Storms batter parts of Britain

Passengers are being airlifted from a ferry in the Irish sea as high winds batter much of the UK, with forecasters warning of blizzards to come. A 45-year-old lorry driver died on the M6 near Tebay, Cumbria, as his lorry overturned in gusts of up to 70mph. The Port of Dover in Kent has reopened after gusts of up to 60mph forced it to close, causing widespread disruption.

In Wales some homes are without power and the Forth Road Bridge, west of Edinburgh, has reopened after a crash. However, it remains closed to high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorcycles after a lorry earlier overturned in high winds. In the Irish Sea, six people have been airlifted off a ferry which is listing to 60 degrees amid fierce storms. Still on board are 17 crew members who are attempting to restart the ship's engines, a spokesman for Lancashire Ambulance Service said.

The River Dance, a roll-on-roll-off ferry, ran into trouble eight miles west of Fleetwood. Sea King helicopters are taking those on board to Blackpool Airport. About 1,000 homes were without power in Gwynedd and two schools, John Beddoes High in Presteigne and Whitton Primary schools in Powys, closed because of a power failure.

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This Article is about the awful storms that have hit Great Britain Today . This story is also interesting because of how in depth the knowledge is about the storm. News in Great Britain is for the most part all reported like local news

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History of the U.K.'s Political Parties

Prior to the mid-19th century politics in the United Kingdom were dominated by the Whigs and the Tories. These were not political parties in the modern sense but somewhat loose alliances of interests and individuals. The Whigs were associated with the newly emerging moneyed industrial classes, and the Tories were associated with the landed gentry, the Church of England and the Church of Scotland.

By the mid 19th century the Tories had evolved into the Conservative Party, and the Whigs had evolved into the Liberal Party.

These two parties dominated the political scene until the 1920s, when the Liberal Party declined in popularity and suffered a long stream of resignations. It was replaced as the main left-wing party by the newly emerging Labour Party, who represented an alliance between the trades unions and various socialist societies.

Since then the Conservative and Labour Parties have dominated British politics, and have alternated in government ever since. The UK is nearly but not quite a two-party system however. The Liberals merged with the Social Democrats because they had very similar views and became the Liberal Democrats which are now a sizeable third party whose electoral results have improved in recent years.

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This article provides a brief history on the origin of the U.K.'s political party system.

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Lords issue landmark abuse ruling

Victims of sexual abuse may be able to sue their attackers after many years, following a ruling by the Law Lords. They ruled a convicted rapist who later won £7m on the National Lottery could be sued by his victim - even though her claim was outside a six-year deadline.
Iorworth Hoare, 53, was jailed for life in May 1989 for the attempted rape of the 59-year-old woman, Mrs A, in Leeds.

The Lords backed four more appeals; it is thought their decision could allow a number of other cases to be brought. A fair trial can be possible long after the event and sometimes the law has no choice.

Baroness Hale Until now sexual abuse victims have been prevented from bringing a claim more than six years after an attack or, in child abuse cases, more than six years after the victim reaches 18.

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This story is interesting because it shows some flexibility in the British systems. It is also interesting that the Inmates are allowed to play the lottery and that the case can be brought back up.

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Growing pangs of Britain's spy agencies

The annual Intelligence and Security Committee report provides one of the few glimpses into the normally secret world of Britain's intelligence agencies. The insights it provides are a mix of the serious, the strange and the more mundane.
Britain's intelligence and security services have been growing fast since 9/11 but that process has not always been straightforward. According to the report, the growth has created concerns "that aspects of key intelligence and security work are suffering as a consequence of the focus on counter-terrorism priorities" and the committee calls for possible separate, additional funding to maintain capabilities in other areas.
MI5 has expanded fast, particularly into the regions. New offices were opened in the South East and Wales in 2006/7 - and by 2008, regional stations will house three times the number of staff originally planned, the report reveals.

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This article is just a little peak inside a vast wonder of the worlds. Britain is massively expanding their security systems and are working more tightly with the United States . Want to see what the US has been up to that you probably dont know about Click Here. Notice there are no citations on that article.

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Five jailed for £53m cash robbery

Five men found guilty of being involved in the £53m raid on the Securitas depot in Kent have been given minimum jail terms of between 10 and 15 years.

During the raid in Tonbridge in 2006, depot manager Colin Dixon and his family were kidnapped at gunpoint by men posing as police officers.

Since the raid police have recovered £21m of the stolen cash but the remaining £32m is still missing.

The five were convicted on kidnap, robbery and firearms charges.

Those ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years were: Stuart Royle, 49, of Allen Street, Maidstone, Kent; Lea Rusha, 35, of Lambersart Close, Southborough, Kent; Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge; and garage owner Roger Coutts, 30, of The Green, Welling, south-east London.

