Prime Minister David Cameron's government formally announced Wednesday it will hold a referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU in a policy speech read by Queen Elizabeth II on Westminster's grandest day. Outlining the newly-elected government's plans for its first year, the 89-year-old queen, in a crown and ceremonial dress, confirmed Britain would face further austerity to cut its deficit.
This will be tempered with measures designed to help middle-income Britons, such as more free childcare and healthcare spending and a promise not to raise three major tax rates for the next five years. "It's a Queen's Speech for working people from a one nation government that will bring our country together," Cameron told the House of Commons after the monarch's address.
After winning this month's general election with a surprise though slender majority, the centre-right government will Thursday publish its first bill which will pave the way for a referendum by 2017 on whether Britain should leave the European Union. Parliament could start debating the measure within weeks as Cameron said he hoped the measure would pass in "extra quick time" and has not ruled out holding the referendum vote next year. The white-clad monarch, delivering the 62nd Queen's Speech of her reign, arrived at parliament in a gold and black carriage accompanied by dozens of horsemen to the sound of the national anthem, "God Save The Queen".
In a bizarre tradition dating back to times of hostility between parliament and monarchy, an MP was "held hostage" at Buckingham Palace until she returned safely. Hundreds of people were expected to hold anti-austerity protests in central London after the speech. "Britain faces a fragile future for our economy, our constitution and our public services," acting Labour leader Harriet Harman said in parliament. "Although we are seeing economic growth return, its benefits are not being shared and the economy remains fragile."