13 May 2026 - Today’s King’s Speech set out the Government’s legislative priorities for the year ahead, with a strong focus on economic growth, resilience and national security. Commenting on the announcement, Katharina Sommer, Group Head of Government Affairs at NCC Group, said:
“As the Government goes big on unlocking growth, the King’s Speech reiterates what we’ve been advocating since 1999: cyber security is critical to strengthening Britain’s economic security, national security and resilience.
“Several key announcements underline the role cyber security plays in supporting secure growth, digital innovation and the protection of essential services. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will improve the country’s defences against cyber security threats, while the National Security Bill explicitly calls out updating the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and is expected to reform the cyber landscape. The Digital Access to Services Bill, which will support the introduction of Digital ID, and the Energy Independence Bill, which will scale up homegrown clean energy and strengthen energy security, also show how digital trust, infrastructure resilience and national security are increasingly intertwined.
“Fortifying the UK’s cyber security will have a direct impact on growth, but there remains a misconception that resilience requires pulling up the drawbridge on international partnerships. Sovereignty may have become the latest buzzword, particularly in debates around AI, data and critical technologies, but isolationism isn’t the answer. Reducing overreliance in critical areas while investing in domestic innovation will build systems that are resilient, trusted and fit for long-term economic growth.”