All four were given indeterminate sentences.

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Does this mean that Great Britain is going to have to increase their internal security even more in order to protect their citizens?

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The British Invasion

In a brief change, the weekly trivia question will now be posted at random during the week. The question will be about any aspect of British history or culture. Our first question will be posted one day this week between now and Thursday at 11:59, so just continue to check out our blog. You can gve us your answers by Friday at the beginning of class. Don't share your answers!! If you do, you'll be disquaified from the competition. The person who answers the most questions correctly by the end of the semester will be awarded a $25 gift card to the place of your choice.Thanks Gene and Ben

Gordon Brown: 'I'm no ditherer'

Gordon Brown has rejected the charge that he dithered over the Peter Hain resignation and other issues and said that it was only the Conservatives who were accusing him of dithering.

He said: "I think the decisions that I've made, the big changes that I've made since I came in, show a level of resolution about the changes we've got to make for Britain as a whole."

Earlier in January, Mr. Brown refused to be drawn on whether he was enjoying the job, but on the Politics Show he told Jon Sopel that being Prime Minister was the best job in the world.

"There's a great deal of satisfaction," he said, "in trying to help people in different ways and not just on the economy as I used to do, but on a whole range of other areas.

"So I would say that I've been fortunate enough to be given the chance to do what I think is the best job in the world."

Click here for the full article and interview.

In respose to Hain's resignation due to financial fraud, PM Brown is now having to defend his reputation against the media's accusations of conspiracy.

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Assessment Complete

Blair in first official portrait

The oil painting by artist Jonathan Yeo shows the former prime minister wearing a commemorative poppy, to represent his leadership role during the Iraq war.
Yeo said Mr Blair, 54, "came bouncing in" for sittings and described his subject as having "Tigger-like energy".

Mr Blair, who refused previous official portrait requests, agreed to the painting before leaving office. It will be displayed at London's Lincoln's Inn.
Of all the things that people remember him for, the war in Iraq is going to be one of the main things that people discuss
Artist Jonathan Yeo

Yeo, son of the Conservative MP and former minister Timothy Yeo, said the poppy featured in the painting was symbolic, but was not meant to be judgemental.Of all the things that people remember him for, the war in Iraq is going to be one of the main things that people discuss," he said.

"I was thinking that I had to find some kind of representation of that, but that it shouldn't be trite or too judgemental. "It was November and of course when he came in he was wearing a poppy. I thought that was perfect."

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This story is signifigant because Tony Blair was the Prime Minister of the UK during a lively time in British history . He is most notable for his use backing of President Bush in The Iraq War . Him and Bush were very close on international affairs.

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The mystery of flight BA038

Why did a modern airliner, with an experienced crew on board, suddenly lose power in the seconds before landing? It is a question that many in the aviation industry simply can't stop asking.

The mystery of flight BA038 intrigues them in so many ways. The Air Accident Investigation Branch is admired around the world as the gold standard in crash investigation. Its experts are either experienced pilots or engineers.

Their task: to produce a highly detailed report of the crash that explains, rather than blames.
Pulling together information from a variety of sources, including the AAIB's initial reports, it's possible to describe the last minute of the flight. BA038 had been descending gradually into Heathrow, the autopilot and the automatic throttle system controlling the aircraft.

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This story is signifigant because is shows how serious the British take there national security , maybe even more then us in the United States. This story is yet to be solved and when it is more news will be added

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UK's Brown seen delaying poll until at least 2009

LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Mounting problems facing British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, ranging from a weakening economy to a police investigation into party funding, virtually ensure he will put off an election until at least 2009, analysts say.

Cabinet minister Peter Hain quit on Thursday after electoral authorities referred to the police his late declaration of 100,000 pounds ($195,800) of campaign funding.

The party funding scandal, coupled with a bank crisis, a darkening economic outlook and a series of government blunders, has sent Brown's popularity plunging.

With his Labour Party trailing the opposition Conservatives by up to 10 points, political analysts believe Brown will try to batten down the hatches during this year's expected economic slowdown.

He will hope the economy will improve enough for him to regain the political initiative and win a fourth consecutive election for Labour in 2009 or 2010, the latest date he can go to the polls.

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This is important because it tells of what the future may have in store for the Gordon Brown's Labour Party and whether or not his party will remain in control. The U.K. may see a change in power in Parliament after the next election.

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Terror detention plans unveiled

The government has unveiled plans to let police hold terror suspects for up to 42 days without them being charged.

The Counter Terrorism Bill also proposes "full use of DNA" in investigations and greater use of post-charge questioning.

Some senior police officers support extending terror detentions beyond the current 28 days, but it is opposed by Lib Dems, Tories and rebel Labour MPs.

The bill says such powers should be used only "if exceptional circumstances require it".

