BRITAIN’S BUCKET LIST INCLUDES LEAVING EU

Government to outline new laws

London

The British government's new legislative programme, including a referendum bill on leaving the EU, will be announced by Queen Elizabeth II tomorrow as parliament gets down to business after the Conservatives' election win.

The mood of Westminster's grandest day is likely to be sunny as the queen comes to parliament in full ceremonial regalia and Prime Minister David Cameron's party basks in this month's surprise outright win over Labour, who are now hunting for a new leader.

But the to-do list for his centre-right government also includes controversial issues such as powers for Scotland and human rights reform, which could signal trouble ahead as he bids to pass laws with a slim majority.

Cameron, whose policies critics say often favour the wealthy, said this was a "one nation" government whose first Queen's Speech would help Britons in "every city, every community and every home." 

"This time it's (about) renewal -- renewing the idea that we are one nation, in which all working people can succeed; people of all backgrounds have social justice; and the ties that bind all parts of our nation are strong," he wrote in this week's Sunday Times.

The bill paving the way for a referendum on whether Britain should remain a member of the European Union, due to be held by the end of 2017, will be published the day after the speech.

Cameron has signalled a referendum could be held as soon as 2016, and is embarking on a whistlestop tour of European capitals this week for talks on the reforms he is seeking on issues like immigration before the vote. 

He will host European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker at his country residence, Chequers, on Monday, before travelling to meet the leaders of Denmark, the Netherlands and France on Thursday, and then Poland and Germany Friday. 

He aims to talk to other leaders of the 28-member EU individually before a European Council summit at the end of next month.

Pomp and circumstance

The Queen's Speech will also feature new legislation handing new powers to Scotland after it voted against independence in a referendum last year.

Cameron's government could also face a rebellion from both opposition parties and within its own ranks over its plans to scrap European human rights laws.