Queen’s speeches are rarely a reliable guide to the government’s actions over the next year. The monarch’s declaration that “other measures will be laid before you” frequently proves an understatement as MPs are invited to vote on grand military and economic interventions.
But never in her 64 years on the throne, has Elizabeth II delivered an address so provisional in character. If the UK votes to leave the EU in five weeks’ time, David Cameron will almost certainly resign and his successor (most likely Boris Johnson) will be consumed by the task of negotiating Britain’s exit. For these reasons, some counselled the Prime Minister to delay the occasion until after 23 June. But determined to show that the business of government is continuing, and desiring a ready-made post-vote agenda, he pushed ahead .... http://www.newstatesman.com