A survey by the Independent newspaper last month suggested 38 Labour MPs were against the 42-day detention plan - more than the 34 needed to defeat it.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, mindful of a potential rebellion, has been meeting backbenchers to press her case.
In a statement she said:

"We all need to work together to tackle the terrorist challenge and we have
consulted widely on the proposed measures. We have listened to the concerns of
community groups and others and the proposals brought forward today aim to
strike the right balance between the need to protect human rights and ensuring
police have the powers they need, when they need them, to tackle terrorism."

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This is importatnt because it shows that the U.K. is willing to do more to fight terrorism within thir country. It also shows that Parliament is divided on the issue and that ths bill may take time to be enacted.

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EU energy: revolution for the UK?

The targets our island nation is supposed to achieve, remember, are several: a 20% jump in energy efficiency, 10% of vehicle traffic powered by biofuels, and 15% of energy derived from renewable sources.

How EU states achieve the targets is up to them; the UK already has a raft of policies in place to stimulate the growth of renewables, and may have to draw up new ones if and when the commission's proposals are endorsed by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers.
The renewables target is particularly challenging because it refers to overall energy use, rather than just electricity.

To get an idea of the scale of the challenge, look across to Sweden.
If we don't do anything in addition to what we have now, I would bet that we won't get there
Rob Gross. Because Sweden already derives 40% of its energy from renewable sources, it received a much higher target than Britain for 2020 - 49% against Britain's 15%.

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This article is signifigant because of the changing face of energy on our planet. The UK is making big promises to try to reach 49% renewable energy by the year of 2020.

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Dodi 'insisted on car decoy plan'

The sole survivor of the car crash which killed Princess Diana said Dodi Al Fayed had insisted on the ill-fated decoy plan to dodge waiting paparazzi.

Trevor Rees said he had had reservations about Mr Al Fayed's plan to sneak out of the Ritz Hotel.

He suffered serious head injuries and made a good recovery but has said he has little memory of events which led up to Diana and Mr Al Fayed's deaths.

Giving evidence at their inquest, he denied being part of a murder cover-up.

Mr Rees, who was known as Rees-Jones at the time of the crash on 31 August 1997, told the jury he went along with the plan because Dodi had talked about leaving the Paris hotel with no security.

Mr Rees, who was employed by Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed as a bodyguard for his son Dodi at the time of the crash, broke every bone in his face and suffered serious chest injuries.

The ex-bodyguard, the only person in the car wearing a seatbelt, told the inquest: "All I have ever done is given the truth as I see it."

He made the remarks in answer to a question in which Ian Burnett QC, for the coroner, outlined Mohamed Al Fayed's controversial claim that Diana was murdered.

Click here for the rest of the story.

This article provides further insight into the death of Princes Diana and what happened on the night of her death. Like Diana's former butler Paul Burrell, Trevor Rees also does not believe that her death was planned.

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Assessment Complete

UK unemployment continues to fall

Analysts say the strength in labour market is unlikely to continue UK unemployment fell by 13,000 between September and November to stand at 1.65 million, government figures show.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance in December fell by 6,400 to 807,700.

This was the lowest number since 1975 and the 15th consecutive monthly fall in the number of claimants. Analysts said the data suggested the UK job market remained robust despite expectations of an economic slowdown.

"UK labour market data for December showed that the increasing doom and gloom on the economy is not yet hurting the labour market," said Alan Clarke at BNP Paribas.
The labour market lags activity and survey indicators are already pointing to a standstill in hiring growth Alan Clarke, BNP Paribas
However, there are worries that the strength in the labour market may fade as growth slows.

This Article is relevant because it shows that The UK's economy is currently on the rise. This is also the lowest unemployment level in the UK since 1975 which is a very intriguing number.

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Political capital

LONDONERS eager to prove that their metropolis really is, in Disraeli's words, “a roost for every bird” usually cite ordinary life at ground level: the diversity of races and languages, the yuppies, artists and immigrants juxtaposed in the same east London postcodes. They can now point to their aspiring rulers, too.

The third election for the mayor of London, an office created in 2000 for a city that had lacked its own administration since 1986, comes in May. The principal candidates are as curious as the population they hope to govern: a left-wing iconoclast who often favours globalisation (the Labour incumbent, Ken Livingstone), a shock-headed Old Etonian eccentric (the Conservative Boris Johnson) and a libertarian gay ex-policeman (the Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick), who made his name with a tolerant line on cannabis when he commanded a south London borough.

