Lords Weigh Closer EU Ties, Growth and Defence

High-Level Summary

The House of Lords opened with formal announcements concerning a Member’s death, retirements and cessations. Three House of Lords Bills (on civil aviation, social housing and major sporting events) were introduced and read a first time. The House then agreed extensive membership motions establishing select and joint committees for the new Session. The main business was Day 2 of the debate on the King’s Speech, focused on economic growth, the proposed European partnership Bill, industry (including steel), regulation and defence; Ministers set out plans for closer UK–EU cooperation and industrial measures while peers presented contrasting views. The debate was adjourned and will continue at the next sitting.

Detailed Summary

House announcements

Lord Forsyth announced the death of Lord Harries of Pentregarth: “My Lords, I regret to inform the House of the death of the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Harries of Pentregarth, on 29 April”. He also notified retirements pursuant to the House of Lords Reform Act 2014: “I should like to notify the House of the retirement with effect from Thursday 30 April of the noble Lord, Lord Curry of Kirkharle”. In addition, the House was told that “the noble Baroness, Lady Billingham, and the noble Lord, Lord Christopher, yesterday ceased to be Members of the House” due to non‑attendance under Section 2 of the 2014 Act.

First Readings: Civil Aviation, Social Housing and Sporting Events Bills [HL]

Three Bills were introduced and read a first time. The Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill is described as: “A Bill to make provision for the protection of purchasers and users of air transport and airport services”. It “was introduced by Baroness Wheeler (on behalf of Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill), read a first time and ordered to be printed”. The Social Housing Bill is: “A Bill to make provision about social housing”, and “was introduced by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, read a first time and ordered to be printed”. The Sporting Events Bill is: “A Bill to make provision for enabling a common set of legislative provisions to be applied to major sporting events”, and “was introduced by Baroness Wheeler (on behalf of Baroness Twycross), read a first time and ordered to be printed”.

Membership Motions: appointment of Select and Joint Committees

The Senior Deputy Speaker moved extensive motions establishing committees and setting powers and terms of reference, including: “That a Select Committee be appointed to consider matters relating to the built environment” and “That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers and records”. Some special inquiries were given reporting deadlines, for example: “That the Committee do report by 30 November 2026”. Introducing the package, Lord Ponsonby said, “these Motions appoint the Select Committees and Joint Select Committees”, and the House agreed: “Motions agreed.”. Next steps: committees commence work under the agreed orders; where specified, reports are due by 30 November 2026.

King’s Speech debate (Day 2): economy, UK–EU relations, industry and defence

Opening for the Government, Baroness Anderson said the Session’s mission is “to build a more resilient country that spreads opportunity for all”. She set out plans for an “European partnership Bill” to implement UK–EU agreements—“The European partnership Bill is the means by which we will facilitate the implementation of those deals agreed with the EU”—and assured that “Parliament will have its say on new EU legislation before it is applied in the UK”. Industrial measures included enabling public ownership of British Steel: “Bringing British Steel Ltd under national ownership will allow government to explore future opportunities, including a transition to decarbonised steel-making”. On people‑to‑people links, she said: “Association to Erasmus+ will open up world-class opportunities for learners, educators, young people” and trailed an EU youth experience scheme. On economic integration, she highlighted that linking emissions trading schemes could save exports from carbon border charges—“saving £7 billion of UK exports a year from being charged”—and that an electricity agreement would make cross‑border trading “more efficient, driving down energy costs”.

Peers presented contrasting views. Baroness Finn argued that “the Government have borrowed too much, grown too little and regulated to excess” and asked, “Will he confirm that Britain will not become an EU rule-taker?”. Lord Fox welcomed action on late payments and financial services but criticised the lack of an AI Bill—“there is no AI Bill in this Session. How can that be sensible?"—and said of the European partnership Bill, “It offers very little that is new”. Lord Burns cautioned that “underlying growth rates change only slowly and are difficult to predict”, while the Bishop of Newcastle said, “The proposed European partnership Bill is important for regions such as the north-east”. On steel, Lord Hunt cited the National Audit Office’s finding that “DBT intervened without a clear exit strategy” at Scunthorpe. Lord Liddle urged swift alignment with the EU—“This is the challenge that the alignment Bill will address”—while Lord Lilley contended that “The single market magic, whatever it is, failed for Britain” and prioritised domestic production.

National security featured prominently. Lord Robertson said leaders “must spend more, deliver more, and co-ordinate more” and warned, “we are underprepared, we are underinsured, we are under attack and we are not safe”. Closing, Lord Livermore highlighted growth of “0.6%, making us the fastest-growing economy in the G7” in Q1, confirmed plans to “increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2027”, and said Brexit’s GDP impact “could be as much as 8%”. On implementation, he said, “we will pause further implementation of the BTOM while we negotiate new arrangements with the EU” and that the EU partnership Bill will enable alignment “now and in the future” where in the national interest. He affirmed the British Steel Bill as part of securing strategic capability. Outcome: this was a policy debate; no decisions were taken. Next steps: “Debate adjourned until Monday 18 May.”.