Jump to content
Main menu
Main menu
move to sidebar
hide
Navigation
Main page
Recent changes
Random page
Help about MediaWiki
Special pages
Niidae Wiki
Search
Search
Appearance
Create account
Log in
Personal tools
Create account
Log in
Pages for logged out editors
learn more
Contributions
Talk
Editing
History of the United Kingdom
(section)
Page
Discussion
English
Read
Edit
View history
Tools
Tools
move to sidebar
hide
Actions
Read
Edit
View history
General
What links here
Related changes
Page information
Appearance
move to sidebar
hide
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
==21st century== ===War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War=== [[File:Army Air Corps Lynx linking up with RAF regiment vehicle patrol. MOD 45142954.jpg|thumb|British forces south of [[Basra International Airport]], [[Iraq]], November 2003]] In the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 General Election]], the Labour Party won a second successive victory, though voter turnout dropped to the lowest level for more than 80 years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-06-08 |title=Turnout 'at 80-year low' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1376000/1376575.stm |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Later that year, the [[September 11 attacks]] in the United States led to American President [[George W. Bush]] launching the [[War on terror]], beginning with the [[invasion of Afghanistan]] aided by British troops in October 2001. Thereafter, with the US focus shifting to Iraq, Tony Blair convinced the Labour and Conservative MPs to vote in favour of supporting the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], despite huge anti-war marches held in London and Glasgow. Forty-six thousand British troops, one-third of the total strength of the Army's land forces, were deployed to assist with the invasion of Iraq and thereafter British armed forces were responsible for security in southern Iraq. All British forces were withdrawn in 2010.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Andrew Mumford |title=The Counter-Insurgency Myth: The British experience of irregular warfare |date=2012-08-06 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781136649387 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rNE8AjCnd-wC&pg=PT171 171]}}</ref> The Labour Party Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] won the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 British general election]] and a third consecutive term.<ref>Andrew Geddes and Jonathan Tonge, ''Britain decides: the UK general election 2005'' (2005)</ref> On 7 July 2005, [[7 July 2005 London bombings|a series of four suicide bombings]] struck London, killing 52 commuters along with the four bombers, and injuring hundreds of others. ===Nationalist governments in Scotland=== Following the [[2007 Scottish Parliament election]], the pro-independence [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) won their first ever victory. They formed a [[minority government]] with plans to hold a referendum before 2011 to seek a mandate "to negotiate with the Government of the United Kingdom to achieve [[independence for Scotland]]."<ref>[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/13103747/10 Choosing Scotland's Future: A National Conversation: Independence and Responsibility in the Modern World, Annex B Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208053443/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/13103747/10 |date=8 February 2015 }} The Scottish Government, Publications</ref> Unionist parties responded by establishing the [[Calman Commission]] to examine further [[devolution]] of powers,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-12-06 |title=MSPs back devolution review body |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7129899.stm |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> a position that had the support of the Prime Minister.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-02-17 |title=PM backs Scottish powers review |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7249002.stm |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Responding to the findings of the review, the UK government issued a white paper in November 2009, on new powers that would be devolved to the [[Scottish Government]], notably on how it can raise tax and carry out capital borrowing, and the running of [[Scottish Parliament elections]].<ref name="BBC25Nov09NewPowersAfterCalman" /> The proposal was criticised by the UK parliament opposition parties for not proposing to implement any changes before the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|next general election]]. Scottish Constitution Minister [[Michael Russell (Scottish politician)|Michael Russell]] criticised the white paper, calling it "flimsy" and stating that their proposed [[Referendum (Scotland) Bill, 2010]], whose own white paper was to be published five days later, would be "more substantial".<ref name="BBC25Nov09NewPowersAfterCalman">{{Cite news |date=25 November 2009 |title=New Holyrood powers planned after Calman review |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8377028.stm |url-status=live |access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125052202/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8377028.stm |archive-date=25 November 2009}}</ref> According to ''[[The Independent]]'', the Calman Review white paper proposals fall short of what would normally be seen as requiring a referendum.<ref name="Independent30Nov09SNPReveals">{{Cite news |last=Quinn |first=Joe |date=30 November 2009 |title=SNP reveals vision for independence referendum |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-reveals-vision-for-independence-referendum-1831469.html |url-status=live |access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203142534/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/snp-reveals-vision-for-independence-referendum-1831469.html |archive-date=3 December 2009}}</ref> These proposals would ultimately form the basis of the [[Scotland Act 2012]]. The [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011 election]] saw a decisive victory for the SNP which was able to form a majority government intent on delivering a referendum on independence.