Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has outlined the government’s legislative agenda, during the official state opening of parliament at Westminster.
One of the key priorities will be early legislation to pave the way for an in-out referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.
The monarch made her first Conservative-only speech in nearly two decades – after Prime Minister David Cameron’s party swept to victory in elections earlier this month, forming a majority government and ending a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
“My government will renegotiate the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union and pursue reform of the European Union for the benefit of all member states,” said the monarch during her speech.
“Alongside this, early legislation will be introduced to provide for an in-out referendum on membership of the European Union before the end of 2017.”
The Queen also said that Britain would continue to play a “leading role” in global affairs – saying the
