PCS responds as the King's Speech fails to address cost of living crisis

Welcome steps on housing, education and public ownership

There are elements in the King’s Speech that PCS supports in principle.

Plans to expand social housing and strengthen tenant protections through the Social Housing Renewal Bill could be important steps towards tackling the housing crisis.

The Education for All Bill, which aims to increase support for children with special educational needs (SEN), is also a long overdue commitment that could improve outcomes for some of the most disadvantaged young people.

PCS also welcomes moves to:

• Extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds and strengthen electoral rules
• Bring rail services into public ownership through GB Railways and simplify fares
• Shift towards clean, homegrown energy
• Introduce the Hillsborough Law, improving accountability in public office.

No plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis

Despite these measures, the speech contains nothing meaningful to address the cost-of-living crisis.

There are no proposals to:

• Boost public sector pay  
• Reduce rising household bills
• Tackle rents or the wider cost of living.

For PCS members, this means continued financial pressure after years of real-terms pay cuts. The union is clear that meaningful action on pay and living standards must be a central priority.

Threats to justice and fairness

PCS has raised serious concerns about the Court Modernisation Bill, which could undermine the right to jury trials and prioritise speed over fairness.

Justice must not be sacrificed in the name of efficiency. Any changes that weaken due process or reduce access to fair trials are unacceptable.

Concerns over Immigration and Asylum Bill

PCS warns that the approach of the Bill risks scapegoating migrants, rather than addressing the underlying causes of economic and social challenges. The union rejects attempts to divide working people and shift responsibility away from government policy. We will continue to urge government to listen to the proposals we have put forward for a fair and humane asylum system that would be both workable and better for the economy.

Impact on PCS members through structural changes

Several proposed reforms will directly affect PCS members working across the civil service and public bodies.

These include:

• Plans to bring the National Crime Agency and College of Policing into a new National Police Service
• The abolition of Ofwat under water system reforms
• The integration of NHS England into the Department of Health and Social Care.

PCS will be closely monitoring these changes and engaging with members to defend jobs, terms and conditions.

Responding to the King's Speech, PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said:

“Our members needed to hear how this government plans to make life more affordable now, but today there was little reassurance for the millions of households struggling under the weight of rising costs.

“While some of the government’s proposals are welcome in principle, our members cannot wait five or ten years to feel the benefits of economic growth that may or may not come. Long-term investment offers little comfort today to families worrying about how they will pay next month’s rent, heating bill or food shop.

“PCS will continue to campaign for fair pay, properly funded public services and urgent action to tackle the cost-of-living crisis affecting our members and communities across the UK.

“We will also continue to oppose attempts to scapegoat migrants or weaken fundamental rights and protections, including access to fair justice through jury trials. The answer to falling living standards is not division it is urgent investment, fairness and support for working people.”