UK GOVERNMENT says Wales will be central to a new legislative programme focused on energy independence, rail investment, policing, defence and economic growth.

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said the King’s Speech, delivered on Wednesday (May 13), set out an “ambitious plan” for the country, with measures aimed at tackling the cost of living, creating jobs and strengthening national security.

The programme includes an Energy Independence Bill, which the UK Government says will support clean power projects across Wales, including floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and new nuclear development at Wylfa.

Ministers say the plans are intended to reduce energy bills, secure domestic energy supplies and create skilled jobs in communities across Wales.

Ms Stevens said: “The King’s Speech sets out how the UK Government is building a stronger, fairer, future for Wales by tackling the cost of living, creating good jobs and driving economic growth.

“Our Energy Independence Bill puts Wales at the heart of our clean energy mission. Alongside floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and new nuclear in Wylfa, we are working to cut energy bills, create new jobs and secure the UK’s energy independence.”

Rail investment

The King’s Speech also includes a Railways Bill, which the UK Government says will support its £14bn plan to transform rail infrastructure in Wales.

The Wales Office says the proposals will improve journeys, connect communities and support 12,000 jobs.

Rail infrastructure has long been a major political issue in Wales, with repeated criticism over historic underinvestment, poor connectivity between north and south Wales, and the long-running dispute over whether Wales received a fair share of funding from major UK rail projects.

Ms Stevens said: “Our Railways Bill will help deliver our £14bn plan to transform rail infrastructure in Wales, improving journeys, connecting communities and supporting 12,000 jobs.”

Police and defence

The programme also includes the Police Reform Bill, which the UK Government says will put more officers on the streets and strengthen public safety.

Defence spending is also set to rise, with ministers saying the measures will improve national security while supporting Welsh service personnel and veterans through better services and housing.

Ms Stevens added: “We are also strengthening our national security with increased defence spending, putting more police on our streets with the Police Reform Bill, and supporting our Welsh service personnel and veterans with better services and housing.

“This is an ambitious plan that delivers for every part of Wales.”

Political test

The announcement comes at a significant moment for Wales, following major political change in Cardiff Bay and renewed pressure on both the UK and Welsh governments to deliver on public services, housing, transport and economic growth.

The focus on energy and rail is likely to be welcomed by industry and unions, but ministers will now face questions over delivery, timescales and whether the promised investment reaches communities across Wales.

The UK Government will argue that the King’s Speech shows Wales is central to its wider economic plan. Opposition parties are expected to scrutinise whether the legislation goes far enough, particularly on energy bills, public transport, policing and support for households still facing cost-of-living pressures.

KING CHARLES has arrived at Parliament for the State Opening as Sir Keir Starmer faces the most serious crisis of his premiership.

The monarch and Queen Camilla travelled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, with the Imperial State Crown and Sword of State taken separately to Parliament ahead of the ceremony.

But the traditional pageantry has been overshadowed by growing questions over the Prime Minister’s future, following heavy Labour losses in last week’s elections and mounting unrest inside the party.

Unions turn on Starmer

The pressure intensified this morning when Labour’s 11 affiliated unions, including Unite, Unison, the GMB and Community, issued a joint statement saying it was now “clear” Sir Keir would not lead Labour into the next general election.

They said Labour had failed to deliver enough of the change working people voted for, despite some progress on employment rights and the minimum wage.

The intervention is significant because the unions remain among Labour’s most important financial and organisational backers.

Streeting meeting fuels speculation

Speculation over Sir Keir’s future intensified further after Health Secretary Wes Streeting made a brief visit to Downing Street on Wednesday morning.

Streeting, widely viewed as a potential leadership contender, was seen arriving at No 10 before leaving less than twenty minutes later — a meeting so short that Westminster insiders immediately began questioning its purpose.

The unusually brief talks triggered fresh rumours of behind-the-scenes discussions over the Prime Minister’s future, although allies of both men attempted to play down suggestions of an imminent leadership move.

Streeting has previously denied plotting against Sir Keir, but many Labour MPs now believe a challenge could come within days if the crisis deepens further.

More than eighty Labour MPs are reported to have called for Sir Keir to stand down, although no rival has yet secured the numbers needed to trigger a formal contest.

For now, Sir Keir is refusing to resign and insists he will continue governing. But with ministerial resignations, a bruising election result, and the unions now openly discussing a future leadership change, the Prime Minister’s position looks increasingly fragile.

The King’s Speech is expected to set out the Government’s legislative programme for the new parliamentary session, including plans on the economy, immigration, energy costs and closer ties with the EU.

The State Opening, one of the most ceremonial events in the parliamentary calendar, began with the traditional search of the Palace of Westminster by the Yeomen of the Guard — a ritual dating back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Sir Keir left No 10 with his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, shortly before the ceremony.

MPs will later debate the King’s Speech in the Commons, where opposition parties are expected to use the occasion to test the Prime Minister’s authority.

PEMBROKE’S Monkton ward will soon have a new town councillor after its previous representative secured a seat in the Senedd as one of six new members for the Ceredigion Penfro seat.

A notice of casual vacancy for the Monkton ward of Pembroke Town Council was publicised yesterday, May 11.

If no written request is made to the county council’s returning officer, the town council may fill the vacant seat by co-option.

The seat was made vacant following now-former town councillor Reform’s Susan Claire Archibald becoming a Senedd member for the new Ceredigion Penfro Senedd ward, one of two Reform candidates to do so.

At the Senedd count on May 8, the former councillor spoke on behalf of herself, fellow Reform winner Paul Marr, and the party’s supporters, saying the supporters would need “new shoes,” given Ceredigion Penfro’s “ginormous constituency”.

She added: “Paul and I are obviously very excited to get to work to representing our constituency of Ceredigion and Penfro.”

The six Senedd members for the new Ceredigion Penfro ward, which saw three Plaid seats, two Reform and one Welsh Conservatives gained, are: Elin Jones, Kerry Ferguson, and Anna Nicholl Plaid Cymru; Susan Claire Archibald and Paul Marr Reform; Welsh Conservatives Paul Windsor Davies.

A formal request for an election to fill the vacant Monkton seat may be made to: Returning Officer, Pembrokeshire County Council, Electoral Services, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP.

The town council itself saw, last weekend, the inauguration of Councillor Jonathan Grimes, also joint county councillor for Pembroke Monkton and St Mary South, as the 647th Mayor of Pembroke.

Accompanied by his wife, Councillor Deborah Willcocks, a civic lunch was held at the town hall, Main Street, successfully raising £350 in support of his chosen charity, Sandy Bear.

The weekend also saw a service at St Mary’s Church, where the Bishop of St Davids offered a blessing for the newly installed bells.