<ref>{{Citation |last=A. Black |title=Scottish election: SNP profile |date=18 May 2011 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13315752 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520031327/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13315752 |archive-date=20 May 2011 |url-status=live}}.</ref> Within hours of the victory, Prime Minister David Cameron guaranteed that the UK government would not put any legal or political obstacles in the way of such a referendum.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carrell |first=Severin |last2= |first2= |date=2011-05-07 |title=Scottish independence: Cameron gives green light to referendum |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/may/08/cameron-green-light-scottish-referendum |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> ==== 2014 Scottish Independence referendum ==== {{Main|2014 Scottish independence referendum}} [[File:Scottish independence rally 2018 Largs.jpg|thumb|Pro-independence march in [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]] in May 2018]] On 18 September 2014, a referendum was held in Scotland on whether to leave the United Kingdom and become an independent country. The three UK-wide political parties—Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats—campaigned together as part of the [[Better Together (campaign)|Better Together]] campaign while the pro-independence Scottish National Party was the main force in the [[Yes Scotland]] campaign, together with the [[Scottish Greens]] and the [[Scottish Socialist Party]]. Days before the vote, with the opinion polls closing, the three Better Together party leaders issued [[Smith Commission|'The Vow']], a promise of more powers for Scotland in the event of a No vote. The referendum resulted in Scotland voting by 55% to 45% to remain part of the United Kingdom. [[First Minister of Scotland]] [[Alex Salmond]] resigned shortly after the defeat, succeeded by [[Nicola Sturgeon]]. Advocating for [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|a second referendum]], she would lead the SNP to victory in the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016]] and [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|2021]] elections. ===2008 economic crisis=== In the wake of the [[Great Recession]], the United Kingdom economy contracted, experiencing negative economic growth throughout 2009. The announcement in November 2008 that the economy had shrunk for the first time since late 1992 brought an end to 16 years of continuous economic growth. Causes included an end to the easy credit of the preceding years, reduction in consumption and substantial depreciation of sterling (which fell 25% against the euro between January 2008 and January 2009),<ref>[http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory FXHistory: historical currency exchange rates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720101840/http://oanda.com/convert/fxhistory |date=20 July 2006 }} From €1 => £0.73650 to €1 => 0.9690</ref> leading to increased import costs, notably of oil. On 8 October 2008, the [[British Government]] announced a [[2008 United Kingdom bank rescue package|bank rescue package]] of around £500 billion<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 March 2009 |title=Gordon Brown should say 'sorry' |work=The Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/gordon-brown/4961897/Gordon-Brown-should-say-sorry-over-economy-minister-says.html |access-date=9 March 2009}}{{Dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{Cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ($850 billion at the time). The plan comprised three parts: £200 billion to be made available to the banks in the [[Bank of England]]'s Special Liquidity Scheme; the Government was to increase the banks' market capitalization, through the Bank Recapitalization Fund, with an initial £25 billion and another £25 billion to be provided if needed; and the Government was to temporarily underwrite any eligible lending between British banks up to around £250 billion. With the UK officially coming out of recession in the fourth quarter of 2009—ending six consecutive quarters of economic decline—the Bank of England decided against further [[quantitative easing]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-02-04 |title=Bank of England's time-out for quantitative easing plan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8496830.stm |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> ===2010 coalition government=== The [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]] resulted in the first [[hung parliament]] since 1974, with the Conservative Party winning the largest number of seats, but falling short of the 326 seats required for an overall majority. Following this, the Conservatives and the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] agreed to form the first [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|coalition government]] for the UK since the end of the Second World War, with [[David Cameron]] becoming Prime Minister and [[Nick Clegg]] Deputy Prime Minister.<ref>Nicholas Allen and John Bartle, eds. ''Britain at the Polls 2010'' (2010) [https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1849208468 excerpt and text search]</ref> Under the coalition government, [[Royal Air Force|British military aircraft]] participated in the UN-mandated [[2011 military intervention in Libya|intervention]] in the [[2011 Libyan civil war]], flying a total of 3,000 air [[sortie]]s against forces loyal to the Libyan dictator [[Muammar Gaddafi]] between March and October 2011.