Five King's Speech takeaways for the south of England

King Charles announced the priorities of the new Labour government

As the new Labour government pledges to nationalise railways and build more houses, we take a look at five proposed laws announced in the King's Speech that will be of particular interest to those living in the south of England.

Hillsborough Law

More than 450 patients died after being given powerful painkillers inappropriately at Gosport War Memorial Hospital

Relatives of patients who died at Gosport War Memorial in Hampshire will welcome plans for a law to change what has been called “a culture of defensiveness in the public sector.”

In many tragedies beyond Hillsborough the government says families have been denied justice.

More than 450 patients died after being given powerful painkillers inappropriately at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1989 - 2000, which is now Britain’s biggest police investigation.

The new law aims to improve transparency and accountability.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill

Fawley is one of the production sites for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

The production of new so-called sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from aircraft is set to be encouraged to help decarbonise air travel.

The Fawley refinery on the Solent - where SAF is produced - would get a huge boost with a planned revenue support programme.

Airlines would have to add a minimum of 10% of the new fuel and by fixing the price the government says new investment will add 10,000 jobs.

English Devolution Bill

We may see more directly elected mayors, as already exist in Manchester and Birmingham

Could we get a directly elected mayor for Oxfordshire, Sussex or Hampshire?

The southern shire counties say they are missing out on cash from central government because the metro mayors in places like Manchester and Birmingham are able to make a more direct case to ministers.

Local areas will still need to ask for powers to be taken away from government departments like transport or education but the bill will make devolving power to a local level the default setting.

The Renters Bill and Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Labour has promised to accelerate house building

These two aim to help the thousands of people struggling with high housing costs, but could lead to bitter protest in parts of the south of England where countryside is being swallowed up.

The bill aims to boost building by “providing a more predictable service to developers and investors.”

The best hint to how this will happen is the suggestion that local planning committees will be “modernised”.

Unfinished bills

Reading fans have been protesting against the club's current owners

Several bills that were left unfinished by the Conservatives are brought back, including the bill to eventually ban smoking.

But one that will strike a particular chord in Reading and Portsmouth is the Football Governance Bill, aimed at protecting clubs against rogue owners.

So a football regulator would reduce the risk of financial failure and ensure that fan approval would be sought for changes to badges or home shirt colours.