Crime crackdown, smoking ban and green light for self-driving cars confirmed in historic first King’s Speech in 70 years

RISHI Sunak's vision for Britain was unveiled this morning as MPs and peers packed into the grand House of Lords to hear the King's Speech.

At the state opening of parliament, green-fingered King Charles outlined the main laws Mr Sunak hopes to deliver in the next 12 months – including a ban on fags and huge increase in fracking.

The occasion was a last chance saloon for the PM to sell himself to Britain ahead of a showdown general election next year.

But even ministers admitted the speech was "thin gruel" and "meh".

With the Tories trailing Labour by around 20 points in the polls, the stakes couldn't have been higher.

Mr Sunak is desperate to convince the electorate that his plan for Britain is far more enticing than Labour's under Sir Keir Starmer – and he's running out of time.

Around 20 laws were be tee-d up by the King, including five carried over from the most recent parliamentary session.

Some proposals have broad consensus among MPs across the House.

Others were more radical and designed to place clear blue water between the government and opposition.

From a gold plated throne in the Lords Chamber, His Majesty said: "My government will, in all respects, seek to make long-term decisions in the interests of future generations.

"My ministers will address inflation and the drivers of low growth over demands for greater spending or borrowing.

"My ministers will put the security of communities and the nation ahead of the rights of those who endanger it."

The King added: "By taking these long term decisions, my government will change this country and build a better future."

Here are the main announcements from today's speech:

Smoking ban

Smoking cigarettes will be banished in Britain for youngsters.

The PM will mount an historic crackdown on cigarettes by raising the legal age every year until there are no smokers left.

The new plans mean a 14-year-old today will never legally be sold a cigarette.

The tough new anti-smoking measures will see the smoking age increased by a year every year to eventually make it illegal for anyone to buy cigarettes.

The ban will be subject to a "free vote" in Parliament, meaning MPs won't be instructed how to vote by party enforcers.

But Labour has confirmed its aligned with the government on the ban, so the new law should fly through parliament.

Driverless cars and buses

New laws will give the green light to self driving cars and buses.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said the technology will make our roads safer and boost jobs.

It's thought the introduction of the technology will create some 38,000 jobs in Britain and be worth £42billion to the economy.

The government has confirmed that £100million was being provided to get the tech and infrastructure up and running.

Only features such as lane-keeping technology will be legal at first, with greater autonomy that allows the driver to check emails or watch TV coming in 2025.

It's also hoped that some buses and delivery vehicles will be able to operate without a driver at all by the same year.

Crime crackdown

The PM will try to prove he's tough on crime as the King announces a string of measures to keep society's monsters behind bars for longer.

Under the new Sentencing Bill, the most horrific murderers will face the rest of their lives locked up, including for any murder involving sexual or sadistic conduct.

The Bill will also make sure vile criminals who commit rape and other serious sexual offences face the full consequences of their actions and spend every day of their sentence behind bars, instead of being eligible for parole half way through.

Judges will also be given more powers to make surecriminals attend court when their sentences are handed – so they are forced to hear directly from victims and enable victims' families to have true justice.

In a major win for Brits everywhere the police will be given new powers to retrieve stolen goods such as iPhones without a warrant.

Officers won't have to get permission from a judge to raid a property if they have reasonable proof stolen goods are inside.

The proof burden will include tracking apps such as Find My iPhone.

Renters Reform

The Renters Reform Bill will be carried over from the last parliamentary session into the new one.

The long awaited legislation will see hated section 21 no fault evictions eventually banned.

However, ministers haven't put a time frame on when the ban will actually come into force.

Other rules will also be introduced to crackdown on bad landords.

A new Private Renters' Ombudsman will be created to help private renters and landlords settle disputes quickly.

And tenants will be given the right to request a pet in their house.

Landlords will have to consider any request and won't be able to refuse it without a good reason.

Drilling licences

In a major move to create distance between himself and Sir Keir, the PM will introduce a new law to boost the production of gas in Britain.

Big oil companies will be able to make yearly bids for licenses to drill in the North Sea.

The policy is designed to bring down prices and ensure Brits aren't dependent on foreign tyrants such as Mad Vlad Putin to provide vital gas and electricity.

Football Regulator

In his Speech at the State Opening of Parliament, the King will confirm that his Government is going ahead with plans to create a new body to oversee the beautiful game.

The move, recommended by the fan-led review which was fronted by former sports minister Tracey Crouch, has cross-party support.

The Bill required to create the regulator – equivalent to Ofwat, which oversees the water industry – could be introduced before the end of the year.

But it will take some time for the legislation to be debated and passed. It is expected that only a framework will be in place in time for the start of next season, with the full regulatory body unlikely to start operating with full powers before 2025-26.

Smoking ban

Driverless cars and buses

Crime crackdown

Renters Reform

Drilling licences

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