Queen's Speech to set out post-Brexit measures

The British government will set out measures to help the United Kingdom prosper after Brexit in the Queen's Speech delivered during the state opening of Parliament on Monday.

The government says the Queen's Speech will outline 22 bills including some that will introduce measures to allow the UK to "seize the opportunities that Brexit presents", and will unveil plans to end the free movement of European Union citizens into the UK and provide faster access to medicines.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "Getting Brexit done by 31 October is absolutely crucial, and we are continuing to work on an exit deal so we can move on to negotiating a future relationship based on free trade and friendly co-operation with our European friends.

"But the people of this country don't just want us to sort out Brexit... this optimistic and ambitious Queen's Speech sets us on a course to make all that happen, and more besides."

The UK is due to leave the EU at 23:00 GMT on Oct 31 and the European leaders' summit on Thursday and Friday is being seen as the last chance to agree any deal before that deadline.

The UK and EU are still involved in talks ahead of the key summit-but a Downing Street source warned they were still "a long way from a final deal".

Negotiators from the UK and the EU are having what has been described as "intense technical discussions" to agree a deal.

The prime minister was due to update his Cabinet on the progress of the talks in Brussels later on Sunday, starting the "preparations for a final, critical EU council where it is hoped a deal can be reached".

Johnson is also due to speak to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week to urge them to help him secure a deal.

Meanwhile, senior Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has conceded that the government will have to compromise to get a deal with the EU.

Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House of Commons and former chairman of the European Research Group of eurosceptic MPs, told Sky News on Sunday that negotiations with Brussels "seem to be taking a serious turn" and the situation "looks a lot more positive this week than it did last week".

Rees-Mogg, who has come to be seen as a standard bearer for the Brexiteer cause, gave little away in terms of what is in the government's new plan, saying: "We'll have to wait and see what the precise details are.

"Naturally in the middle of a negotiation these matters are extremely sensitive as everyone is compromising to some degree and therefore to give negotiations the best chance of succeeding, it is best to be discreet about them."

The UK voted to leave the EU on June 23, 2016 and was due to leave on March 29, 2019 following two years of negotiations.

Former prime minister Theresa May tried-and failed-three times to get the deal she agreed with Brussels passed by MPs. Her failure prompted her resignation as prime minister and Brexit being pushed back to Oct 31. Johnson replaced her and insists Britain will leave on that date "do or die".