From tourist tax to digital ID: BBC correspondents on the key bills

From tourist tax to digital ID: BBC correspondents on the key bills in the King's Speech17 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGetty ImagesKing Charles III has set out the government's law-making plans in a speech to Parliament.Despite furious speculation about his leadership, Sir Keir Starmer has said he will "get on with governing" and the speech outlines his agenda for the next parliamentary session.Here, BBC correspondents analyse some of the potential new bills Sir Keir's government wants to pass.Invest £45bn in northern rail servicesTheo LeggettInternational Business CorrespondentThe Northern Powerhouse rail bill promises £45bn will be invested in major improvements to rail services between key cities in the north of England.It will be carried out in three stages. Firstly there will be electrification and other improvements on routes between Leeds and Bradford, as well as Sheffield and York.Then, there will be a new high-speed route between Liverpool and Manchester via Warrington and Manchester Airport.Thirdly, the government is promising better cross-Pennine links, over and above the improvements that are already under way.The scheme involves adapting the existing High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) bill, which was originally born in 2024 – following the cancellation of the northern sections of HS2.It's no surprise to see this on the agenda. Major rail improvements in the north of England have been promised for years – with the promise of huge economic benefits once they're in place. Little has actually been done.The plans are not as ambitious as they once were. But the chancellor has insisted this time they will actually go ahead.No movement towards oil and gas explorationSimon JackBusiness editorEnergy policy has been a contentious issue with opposition politicians, businesses and even Labour-friendly unions calling for the government to be more open to new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. References to t...