July 2024 marked Keir Starmer's first State Opening of Parliament since becoming UK Prime Minister after the Labour Party won the election earlier that month.

[1][2] The election, held on 4 July, was won by the Labour Party, which defeated the incumbent Conservative government after 14 years in office, securing a landslide victory, with Sir Keir Starmer becoming prime minister.

The preceding government's tenure had seen high inflation, political scandals and an economic crisis, and Starmer's election campaign had focussed on improving the UK's economy and infrastructure while not raising personal taxes.

[3][4] It was Charles III's second State Opening of Parliament since his accession to the throne in September 2022, and his first since returning to his public duties after being diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, and subsequently receiving treatment for the illness.

The speech, prepared by the UK government, set out its planned programme of legislation for the next session of parliament, and was read by the King in a neutral tone so as not to show any appearance of political support.

[12] The twelve minute speech included 39 pieces of legislation that Labour hoped to pass during the forthcoming parliamentary session, with a focus on helping to improve economic growth.

Plans were also announced to renationalise the railways, strengthen the rights of employees, devolve powers to regional mayors, tackle illegal immigration and reform the House of Lords.

[13] Writing in The Guardian, Martin Kettle argued that in his first King's Speech, Starmer was taking a long term approach: "trying to balance impatience for change with the inevitability that the process will be gradual".

Andy Bagnall, chief executive of their umbrella organisation, Rail Partners, described the establishment of Great British Railways as "an important milestone", but said "Full nationalisation is a political not a practical solution, which will increase costs over time".

[23] Former prime minister Liz Truss wrote a letter of complaint to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case over a reference to her September 2022 mini-budget as being "disastrous".