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The Conservative Party has outlined a series of ambitious proposals in its “alternative King’s Speech”, including withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), tripling stop-and-search powers, and resuming new North Sea drilling.
The package, released ahead of the Labour government’s official priorities, aims to “reverse the disastrous decisions Keir Starmer has taken” while also seeking to “rectify the mistakes of previous Conservative governments”.
Leader Kemi Badenoch stated the document demonstrates that her “renewed” Conservative Party, which she has pledged to rebuild after its significant 2024 general election defeat, “is coming back with a plan to deliver”.
The 16 bills, spanning welfare, immigration, crime, energy, and defence, are the culmination of 18 months of policy work since the party lost power.
Ms Badenoch has previously apologised for “mistakes” made by past Tory administrations on tax and immigration, particularly the surge in migration under more relaxed post-Brexit rules introduced by Boris Johnson’s government.
To address this, the party’s proposals include legislation to repeal the Human Rights Act and authorise withdrawal from the ECHR, which it blames for hindering the deportation of individuals without a right to remain in the UK.
Resuming new drilling in the North Sea is among the plans included in the Conservatives’ ‘alternative King’s Speech’ (AFP/Getty)
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Membership of the ECHR and the Blairite Human Rights Act has protected everyone except the British public.
“Our borders have been eroded and policing undermined.
“It is essential for any future government to tackle the lawfare holding our country back if they are to succeed.”
Mr Philp also said the proposed Take Back Our Streets Bill “triples stop-and-search, deploys 10,000 additional officers, and rolls out live facial recognition to the worst crime hotspots, restoring the damage Labour have done in just under two years”.
The Tories have also pledged to reduce legal obstacles which prevent new oil and gas projects being approved in the UK with their draft Get Britain Drilling Bill.
They have argued this would bring down the spike in energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East, although opponents have said new licences would do nothing to lower bills.
Kemi Badenoch has previously apologised for ‘mistakes’ made by the Tory administrations she served in on tax and immigration, including the surge in migration under more relaxed post-Brexit rules introduced by Boris Johnson’s government (PA)
Ms Badenoch said: “If you want a country with strong borders, a country that is properly defended, a country that is a great place to start and run a business, and a country in which the law is upheld, this alternative King’s Speech delivers just that.
“We are living through the painful reality of an opposition entering government without a plan. I am not making that same mistake, and this alternative King’s Speech shows the Conservative Party is coming back with a plan to deliver.”
Here is the full list of the Tories’ proposed bills:
Welfare Reform BillBack Our High Streets BillGet Britain Working BillReducing Bureaucracy BillSave British Industry BillCheap Energy BillGet Britain Drilling BillECHR (Notification of Withdrawal) BillHuman Rights Act (Repeal) BillProtecting Our Borders BillRights and Responsibilities of Citizenship BillTake Back Our Streets BillSovereign Defence Fund BillProtect Our Veterans BillRestoring School Standards BillYouth Opportunity Bill
The Tories suffered significant losses in this week’s elections, shedding hundreds of council seats in England.
But Ms Badenoch said the results demonstrated “signs of renewal” after the Tories took back control of Westminster from Labour, held on to their majority in Bexley and in Kensington and Chelsea, and became the biggest party in Wandsworth.