Queen Elizabeth to set out British PM Johnson's legislative agenda on Dec 19

In a photo taken on July 24, 2019, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Prime Minister Boris Johnson during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London. PHOTO: AP

LONDON (REUTERS) - Queen Elizabeth will set out British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's legislative agenda on Thursday, following his election victory, including a pledge to bring the European Union Withdrawal Agreement Bill back to Parliament before Christmas, his office said last Saturday (Dec 14).

Mr Johnson led his Conservative Party last Thursday to their biggest national election win since Mrs Margaret Thatcher's landslide victory of 1987, trouncing his socialist Labour Party opponent Jeremy Corbyn by winning 365 parliamentary seats and securing an overall majority of 80. Mr Johnson fought the election on the slogan "Get Brexit done".

The so-called Queen's Speech is used to detail all the Bills the government plans to enact over the coming year. It is written by the government and is delivered by the monarch from a throne in Parliament's gilded House of Lords debating chamber.

Thursday's speech to Parliament will be the 93-year-old Queen's second in as many months. She made one on Oct 14, shortly before the election was called, following a prolonged deadlock in Parliament over the government's Brexit plans.

The October speech laid out 22 new Bills - pieces of proposed legislation - including several covering tougher treatment for foreign criminals and sex offenders, and new protection for victims of domestic abuse.

Mr Johnson's office said Thursday's speech was expected to provide continuity with what the Queen outlined in October, with some additions to strengthen the justice system and enshrine in law a multi-year funding settlement for Britain's state-funded National Health Service.

The new government's top priority, however, will be to finally secure parliamentary approval for the Bill to take Britain out of the European Union.

Mr Johnson said last Friday that Britain would leave the EU on Jan 31, "no ifs, no buts, no maybes".

The Queen's Speech will also detail plans to provide a better service for rail commuters, greater protection for people who rent their homes, and stop local authorities boycotting products from other countries such as Israel.

The restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland after a near three-year hiatus and "a strong United Kingdom" will also be a focus of Mr Johnson's government, his office said.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Johnson visited former strongholds of his Labour opponents in northern England and pledged to repay their trust for helping to deliver his stunning election victory.

He has previously promised to spend more money on health, education and the police, and to build more infrastructure, especially in northern England and the Midlands.

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