Brexit and health, Britain's Johnson sets out priorities in Queen's Speech
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
In a ceremony that marks a new parliament, Queen Elizabeth will readoutthe laws which the government wants the House of Commons to approve and will pinpointJohnson'sprioritiesafter winning a commanding majority at last week's national election.
The prime minister, who won over many traditional supporters of the main opposition Labour Party in northern and central England, has proclaimed he will lead a "people's government" and will move to fulfil his pledge to "getBrexitdone".
TheQueen'sSpeechwill include new legislation needed to implement the future relationshipJohnsonhas promised to agree with the EU by the end of 2020. He plans to pass the laws needed to finalise the divorce agreement by Jan. 31.
He will also cement his commitment to spend more onBritain'smuch-loved but struggling NationalHealthService by prioritising legislation to guarantee funding increases, rising to an extra 33.9 billion pounds per year by 2023-24.
"The NHS is the single greatest institution in this country," he told a reception ofhealthworkers late on Wednesday. "We are now putting the biggest investment in the NHS in living memory. We have to keep that investment going."
On Tuesday,Johnsontold his top team of ministers that they "ain't seen nothing yet folks", warning them that there was much to do to pay back the trust offered his government in the election on Dec. 12 when he won a majority of 80.
After more than three years of debate overBrexit,Johnsonwants to move quickly to try to unite a country riven by disagreements over how, when or whether Britain should leave the EU. Towns, villages and even families have been fractured.
His aides say he is also determined to try to keep the support of those voters in northern and central England, many of whom voted for the governing Conservatives for the first time, by trying to make their lives better.
With ahealthy majority, he should be able to fulfil his priority to "getBrexitdone" and is expected to announce that the divorce agreement, or Withdrawal Agreement Bill, is brought back to parliament before Christmas and then passed quickly.
He will also offer some insight into how he wants to tackle the domestic concerns highlighted in the election campaign.
Beyond increased funding for the NHS, he is also expected tooutline measures to strengthen the justice system, improve transport, better protect those people who rent their homes and kickstart talks to restore the government in Northern Ireland.