United Kingdom European Union membership referendum “ Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union? ” LocationUnited Kingdom (pop. 65.648m) and Gibraltar (pop. 0.030m)Date23 June 2016 Results Votes % Leave 17,410,742 51.89% Remain 16,141,241 48.11% Valid votes 33,551,983 99.92% Invalid or blank votes 25,359 0.08% Total votes 33,577,342 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 46,500,001 72.21% Results by voting areas Leave Remain On the map, the darker shades for a colour indicate a larger margin. The results for Northern Ireland are by parliamentary constituency. The electorate of 46.5m represents 70.8% of the population.The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, also known as the EU referendum and the Brexit referendum, took place on 23 June 2016 in the United Kingdom (UK) and Gibraltar to ask the electorate if the country should remain a member of, … [Read more...] about 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum
United kingdom debt
Inside the bizarre world of the Freemen, who get out of parking fines and debts by refusing to obey UK laws
CONSPIRACY theorists are getting off parking fines and thousands of pounds worth of debt with bizarre claims they are not subject to most UK laws. Thousands of Brits are believed be living as freemen on the land, a highly secretive group that originated in 1970s America and Canada and has since spread its ideas across the pond. Because of their secrecy their real numbers are unknown, but freemen are thought to be active in English-speaking countries including the UK, Ireland, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Despite their numbers they remain under the radar, only rearing their heads by causing havoc in courts where they can disrupt the entire process by refusing to take part. They are united in their belief that a big state conspiracy exists between the government and court system to take away their common law rights. Lawyers have dismissed freemen's bizarre claims as a conspiracy theory and they are not known to have won any cases in court - but followers say … [Read more...] about Inside the bizarre world of the Freemen, who get out of parking fines and debts by refusing to obey UK laws
Watching Brexit Britain and Newcastle United at the same time is not recommended
How did you spend Tuesday night? Me, I passed the time mentally composing an intro to this column in which I ‘accidentally’ confuse the Parliamentary Brexit vote with Newcastle United’s FA Cup win over Blackburn Rovers. (“You can only hope that after a defeat like that some semblance of sense will emerge. But enough about Blackburn’s capitulation to the mighty Toon, anyone got any thoughts about Brexit?” - summat like that.) Yet the more I toyed with my feeble attempt at humour, the trickier I found it to separate the two events. In this age of ‘double screening’, it was possible to follow the vote on your mobile and watch the match on TV, thus ensuring that you could follow both exercises in futility without moving from the sofa. What a time to be alive, etc etc. As Jeremy Corbyn tabled a vote of no confidence in the Conservative Government, Newcastle United’s travelling fans were making clear their own protest at the Mike Ashley … [Read more...] about Watching Brexit Britain and Newcastle United at the same time is not recommended
Economic history of the United Kingdom
The economic history of the United Kingdom deals with the economic history of England and Great Britain from 1500 to the early 21st century. (For earlier periods see Economy of England in the Middle Ages and Economic history of Scotland).[1] After becoming one of the most prosperous economic regions in Europe between 1600 and 1700,[2] Britain led the industrial revolution and dominated the European and world economy during the 19th century. It was the major innovator in machinery such as steam engines (for pumps, factories, railway locomotives and steamships), textile equipment, and tool-making. It invented the railway system and built much of the equipment used by other nations. As well it was a leader in international and domestic banking, entrepreneurship, and trade. It built a global British Empire. After 1840, it abandoned mercantilism and practised "free trade," with no tariffs or quotas or restrictions. The powerful Royal Navy protected its global holdings, while its legal … [Read more...] about Economic history of the United Kingdom
Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
The diplomatic foreign relations of the United Kingdom are conducted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, headed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The Prime Minister and numerous other agencies play a role in setting policy, and many institutions and businesses have a voice and a role. Britain was the world's foremost power during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, most notably during the so-called "Pax Britannica"—a period of totally unrivaled supremacy and unprecedented international peace during the mid-to-late 1800s. The country continued to be widely considered a 'superpower' until the Suez crisis of 1956, and this embarrassing incident coupled with the loss of the empire left the UK's dominant role in global affairs to be gradually diminished. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom remains a great power and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a founding member of the G7, G8, G20, NATO, OECD, WTO, Council of Europe, … [Read more...] about Foreign relations of the United Kingdom