<ref>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/Libya-OpELLAMY.cfm RAF.mod.uk – Operation Ellamy] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029010050/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/Libya-OpELLAMY.cfm |date=29 October 2011 }}. Retrieved 20 October 2011.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-10-28 |title=UK military starting Libya return |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15502414 |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> 2011 also saw England suffer [[2011 England riots|unprecedented rioting]] in its major cities in early August, killing five people and causing over £200 million worth of property damage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Insurance Industry welcomes Prime Minister's Compensation Scheme announcement and pledges help to make the scheme work |url=http://www.abi.org.uk/Media/Releases/2011/08/UK__Insurance_Industry_welcomes_Prime_Ministers_Compensation_Scheme_announcement_and_pledges_help_to_make_the_scheme_work_.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301213043/http://www.abi.org.uk/Media/Releases/2011/08/UK__Insurance_Industry_welcomes_Prime_Ministers_Compensation_Scheme_announcement_and_pledges_help_to_make_the_scheme_work_.aspx |archive-date=1 March 2012 |access-date=11 August 2011 |publisher=Association of British Insurers}}</ref> In late October 2011, the [[2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting|prime ministers]] of the [[Commonwealth realm]]s voted to grant gender equality in the [[Succession to the British throne#Current line of succession|royal succession]], ending the male-preference [[primogeniture]] that was mandated by the [[Act of Settlement 1701]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 October 2011 |title=Royal succession gender equality approved by Commonwealth |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/oct/28/royal-succession-gender-equality-approved |website=The Guardian}}</ref> The amendment, once enacted, also ended the ban on the monarch marrying a Catholic.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ncronline.org/news/global/commonwealth-lift-law-banning-monarchs-marrying-catholics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031160015/http://ncronline.org/news/global/commonwealth-lift-law-banning-monarchs-marrying-catholics |date=31 October 2011 |website=[[National Catholic Reporter]] |archive-date=31 October 2011 |title=British monarchs can soon marry Catholics}}</ref> ===2015 election=== The [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 election]] was held on 7 May 2015 with pre-election polls all predicting a close race and a hung parliament. The surprising result on the night was a clear victory by the Conservative Party: with 37% of the popular vote, they won a narrow overall majority in parliament with 331 of the 650 seats. The other most significant result of the election was the [[Scottish National Party]] winning all but three of the 59 seats in Scotland, a gain of 50. This had been widely forecast as opinion polls had recorded a surge in support for the SNP following the 2014 independence referendum, and SNP party membership had more than quadrupled from 25,000 to over 100,000, meaning that 1 in every 50 of the population of Scotland was a party member.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 March 2015 |title=SNP boost as membership soars past 100k mark |work=Glasgow Herald |publisher=Newsquest |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/snp-boost-as-membership-soars-past-100k-mark.1427009904 |access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref> Labour suffered its worst defeat since 1987, taking only 31% of the votes and losing 40 of its 41 seats in Scotland. The [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] lost 49 of their 57 seats, as they were punished for their decision to form a coalition with the conservatives in 2010. The [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP), rallying voters against the European Union and against uncontrolled immigration, secured 13% of the vote and came second in over 115 races, but won only one seat in parliament.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-05-07 |title=Election results: Conservatives win majority |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-32633099 |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Cameron had a mandate for his austerity policies to shrink the size of government, and a challenge in dealing with Scotland.<ref>Adam Taylor, "4 ways the British elections have changed everything", [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/05/08/4-ways-the-british-elections-have-changed-everything/?hpid=z1 ''Washington Post'' 8 May 2015]</ref> Likewise the Green Party of England and Wales saw a rise in support but retained just its one seat. ===2016 EU membership referendum=== {{Main|2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|Britain Stronger in Europe|Vote Leave|Brexit}} [[File:Birmingham Bin-Brexit rally for the Conservative Party conference, September 30, 2018 10.jpg|thumb|A pro-EU demonstration in Birmingham in September 2018]] On 20 February 2016, Prime Minister Cameron announced that a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union would be held on 23 June 2016, following years of campaigning by [[eurosceptics]]. Debates and campaigns by parties supporting both "Remain" ([[Britain Stronger in Europe]]) and "Leave" ([[Vote Leave]]) focused on concerns regarding trade and the [[European single market]], security, migration and sovereignty. The result of the referendum was in favour of the country leaving the EU with 51.9% of voters wanting to leave.