King's Speech set out broad digital policy agenda

On Wednesday, 13 May 2026, the King's Speech set out an extensive list of bills and draft bills for the Labour government's second legislative agenda of the parliamentary session following the election. 

While there is uncertainty regarding the policy direction due to an anticipated leadership contest within the Parliamentary Labour Party, the King's Speech included several bills addressing digital infrastructure, healthcare modernisation, national security, and law enforcement. 

One notable omission is the lack of a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) Bill. Its absence was expected, however, after we learned in March that the introduction of an AI Bill had been delayed until 2027 due to significant backlash from the creative industries. 

The legislative agenda comprises a diverse set of policy initiatives that, together, address a range of data protection and cyber risks and opportunities. These inclde:

• The Digital Access to Services Bill introduces a voluntary digital identity scheme. Moving away from the mandatory system, the government explains that it will use the "latest security technology" to allow citizens to access public services and the wider digital economy while maintaining control over their data. 
• Healthcare reform is addressed through the NHS Modernisation Bill, which proposes a single patient record accessible across all healthcare providers. The Bill will require GPs and hospitals to share patient data, as well as to invest significantly in technology and cybersecurity. 
• The Police Reform Bill introduces a legal framework for the use of facial recognition and similar technologies for law enforcement purposes, outlining the specific circumstances in which their use can be justified. 
• To stimulate economic development, the Regulating for Growth Bill aims to reduce the burden of complex regulations. Central to this is the creation of regulatory sandboxes, including an AI Growth Lab, where rules can be temporarily relaxed to test new technologies. The Bill also strengthens the growth duty of independent regulators, including the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and Ofcom. 
• The government also reaffirmed its commitment to the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (CSR Bill), which was announced two years ago but did not complete its passage through Parliament. 

In a statement responding to the news, Slikie Carlo, Director of Big Brother Watch, lamented the introduction of the Digital Access to Services Bill, saying that: "Access to public services we all pay for should never require a digital ID." Carlo was more favourable about plans to legislate the use of facial recognition under the Police Reform Bill, but cautioned that the "devil will be in the detail."  

A legal analysis by Pinsent Masons indicates that the new UK digital ID scheme could reduce administrative burdens and streamline onboarding for foreign workers. The system would significantly impact employers across the country, where digital right-to-work checks are standard practice for non-British and Irish nationals. Although physical documents like passports remain valid for identity verification, businesses are increasingly adopting digital service providers. The analysis suggests the transition aligns with current industrial trends and potentially eliminates uncertainty and human error from the overall right-to-work compliance process.

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