehold. like the rest of the world, we want to get rid of the middleman, get rid of the freeholder. allow people who buy a flat to choose who manages that latin had to maintain it. this is about developers _ that latin had to maintain it. this is about developers and property owners making money. this is a way of keeping the money coming in long after i have sold the house or flat. i guess it is legislation that has taken time to catch up, is that fair? it taken time to catch up, is that fair? , , ., , fair? it is. it is also very complicated. _ fair? it is. it is also very complicated. if- fair? it is. it is also very complicated. if you - fair? it is. it is also very complicated. if you are l fair? it is. it is also very - complicated. if you are going to fair? it is. it is also very _ complicated. if you are going to get rid of some of the costs of freeholds, which is why having a future ban on future flats to be a good thing. on leasehold houses, look at the other tricks of the trade. we are worried about state charges on new—build estates. you charges on new-build estates. you will see that _ charges on new—build estates. you will see that coming. it feels like developers are always one step ahead, they are looking to where they can make a little bit more money. we have a passion in this country for our homes. that is one way they can cash in. is there a way that legislation can ever stay in france? it always seems to be playing catch up. france? it always seems to be playing catch up-_ france? it always seems to be playing catch up. that is why we need to get _ playing catch up. that is why we need to get rid _ playing catch up. that is why we need to get rid of— playing catch up. that is why we need to get rid of this _ playing catch up. that is why we need to get rid of this feudal - need to get rid of this feudal system of leaseholds. we are concerned that there are a lot of bills being announced today and we are worried that there isn't is the parliamentary time allowed for it, but we think it should go further. we can ban leaseholds from all future buildings. that would be a good way forward for the over 5 million owners of leasehold properties today.— million owners of leasehold properties today. million owners of leasehold ro erties toda . , ., , properties today. given that time is ti . ht, properties today. given that time is titht, how properties today. given that time is tight, how confident _ properties today. given that time is tight, how confident are _ properties today. given that time is tight, how confident are you - properties today. given that time is tight, how confident are you that i tight, how confident are you that given the amounts of legislation that has been proposed today, 21 bills but the time we had them all up, how confident are you that it is enough of a government priority, and it will happen before a potential general election next year? latte it will happen before a potential general election next year? we are concerned about _ general election next year? we are concerned about that. _ general election next year? we are concerned about that. we - general election next year? we are concerned about that. we would i general election next year? we are l concerned about that. we would like to see a draft over christmas. we are delighted there is cross—party support. it will help all of these people who are in existing leaseholds. we hope that all politicians of all side show a lasting legacy to help these homeowners.— lasting legacy to help these homeowners. . . ., , ., homeowners. paula, really good to have ou homeowners. paula, really good to have you with _ homeowners. paula, really good to have you with us _ homeowners. paula, really good to have you with us this _ homeowners. paula, really good to have you with us this afternoon. i have you with us this afternoon. really good to see you. it is the big question, how quickly can any of these bills be pushed through parliament, how quickly can the promises that have been made today be delivered upon for so many people around the country. the government is very keen to point out that these are domestic issues, things that voters really care about. there is a real danger that some of them will be overshadowed by events away from the uk, particularly the war in the middle east. also the covid inquiry continues here and some pretty damning evidence of the way the government handled the covid pandemic. that despite the government's wishes to draw a line under what has gone before, it still threatens to overshadow some of what we have heard today. let's talk to damian grammaticus, our political correspondent. you have been looking through the detail. the cleaners are here, too, cleaning up after all the horse manure lining the streets after the parade. the real detail, and we have been talking about it with a couple of guests, it is one thing to have the speech but the reality is will this be enacted? i think a large part of it will be. i don't know how much people can hear! we have already had to street cleaners coming through. 1.1 would like to make is she had been talking a lot with your guests just now about the continuity, the tradition, the sense of history. it is worth reflecting that when you think about the politics, think about how much change there has been. think back to last time there was a speech here, it was the queen? speech, it was my last year. that was the waning days of boris johnson's last year. that was the waning days of borisjohnson's premiership, so just in that time we had the end of borisjohnson, we had liz truss's premiership imploding, rishi sunak taking over, now rishi sunak�*s first king speech. think back to a year before that, so may 2021, the last one delivered by the queen, and that was the time of the pandemic. if you look back at the images she was in an almost empty chamber. everyone was social distancing. that speech is all about dealing with the pandemic. 2022 we had the war in ukraine and it was all about the pandemic and ukraine. now we have been buffeted by the political is and the turmoil here, the end of borisjohnson, the end of liz truss. we have been through a lot of political change and i think that is partly what rishi sunak is grappling with, sort of trying to... people generally think rishi sunak has restored a sense of stability, but has he restored a sense that there is a driving direction to the conservative government that is pushing it into the next election? that is part of what he needed to do here. he has grouped his themes here and economic security, so we have been talking about north energy. that is something that will be delivered or could be undone if the labour government when the next election. talking about personal security, so crime and justice, trying to toughen up sentences, toughen up the powers that the police have, things like that. things that could well be delivered fairly quickly. the third thing i think a society. that was like leasehold reform, renters reform, fairly popular approaches, things like an independent governing body for football to try like an independent governing body forfootball to try —— like an independent governing body for football to try —— to try to have a voice for fans and major football clubs are financially secure and sustainable. there is a smattering of things. still the question from the opposition coming already is where are the big ideas? what about the big issues that people are carrying about in their lives? the cost of living crisis? the state of public services? the state of the nhs, of schools? what is in here to address that? that is what will be argued over.