Many Londoners are indifferent as to who their mayor is (voting turnout was only 37% in 2004). Yet the office has come to matter. The mayor controls a budget of £10.6 billion ($20.9 billion)—up from £3.8 billion in 2001-02, and divided mostly between transport and policing (see chart). He also has powers over cultural matters and economic development; in 2006 he acquired more clout over housing, planning, the environment, and learning and skills. The biggest directly elected office in the country is also a bully pulpit.
It is true, says Tony Travers of the London School of Economics, that London's mayor is weaker than his counterparts in New York and Tokyo, and that much power, particularly over schools, remains with the city's 32 boroughs. But he is also relatively unconstrained by his municipal council. The London Assembly does little more than vote on the mayor's annual budget—a pygmy next to the mighty New York City Council.

Mr Livingstone, who won office as an independent in 2000 and retained it for Labour in 2004, has done better than many expected. He introduced a congestion charge in the centre of town (piquing the interest of other cities) and a more efficient ticketing system for public transport, expanding the bus service. He has enjoyed good relations with city financiers while redistributing wealth through planning decisions: developers are allowed to build in return for including affordable housing and other goodies for the poor. He also helped secure the 2012 Olympics for London and cash from the central government for a new cross-city train service.

This article is signifigant because it is about the selection of the Mayor of the Capital of the United Kingdom , London England . This Mayoral race is especially important because if will involve the preperation for the 2012 Olympics in London.


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History of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the sovereign state or realm comprising England, Scotland, Wales (together Great Britain) and Northern Ireland. For over one hundred years it also included the territory of what is now the Republic of Ireland.

The state began to take its present shape with the Acts of Union in 1707, which united the crowns and Parliaments of England and Scotland to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. A further Act of Union in 1800 joined the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The Irish Free State gained independence in 1922, leaving Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom. As a result, in 1927 Britain changed its formal title to "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland",[1] usually shortened to "the United Kingdom", "the UK" or "Britain".



To read the full history click here.


This is a significant article because it describes the establishment and the development of the U.K.

London Olympic boost for business

The race is on for UK firms to win contracts around the 2012 Olympic games in London.
So far most of the publicity swirling around the 2012 Olympic Games has been of a stubbornly negative nature, with talk of budget "black holes", a logo which attracted a mixed response at best, and possible raids on National Lottery funds.

But amidst the accusations and criticisms, particularly relating to the way costs have soared since 2005, it is easy to overlook the positives surrounding the London event.
Business opportunities

The right to host the Games could make this a 'golden decade' for major events in the UK and, therefore, British business

Sebastian Coe, chairman, London Olympics Organising CommitteeThe biggest sporting event on earth offers a wealth of opportunities for UK businesses who want a slice of the many contracts and supply opportunities in the five-year run-up to the games.
And the starting gun on the race to win those contracts is being fired at an event at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium, attended by hundreds of businesses from across the north of England.

This Article is signifigant because The London Olympics could be a defining part of the new century for the British. Also It could potentially bring lots of business to London and put the International spotlight back on the area
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Index of Economic Freedom in the U.K.

The economy of the United Kingdom (U.K.) is 79.5 percent free, according to our 2008 assessment, which makes it the world's 10th freest economy. Its overall score is 0.5 percentage point lower than last year, reflecting worsened scores in four of the 10 economic freedoms. The U.K. is ranked 3rd out of 41 countries in the European region, and its overall score is much higher than the regional average.

The U.K. scores extraordinarily well in investment freedom, trade freedom, financial freedom, property rights, business freedom, and freedom from corruption. The average tariff rate is low, despite distortionary EU agricultural tariffs, and business regulation is efficient. Almost all commercial operations are simple and transparent, and support for private enterprise is a world model. Inflation is fairly low, and the business climate attracts foreign investment. The financial sector is a world hub. The judiciary is independent and highly trained. Corruption is almost nonexistent, and the labor market is notably flexible.

The U.K. scores far below the world average in government size and fiscal freedom. Total government spending equals more than two-fifths of GDP, and tax revenue and rates are very high.

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This artcle shows the amount of freedom that the U.K.'s economy has in comparison to the rest of the world.

Royal Diana plot was 'impossible'

Princess Diana's former butler has told the inquest into her death it is "impossible" that she was murdered on the orders of the Royal Family.

When asked if Prince Charles could have planned her death, Paul Burrell said: "I could not possibly see the father of her children murdering her."

He also told the court that as butler to the princess, he connected Diana's network of friends and had been "at the hub of the wheel".

Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul died in Paris in a car crash in August 1997.

Mr Burrell's comments about the likelihood of a royal murder plot followed a line of questioning about a note from the princess to him in which she said that her husband Prince Charles was "planning an accident in my car".

Asked by Ian Burnett QC, counsel to the inquest, if he knew of anything to support the idea that Diana and Mr Al Fayed were murdered, Mr Burrell said: "No, I can't begin to believe that.
"Knowing the members of the Royal Family as I do, and knowing them so well, I think that's impossible."

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This article rejects the possible murder of Princess Diana based on the testimony provided by her former butler, Paul Burrell.

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