<ref name="NYTEUBrexit">{{Cite news |last=Erlanger |first=Steven |date=23 June 2016 |title=Britain Votes to Leave E.U., Stunning the World |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/25/world/europe/britain-brexit-european-union-referendum.html |access-date=24 June 2016 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> David Cameron resigned from Parliament on 13 July, which led to [[Theresa May]] succeeding him as Prime Minister. The UK remained a member of the EU for the time being, but invoked Article 50 of the [[Lisbon Treaty]] on 29 March 2017. This started negotiations on a withdrawal agreement that will last no more than two years (unless the Council and the UK agree to extend the negotiation period), before an exit from the European Union ([[Brexit]]) intended on 29 March 2019 but later extended to 31 October 2019,<ref name="BBCEUBrexit">{{Cite news |date=24 June 2016 |title=EU Brexit referendum: UK 'must not delay leaving' |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36618317 |access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref> then again to early 2020.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Mark|last1=Landler|first2=Stephen|last2=Castle|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/conservatives-headed-for-commanding-majority-in-uk-vote-brexit-will-happen/ar-AAK4vR4?ocid=spartanntp|title=Conservatives Win Commanding Majority in U.K. Vote: 'Brexit Will Happen'|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|via=[[MSN]]|date=12 December 2019|access-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213060550/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/conservatives-headed-for-commanding-majority-in-uk-vote-brexit-will-happen/ar-AAK4vR4%3Focid%3Dspartanntp|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The debate on Brexit grew heated. During the 2016 campaign on the referendum, [[Boris Johnson]] became a leading proponent of [[Vote Leave]], stating, "The EU is, I'm afraid a job-destroying engine. You can see it all across southern Europe, you can see it, alas, in our country". A victory for Brexit, he argued, would be "independence day" for Britain if it leaves the European Union.<ref>Michael Wilkinson, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/21/eu-debate-boris-johnson-vs-sadiq-khan-in-final-bbc-showdown-with "EU debate: Boris Johnson says Brexit will be 'Britain's independence day' as Ruth Davidson attacks 'lies' of Leave campaign in front of 6,000-strong Wembley audience" ''The Telegraph'' 21 June 2016]</ref> By 2019, Johnson was Prime Minister and pushed hard for an exit on 31 October 2019. The opponents warned of bedlam. Political commentator [[Jonathan Freedland]] argued in late summer 2019 that the Britain of 2019 is, "in the grip of a populism that is trampling on the norms and constraints of liberal democracy, that is contemplating a collective act of self-harm without precedent, that is bracing itself for disruption, shortages, even civil unrest unknown in peacetime. This is not the consequence of unavoidable war or an unforeseen natural disaster, but is entirely of the country's own making."<ref>Jonathan Freedland, "Fools Rush Out", ''[[The New York Review of Books]]'' 66#14 (26 September 2019), pp. 30–35, quoting p 35.</ref> ===COVID-19 pandemic=== {{Main|History of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom}} Though later reporting indicated that there may have been some cases dating from late 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 November 2020 |title=Covid started a year ago – but did this bricklayer bring it to UK sooner? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/11/17/bricklayer-66-claims-to-be-britains-covid-patient-zero-13609231/ |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref><ref name="choir201912">{{Cite news |date=10 May 2020 |title=Coronavirus doctor's diary: the strange case of the choir that coughed in January |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52589449}}</ref> COVID-19 was confirmed to be spreading in the UK by the end of January 2020<ref name="Ball31Jan2020">{{Cite news |last1=Ball |first1=Tom |last2=Wace |first2=Charlotte |date=31 January 2020 |title=Hunt for contacts of coronavirus-stricken pair in York |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/hunt-for-contacts-of-coronavirus-stricken-pair-in-york-dh363qf8k |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204105559/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hunt-for-contacts-of-coronavirus-stricken-pair-in-york-dh363qf8k |archive-date=4 February 2020 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> with the first confirmed deaths in March.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-03-07 |title=Coronavirus: Man in 80s is second person to die of virus in UK |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51771815 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> The country was initially relatively slow in implementing restrictions.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Yong |first=Ed |date=16 March 2020 |title=The U.K.'s Coronavirus 'Herd Immunity' Debacle |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-pandemic-herd-immunity-uk-boris-johnson/608065/ |access-date=5 July 2021 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gadher |first=Jonathan Calvert, George Arbuthnott, Jonathan Leake, Dipesh |title=22 days of dither and delay on coronavirus that cost thousands of British lives |language=en |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/three-weeks-of-dither-and-delay-on-coronavirus-that-cost-thousands-of-british-lives-05sjvwv7g |access-date=15 July 2021 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-05-26 |title=Coronavirus: Sports events in March 'caused increased suffering and death' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52797002 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> Subsequent epidemiological analysis showed that over 1000 lineages of SARS-CoV-2 entered the UK in early 2020 from international travellers, mostly from [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe|outbreaks elsewhere in Europe]], leading to numerous clusters that overwhelmed contact tracing efforts.