The main party leaders have addressed the House of Commons as the chamber begins its debate on the government's legislative agenda for the year ahead.

They touched on many policy areas during their speeches – here's an overview:

• Keir Starmer said his party was elected to deliver nothing less than "national renewal" after 14 years of Tory "chaos"
• The prime minister said the King's Speech takes the brakes off the economy and showed politics can improve the lives of millions, vowing what he calls a determined and patient rebuilding of politics
• He came under pressure from SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn to scrap the two-child benefit cap, with Starmer pointing to a new taskforce to focus on reducing child poverty
• Conservative leader Rishi Sunak said Labour tapped into the country's desire for change but says now they must deliver it
• He committed his party to holding Labour accountable, saying they will disagree where necessary but not for its own sake
• Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said there was much to welcome in the new government's agenda, but pushed for further measures to address the "crisis" in health and social care

Continuing, Davey talks about the issues of health and social care he says came up repeatedly on the doorstep during the general election campaign.

He says fixing the NHS "crisis" is essential not only for people's health but for the economy and growth – only by getting people off waiting lists and into work can the economy start growing again, he says.

The Lib Dem leader welcomes a number of measures in the King's Speech on the NHS, but urges Labour to look at his party's manifesto, which he says included boosting GP numbers, improving access to dentists and local pharmacists, and giving a guarantee that cancer patients will start treatment two months after diagnosis.

He then turns to the issue of care – a key theme of the Liberal Democrats' election campaign – saying let this be the Parliament when "we become the caring nation", and adding he is encouraged by reports of a cross-party commission on social care.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

Earlier, Rishi Sunak said before the election he had a plan to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income.

Labour says it also wants to reach this level – but there is a defence review to come first, and resources for doing so haven’t been identified.

The former prime minister has pushed for Labour to move quickly, arguing that 2.5% - rather than the current 2% - could become the new benchmark for Nato countries.

And he said this might convince the Americans that other countries are pulling their weight - all the more important if Donald Trump, who seemed lukewarm over defending nations which don’t pay enough of their dues, is elected later this year.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is up now - he thanks the King Charles III for his speech and sends happy returns to Queen Camilla on her birthday.

Davey also condemns the assassination attempt on former US President Trump.

He welcomes the prime minister but warns Labour "now have an enormous undertaking".

Davey jokes that he heard somewhere that Starmer "surfed to power" on a wave of Conservative power before adding: "Water sports are my thing".

Davey adds that there is much to welcome in the new government's agenda, including on getting the economy going.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

A swathe of the Starmer speech is devoted to what he sees as the failure of the Conservative years.

This is aimed at managing expectations that he can effect promised change swiftly.

But his accusation that his predecessors "ducked hard choices" may well be used as the benchmark for his administration.

He has promised to do some controversial things which may encounter local resistance - such as more onshore wind and solar farms.

And it will be interesting, too, to see how he squares the circle between devolving more powers away from Westminster, but also saying ministers won’t baulk at pushing through housing and infrastructure plans where councils or communities are resistant.

So hard choices do lie ahead – and it will be possible to assess whether these have been embraced or avoided.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

After the King's Speech concluded, Downing Street announced the setting up of a child poverty taskforce - a joint enterprise between the work and pensions department and the education department - as part of its strategy to tackle an increase in child poverty rates.

But the SNP and many on the left of his party (and some not on the Labour left, such as Gordon Brown) are arguing that a rather big boulder remains unturned: The two-child benefit limit.

This was introduced by George Osborne when he was chancellor – and it means most families cannot claim means-tested benefits for any third or additional children born after April 2017.

Around 1.5 million families are affected by this policy and critics want to see it scrapped.

Labour is insisting that the resources aren’t there to do so now - and that they won’t promise what they can’t deliver. And they will argue that growing the economy will decrease poverty.

But pressure over the two child policy will remain, and many Labour MPs hope the chancellor might address this in a future budget.

Starmer ends his speech by saying his government will be mission driven, focused on "ambitious" goals and bringing together the best of the country.

"We will stop the chaos, fix our foundations and take the brakes off Britain," he says, adding "that is the path of national renewal, the rebuilding of our country, and we take another step today."

Starmer says Labour will start with fixing the economy, and blames "Tory irresponsibility" for leaving public finances in a "worse place than they found them".

"We don't just turn the page on that today, we close the door on it forever," he says.

The prime minister talks about his plans for improving workers' rights, cleaner British energy, improving public transport, transforming the skills agenda and pushing forward devolution across England, among others.

He says to the benches opposite: "If you're invested in the success of your community, we'll work with you".

"My determination for England, Scotland Northern Ireland and Wales is to feel that success belongs to them."

Conservative former minister Graham Stuart intervenes, saying rural communities are "afraid" of the Labour party's majority.