- what will be argued over. people will also be _ what will be argued over. people will also be looking _ what will be argued over. people will also be looking at _ what will be argued over. people will also be looking at what - what will be argued over. people will also be looking at what is - what will be argued over. people | will also be looking at what is not in the speech. crucially, no mention of hs2. that would have needed more discussion had been going ahead. what we did get was talk about transport north, or network north. that was aim to run things like commuterjourneys that was aim to run things like commuter journeys around that was aim to run things like commuterjourneys around cities in the north of england. given all the flak that the government took for cancelling that extra leg of hs2. that was part of the preamble, again. that was part of rishi sunak�*s ohl programme, but not the actual legislation. when it came to the detail of what is in the legislation, yes there is something about real, but that is about creating a great british rail authority to bring the governance of railways all under one body to make it more efficient. it is an important change, but not part of that scrapping of hs2. another thing the governments had talked about was banning the practice of conversion therapy. that is not in here. there will be quite a number of tory mps who are not upset —— he will be very upset that is not being followed through on. another thing not in here, homeless people living in tents and dealing with that. there was a lot of blowback if you like for those comments from the home secretary. those sorts of measures weren't in the speech. quite a few things not there. quite a few things that are, but as the opposition is saying, don't amount to a big programme to push us to a new government. rishi sunak�*s answer to thatis, government. rishi sunak�*s answer to that is, well, it is all about taking long—term decisions, things like oil, smoking, preventing children under 11t like oil, smoking, preventing children under m from ever being able to smoke. those are things that will deliver long—term change. damian, really good to have you here. our political correspondence damian grammaticus. there are so many questions that are prompted by the speech. we have the promises, we have the ambitions but enacting them, making them into reality in a limited amount of time before a possible general election next year will take a lot of doing. already the criticism that this doesn't go far enough. labour describing them as not ambitious enough, saying simply this isn't a plan for a year, we could do this in a fortnight, that was labour's chris bryant, saying this is a government that has run out of steam. all of the debate and discussion will continue. it will happen in the house of commons a little later. let's talk to sebastien. he is hoping to get selected as a tory party candidate at the next election. good to have you here. is it ambitious enough? i think there is plenty of terror stuck in there. if you look at the priorities being put out, we are looking at anti—social behaviour, tackling anti—social behaviour, tackling anti—social behaviour, tackling the quality degrees. there are a couple of questions of the back of this. the first is delivery. this is one near to a general election. the government has to show it can get this stuff done they need to get this shovelled into the ground for network north —— network north. how does that time to a wider economic message? that is what we are looking for in the autumn statement. a lot of this is tackling clear issues that need to be resolved in the uk economy and public services. i think it is good come out of the 21 built there is some interesting stuff in there, but the next thing is what comes next. if we were being counted the government we might say it is not very ambitious, but it is realistic. these are things they might be able to do before an election. other people saying this is not enough to win back the voters. this doesn't go far enough to change their lives, to get them to vote conservative at the next election. the conservatives are still way behind in the polls. tbs, lat still way behind in the polls. a lot ofthe still way behind in the polls. a lot of the priorities _ still way behind in the polls. a lot of the priorities and _ still way behind in the polls. a lot of the priorities and not _ still way behind in the polls. int of the priorities and not to speak to things like matter —— that matter stop connectivity between and cities. there are lots of different bits to the king speech, but overall the different policy areas, research shows that these are things that people care about. it does all need knitting together into a wider economic message, and a message and public service reform because we are hoping inflation is coming down, there will be a —— be a bit more economic headroom in the months ahead, so what will the government do with that? research shows the cost of living crisis and public services are the number one thing is that people care about. there is plenty of stuff in the king's speech to deal with that. this is about the longer term decisions that need to be resolved, so things like ai and new technologies, the way to deal with that in a pragmatic way. the same with a net zero stuff, too. that is a people want to hear about. a criticism of whatever party is in government, it is always the same criticism that it is not set up for long term plans. how likely is it that what was said today will be in place before an election?- that what was said today will be in place before an election? there are 21 bills and — place before an election? there are 21 bills and a _ place before an election? there are 21 bills and a year _ place before an election? there are 21 bills and a year of _ place before an election? there are 21 bills and a year of time _ place before an election? there are 21 bills and a year of time to - place before an election? there are 21 bills and a year of time to do - 21 bills and a year of time to do that. i think it is reasonable that these bills will make good progress. in the last parliamentary session, if you take up a levelling up and regeneration bill, that was a huge piece of legislation that will have lots of consequences, dealing with various issues and local government. there is a lot that can be done and people can sniff at it, but if you look at the different areas of stuff, it is all stuff that we have identified that people want to see and change in their lives.- identified that people want to see and change in their lives. thank you for comint and change in their lives. thank you for coming down _ and change in their lives. thank you for coming down this _ and change in their lives. thank you for coming down this morning. - and change in their lives. thank you for coming down this morning. thatj for coming down this morning. that is the current state of play in terms of what we have heard from the king in his speech. we have also heard from the government, telling us what they want to achieve in the coming parliamentary year. the debate from the prime minister, the leader of the opposition and mp5 will continue this afternoon. we will continue this afternoon. we will have continuing coverage here on bbc news. fanfare. today at 1pm: in a ceremony full of tradition, the king has travelled to westminster to announce the government's plans for the year ahead. it is mindful of a legacy of service and devotion to this country, set by my beloved mother, the late queen, that i deliver this, the first king's speech in over 70 years. the king's speech lays out rishi sunak�*s agenda for the months to come and the election campaign that will follow. also on the programme... a month after the hamas attacks, israel's prime minister says it wants to have overall security responsibility for gaza when the fighting ends. thousands of women in england are to be offered a drug which can help prevent breast cancer. and we'll be live in singapore where this year's earthshot prize recognising new climate change solutions is under way. and coming up on bbc news: ibraham zadran hits a century at the cricket world cup, as afghanistan face australia in mumbai, with both sides chasing a semifinal spot. good afternoon. king charles has carried out his first state opening