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=du Plessis |first1=Louis |last2=McCrone |first2=John T. |last3=Zarebski |first3=Alexander E. |last4=Hill |first4=Verity |last5=Ruis |first5=Christopher |last6=Gutierrez |first6=Bernardo |last7=Raghwani |first7=Jayna |last8=Ashworth |first8=Jordan |last9=Colquhoun |first9=Rachel |last10=Connor |first10=Thomas R. |last11=Faria |first11=Nuno R. |date=2021-02-12 |title=Establishment and lineage dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in the UK |journal=Science |volume=371 |issue=6530 |pages=708–712 |bibcode=2021Sci...371..708D |doi=10.1126/science.abf2946 |pmc=7877493 |pmid=33419936}}</ref> A legally enforced Stay at Home Order, or lockdown, was introduced on 23 March.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=23 March 2020 |title=Boris Johnson orders three-week lockdown of UK to tackle coronavirus spread |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-23/boris-johnson-downing-street-coronavirus-update/ |access-date=23 March 2020 |website=ITV News}}</ref> Restrictions were steadily eased across the UK in late spring and early summer that year.<ref name="gov20200510">{{Cite web |title=PM address to the nation on coronavirus: 10 May 2020 |date=10 May 2020 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-10-may-2020 |access-date=10 May 2020 |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 May 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Scottish lockdown easing to begin on Friday |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52819189 |access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 June 2020 |title=Non-essentials shops in NI can reopen from Friday |url=https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2020-06-08/non-essentials-shops-in-ni-can-reopen-from-friday |access-date=19 July 2020 |website=ITV News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 June 2020 |title=As it happened: Thousands flock to reopened shops in England |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-53046160 |access-date=14 July 2020 |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 2020 |title=Shops reopen with strict social distancing measures |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-53116542 |access-date=19 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 June 2020 |title=Queues form as doors open for retail return |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-53210774 |access-date=19 July 2020}}</ref> The UK's epidemic in early 2020 was at the time one of the largest and deadliest worldwide.<ref name=":2" /> [[File:Leicester coronavirus stay at home sign, Oxford street.jpg|thumb|Sign encouraging the public to [[Stay-at-home order|stay at home]] and avoid unessential travel in [[Leicester]], January 2021]] By the Autumn, COVID-19 cases were again rising.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Covid updates: UK records highest daily Covid deaths since 1 July |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54336494 |access-date=2 October 2020 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}}</ref> This led to the creation of new regulations along with the introduction of the concept of a local lockdown, a variance in restrictions in a more specific geographic location than the four nations of the UK.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 September 2020 |title=Children will stay part of rule of six, says Gove |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54129158 |access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite news |date=18 September 2020 |title=Covid: New restrictions in North West, Midlands, and West Yorkshire |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-54194804 |access-date=19 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 September 2020 |title=Pubs in England to close at 10pm amid Covid spread |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54242634 |access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 September 2020 |title=Pubs in Wales to close at 22:00 from Thursday |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-54251114 |access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 September 2020 |title=Alcohol-only pubs reopen in Northern Ireland |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-54253146 |access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-09-21 |title=Covid: Ban on meeting in houses extended across Scotland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54159291 |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Lockdowns took place in Wales, England and Northern Ireland later that season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 October 2020 |title=Schools to close and tight new hospitality rules in Northern Ireland |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-54533643 |access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 October 2020 |title=Covid: Wales to go into 'firebreak' lockdown from Friday |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54598136 |access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-10-31 |title=Covid-19: PM announces four-week England lockdown |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54763956 |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> A [[SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant|new variant of the virus]] is thought to have originated in [[Kent]] around September 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wise |first=Jacqui |date=16 December 2020 |title=Covid-19: New coronavirus variant is identified in UK |pages=m4857 |journal=BMJ |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4857 |access-date=19 December 2020 |doi=10.1136/bmj.m4857 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="nervtag">{{Cite web |last=New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group |date=18 December 2020 |title=NERVTAG meeting on SARS-CoV-2 variant under investigation: VUI-202012/01 |url=https://khub.net/documents/135939561/338928724/SARS-CoV-2+variant+under+investigation%2C+meeting+minutes.pdf/962e866b-161f-2fd5-1030-32b6ab467896?t=1608470511452}}</ref> Once restrictions were lifted, the novel variant rapidly spread across the UK.