He says there were "just 87 words" about farming in Labour's manifesto, and says the King's Speech made no mention of rural communities.

Starmer says he grew up in a rural community, adding that Labour MPs now represent many such areas showing the "reassurance that has been given will also be given again".

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

It is interesting that Keir Starmer – who praises Rishi Sunak for his post-election "generosity" – spends so much time saying he will implement some of his predecessor’s unfinished business.

From the gradual smoking ban to football regulation, to compensation for the infected blood scandal

Politically it underlines his contention during the election that he wasn’t a tribal politician - an approach that may also appeal to those who have voted Labour for the first time.

The smoking ban, of course, divided opinion on the Conservative benches but Labour’s now whopping majority will make it a reality.

Starmer pushes on with his speech, saying the last 14 years of Tory government "pushed aside the national interest as they focused almost entirely to save their own skins".

No more wedge issues or gimmicks, he says - adding his government will solve problems, not exploit them.

To cheers from Labour backbenchers, Starmer goes on to insist his agenda is focused on the interests of the country.

"We are finding new scars of the last 14 years in our prisons, in our rivers and seas," he says. "National renewal is not a quick fix."

The PM also gives way to the SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who asks Starmer how many children will remain in poverty while the child poverty taskforce gets to work.

Flynn says the taskforce will lead to what the SNP is already proposing which is to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

Starmer says the point of the taskforce is to drive those numbers down and "what matters is the commitment to do it".

Labour MP Sarah Owen intervenes, asking Starmer what assurances he can give that he takes the issue of child poverty seriously and that the government will address it.

The prime minister says he takes it "extremely seriously", adding he is proud of the record of the last Labour government on this issue, saying it had a strategy and they will too.

He says he is pleased to have announced a taskforce today to lead a strategy on child poverty.

After paying tribute to Florence Eshalomi's address, the prime minister also remembers Sir Tony Lloyd, the Rochdale MP who died earlier this year.

"The fight for trust is the battle which defines our political era," Starmer says. "We are all responsible for the tone and standards we set."

Starmer says he hopes the Labour government can proceed on the previous consensus on smoking and football bills.

He also says the government will honour the victims of Manchester bombing with the anti-terror Martyn's Law.

Starmer says his party was elected to deliver nothing less than national renewal, "To stop the chaos of the past 14 years... and return it to public service".

He calls it a determined, patient and calm rebuilding, one that will reject the "snake oil charm of populism", referring to those who offer "the easy answer".

He says the King's Speech takes the brakes off the economy and shows politics can improve lives of millions.

Starmer says today they need to get on with the "serious on the business of government", and he also pays tribute to the backbench MP Peter Dowd for his address earlier.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now speaking.

Like Sunak, he begins by paying tribute to the King before also wishing Queen Camilla a happy birthday.

He goes on to wish Donald Trump a "speedy recovery". He says he spoke with the former president on Sunday night to pass on best wishes and to "share our revulsion at the senseless violence that has not place in democracy".

He notes the plaques in the Commons following the killings of David Amis and Jo Cox, and says we must heed the words of US President Joe Biden to lower the temperature and work across disagreements.

He also jokes that the whole house will surely recognise the achievements of the England football team.

Rishi Sunak ends his speech by saying that his party recognises that the public has entrusted Labour with running the country and promises to fulfil the duties of opposition faithfully.

"We are all first and foremost patriots," he says, wishing the PM and new government well.

Image source, PA

Sunak continues by noting plans for new employment legislation, before turning to the costs of the welfare bill.

He expresses his hope the new Labour government will look at the opposition's proposals at reducing the cost of the welfare system.

Sunak also mentions the government's proposed changes to planning and says the system needs to have a say for local people, otherwise it risks damaging people's support for planning shake-ups.

Sunak now turns to the issue of illegal migration. He says his fear is that a large number of those who cross the channel illegally will remain here.

On the economy, Sunak says the facts show that things are not as bleak as the chancellor makes out - he says inflation is at 2%, unemployment as at 4% and the economy is already on an upward trajectory.

He says Labour already had the full details of the public finances when they set out their manifesto, thanks to what the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) had said.

"The party opposite promised no tax rises on working people... it'd be difficult to claim things are worse than thought then renege on those pledges," Sunak says.

Sunak now urges Starmer to commit to spending 2.5% of national income on defence by 2030 – a Conservative campaign promise.

He says such a move could make that level of spending the new Nato benchmark – which is currently 2%.

Sunak says it would be the best way to strengthen the alliance and show the US that other Nato countries do not expect it to bear "every burden".

He adds it would be the most effective way to deter further acts of Russian aggression.

He also commends Labour on its support for Nato and Ukraine.