Research briefing setting out the government’s commitments covering foreign affairs and international development for the House of Lords debate on the 2024 King’s Speech.
King’s Speech 2024: Foreign affairs and international development (322KB PDF)
The Labour Party set out its approach to foreign affairs and international development in a chapter of its general election manifesto entitled ‘Britain reconnected’.
The chapter set out Labour’s ambition to “reconnect with allies and forge new partnerships to deliver security and prosperity at home and abroad”. It argued that a “strong and connected Britain” was a necessary response to a “more volatile and insecure” world, exemplified by war having returned to Europe, violence in the Middle East, and geopolitical tensions exacerbated by rapid technological change and a changing climate. David Lammy, the new foreign secretary, reiterated that this ambition would inform the new Labour government’s approach to foreign affairs following his appointment.
‘Britain reconnected’ was the theme of a speech delivered by Mr Lammy at an event hosted by the foreign affairs think tank Chatham House in January 2023. Mr Lammy later expanded on this policy approach in Parliament, in the press and in further speeches, including one delivered at the Institute for Government in May 2024.
The Library’s briefings for the King’s Speech draw on the Labour Party’s manifesto and other material in the public domain. They have been written in advance of the 2024 King’s Speech to help members of the House of Lords prepare for the debate on the speech. They do not constitute official information about the government’s intentions or provide a complete list of bills to be announced.
King’s Speech 2024: Foreign affairs and international development (322KB PDF)
The Nature’s Rights Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party). The bill would recognise nature as a legal subject, granting it specific rights for protection and restoration. The bill would set out a legal framework for how this would operate, including an integrated rights framework and mechanisms for how nature’s rights would be implemented and enforced.
![Nature’s Rights Bill [HL]: HL Bill 7 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Environment-568x426.png)
The UK is a signatory to the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. The commission would assess claims for compensation for damage and losses caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has broadly welcomed the convention, but also raised concerns about the scope and efficacy of the commission.
The National Security (State Threats) Bill would create new powers for the home secretary to designate bodies engaged in state threat activity, equivalent to the proscription of terrorist organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000. The bill would create three new offences associated with designation of supporting, assisting, or receiving material benefit from a designated body. These offences would carry sentences of up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