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Kraemer |first1=Moritz U. G. |last2=Hill |first2=Verity |last3=Ruis |first3=Christopher |last4=Dellicour |first4=Simon |last5=Bajaj |first5=Sumali |last6=McCrone |first6=John T. |last7=Baele |first7=Guy |last8=Parag |first8=Kris V. |last9=Battle |first9=Anya Lindström |last10=Gutierrez |first10=Bernardo |last11=Jackson |first11=Ben |last12=Colquhoun |first12=Rachel |last13=O'Toole |first13=Aine |last14=Klein |first14=Brennan |last15=Vespignani |first15=Alessandro |date=2021-08-20 |title=Spatiotemporal invasion dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 emergence |journal=Science |volume=373 |issue=6557 |pages=889–895 |bibcode=2021Sci...373..889K |doi=10.1126/science.abj0113 |pmc=9269003 |pmid=34301854 |last16=Volz |first16=Erik |last17=Faria |first17=Nuno |last18=Aanensen |first18=David |last19=Loman |first19=Nicholas |last20=du Plessis |first20=Louis |last21=Cauchemez |first21=Simon |last22=Rambaut |first22=Andrew |last23=Scarpino |first23=Samuel |last24=Pybus |first24=Oliver |s2cid=236209853}}</ref> Its increased transmissibility contributed to a continued increase in daily infections.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 December 2020 |title=Covid-19: UK reports a record 55,892 daily cases |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55502595 |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> The NHS had come under severe strain by late December.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overwhelmed NHS hospitals diverting patients experts warn of third wave |url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/coronavirus/951524/coronavirus-hospitals-forced-to-divert-patients-as-fears-of-uk-third-wave-grow |access-date=1 January 2021 |website=The Week UK |date=18 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 January 2021 |title=Covid: 'Nail-biting' weeks ahead for NHS, hospitals in England warn |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55505722 |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Denis |date=27 December 2020 |title=Hospitals in England told to free up all possible beds for surging Covid cases |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/dec/27/hospitals-in-england-told-to-free-up-all-possible-beds-for-surging-covid-cases |access-date=1 January 2021 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 December 2020 |title=Pressure on hospitals 'at a really dangerous point' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55362681 |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=31 December 2020 |title=Covid rule-breakers 'have blood on their hands' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55479018 |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> This led to a tightening of restrictions across the UK.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 January 2021 |title=Covid in Scotland: Scots ordered to stay at home in new lockdown |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-55531069 |access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=4 January 2021 |title=Covid: New lockdown for England amid 'hardest weeks' |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55538937 |access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-19 |title=Covid: Wales locks down as Christmas plans cut |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-55379237 |access-date=2021-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-17 |title=Coronavirus: NI facing six-week lockdown from 26 December |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55349545 |access-date=2021-10-11}}</ref> The first COVID-19 vaccine was approved and began its rollout in the UK in early December 2020.<ref name="bbc1vax2">{{Cite news |date=3 December 2020 |title=Covid: First batch of vaccines arrives in the UK |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55181665 |access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 December 2020 |title=Covid-19 vaccine: First person receives Pfizer jab in UK |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55227325 |access-date=8 December 2020}}</ref> 15 million vaccine doses had been given to predominantly those most vulnerable to the virus by mid-February.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 February 2021 |title=Covid: Vaccine given to 15 million in UK as PM hails 'extraordinary feat' |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56062976 |access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref> 6 months later more than 75% of adults in the UK were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 August 2021 |title=Covid-19: More than 75% of UK adults now double-jabbed |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58162318 |access-date=17 August 2021}}</ref> Restrictions began to ease from late February onwards and almost all had ended in Great Britain by August.