The United Kingdom will head to the polls to choose whether to remain part of the European Union, in a referendum announced on Wednesday.

A referendum would be set for 2017 according to the first bill to be lodged on Thursday in the new parliament since the UK’s May election delivered government to the Conservative party.

During her speech to open the new parliament, the Queen confirmed the referendum had been planned.

• Russell Brand sizes up PM for marriage. No joke
• Gay marriage referendum push
• Tories pull off ‘sweetest victory’

Queen Elizabeth II during her speech in 2014.

“Early legislation will be introduced to provide for an in-out referendum on membership of the European Union by the end of 2017,” she said, as reported by AAP.

The Queen’s Speech also featured plans to hand more powers to Scotland and prohibit raising three main taxes for the next five years, despite planned cuts to reduce Britain’s deficit including welfare savings of STG12 billion ($A23.87 billion), according to AAP.

— with AAP