London--Prime Minister David Cameron's government formally announced a referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU in a policy speech read by Queen Elizabeth II on Westminster's grandest day on Wednesday.
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 cuts to public spending.
This will accompany measures to help middle-income Britons, like more free childcare, healthcare spending, and a promise not to raise three major tax rates for 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 address.
After winning this month's election with a narrow surprise 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.
Cameron said he hoped the measure would pass in "extra quick time" and has not ruled out holding the referendum vote next year.
After the speech hundreds of people marched through London in protest, carrying banners like "free education" and "tax the rich", and angrily confronting police.
"We've been savaged by cuts. The scale of what is going on is devastating," said public sector worker Keith, 49, a member of the PCS union who said he hoped to build a British anti-austerity movement like Spain's Podemos.
"It's going to create a very dangerous country and they need to be resisted."
One politician said he feared for his life after being confronted by protesters near parliament, and police said five were arrested.
Left-wing groups are rallying to protest throughout the summer, with the government's plans to cut welfare spending by £12 billion (17 billion euros, $18.5 billion) expected to prove particularly contentious.
The acting leader of Britain's opposition centre-left Labour party Harriet Harman told parliament a tentative return to economic growth was not being felt throughout society.
"Britain faces a fragile future for our economy, our constitution and our public services," Harman said.
AFP