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-02-23 |title=What's the roadmap for lifting lockdown? – BBC News |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 |access-date=2021-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223083856/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 |archive-date=23 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-19 |title=19 July: England Covid restrictions ease as PM urges caution |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57882029 |access-date=2021-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=7 August 2021 |title=Covid: Pubs busy as most rules end in Wales |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-58086808 |access-date=17 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 August 2021 |title=Covid in Scotland: 'Right moment' to lift restrictions, says Sturgeon |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-58136277 |access-date=17 August 2021}}</ref> A third wave of daily infections began in July 2021 due to the arrival and rapid spread of the highly transmissible [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last=Callaway |first=Ewen |date=22 June 2021 |title=Delta coronavirus variant: scientists brace for impact |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01696-3 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=595 |issue=7865 |pages=17–18 |bibcode=2021Natur.595...17C |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-01696-3 |pmid=34158664 |s2cid=235609029}}</ref> However, mass vaccination continued to keep deaths and hospitalisations at much lower levels than in previous waves.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-05 |title=Covid: Most rules set to end in England, says PM |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57725523 |access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-02 |title='We are a petri dish': world watches UK's race between vaccine and virus |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/02/we-are-a-petri-dish-world-watches-uks-race-between-vaccine-and-virus |access-date=2021-10-15 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> During the third COVID wave, in the light of highly transmissible [[Omicron variant]], the U.K. was also the acclaim of a new hybrid strain, Deltacron variant, which pre-dominated the country until April 2022 ahead of the [[Endemic COVID-19|endemic phase]] alongside [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], [[Finland]], [[Cyprus]], [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], and others. === 2022 government crises === {{Main|Premiership of Boris Johnson|Premiership of Liz Truss}} In 2022, the UK government faced multiple crises. The [[Partygate]] scandal, involving lockdown rule breaches by government officials, led to 126 fixed penalty notices, including for Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] and [[Rishi Sunak]]. Johnson faced mounting calls to resign, and after further scandals like the [[Chris Pincher scandal]], he stepped down in July 2022. [[Liz Truss]] succeeded Johnson but her government quickly faced turmoil. Her [[September 2022 United Kingdom mini-budget|September mini-budget]] triggered market instability, leading to the dismissal of [[Kwasi Kwarteng]] and eventually Truss's resignation in October. Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister on 25 October.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jeremy Hunt Replaces Kwasi Kwarteng As Chancellor In Day Of Government Chaos |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/jeremy-hunt-replaces-kwasi-kwarteng-as-chancellor-in-day-of-government-chaos |work=Politics Home |date=14 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Liz Truss resignation: The full statement |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-liz-truss-resigns-2022-10-20/ |work=Reuters |date=20 October 2022}}</ref> === Sunak Ministry (2022–2024) === Rishi Sunak became the first [[British Asians|Asian]] prime minister in British history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Desouza |first=Danielle |date=2024-07-08 |title='Monumental': British Indians reflect on Rishi Sunak as UK's first Asian PM |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/rishi-sunak-conservative-london-prime-minister-indian-b2575080.html |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> While Sunak promised stability after the previous crises,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rishi Sunak's promise of stability is a low bar for Britain |url=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/10/26/rishi-sunaks-promise-of-stability-is-a-low-bar-for-britain |access-date=2024-08-17 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref> his premiership saw historically low approval ratings for the Conservative Party, consistently polling below the Labour Party under new leader [[Keir Starmer]], who was seen as a moderate compared to his socialist predecessor [[Jeremy Corbyn]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is the Labour Party moderate or extreme? |url=https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/is-the-labour-party-moderate-or-extreme |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=yougov.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> The Conservatives also lost votes to [[Reform UK]], a populist right-wing party hard on immigration, contributing to their worst election performance in history. ===Labour government (2024–present)=== On 4 July 2024, the Labour Party won a landslide victory in [[2024 United Kingdom general election|general election]] after 14 years of Conservative rule, meaning Labour Party leader [[Keir Starmer]] became Britain's new prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Keir Starmer, the Labour leader favored to win Britain's July 4 election? |url=https://apnews.com/article/uk-labour-leader-keir-starmer-profile-dc40877586d32b903e4ecdb7e397f803 |work=AP News |date=27 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Following the [[2024 Southport stabbing|fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport]], misinformation spread online falsely accusing the perpetrator as being a Muslim, sparking the [[2024 United Kingdom riots]] as a backlash against [[immigration to the UK]] in general, especially from Islamic countries.
Summary:
Please note that all contributions to Niidae Wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see
Encyclopedia:Copyrights
for details).
Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Search
Search
Editing
History of the United Kingdom
(section)
Add topic