lines between them, ahead of an election. but first, the king acknowledged the significance of this moment. 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 impact of covid and the war in ukraine have created significant long term challenges for the united kingdom. that is why my government s priority is to make the difficult but necessary long term decisions to change this country for the better. there was an announcement of a bill to issue annual extraction licences for oil and gas, and a focus on crime, including previously announced measures. my government will act to keep communities safe from crime, anti social behaviour, terrorism and illegal migration. a bill will be brought forward to ensure tougher sentences for the most serious offenders and increase the confidence of victims. there was a promise to make it easier for leasehold homeowners to