What to expect in Labour's first King's Speech

The King’s speech is expected to include legislation to create a state-owned energy company called GB energy, a plan to nationalise the railways and further devolved powers for councils

Mayors and councils are expected to be handed more control over skills, energy, planning and transport, including bus routes and fares.

Voters in some large cities and regions in England elect mayors with regional responsibilities for transport, housing, and in some cases policing but Cumbria does not have a mayor despite calls for an elected mayor in the region.

Both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness councils have said that they are eager to work with the government on further devolution for the area.

Labour are also to set out their plan to nationalise the railways.

Transport secretary Louise Haigh accused Avanti West Coast during the General Election campaign of providing a “woeful service” and said Labour would consider stripping the firm of its contract for the service, which runs through Cumbria.

Several newly elected Labour MPs criticised cancellations and disruptions on the line during their journeys to take up their seats in the House of Commons.

Ms Haigh was asked if Avanti was on “borrowed time”.

The minister replied: “My views about Avanti are very well known, having served in the shadow brief for two-and-a-half years.

“And I will be calling them in with their Network Rail business unit very soon to address their performance and I’ve been working with my officials immediately to make sure we drive up performance standards.”

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Labour is also likely to introduce a bill to crackdown on water firms pumping sewage into waterways and making them personally responsible and facing fines.

There will also be a housing and infrastructure bill which will include a mandatory housing target and large-scale changes to planning rules to enable more homes to be built.