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The Politics of England form part of the wider politics of the United Kingdom, with England one of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping
Prior to the Union, in 1707, England was ruled by a monarch and the Parliament of England. The Acts of Union were a pair of Parliamentary Acts passed during 1706 and 1707 by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to put into The Kings of Wessex, who conquered Kent and Sussex from Mercia in 825 became increasingly dominant over the other kingdoms of England during The Parliament of England was the Legislature of the Kingdom of England. Since the Union, England has not had its own government. There has not been a government of England since 1707 when the Kingdom of England ceased to exist as a sovereign State, as it merged with the Kingdom
Because England is by far the largest constituent country, in both population and area, its relationship to the UK is somewhat different from that of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. This article discusses the demography of England. Due to the lack of authoritative contemporary sources estimates of the population of England for dates prior to England comprises the central and southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain, plus offshore islands of which the largest is the Isle of Wight. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The English capital London is also the capital of the UK, and English is the dominant language of the UK (not officially, but de facto). London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Dicey and Morris (p26) list the separate states in the British Islands. The term British Islands is used in the law of the United Kingdom to refer collectively to the following four states the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern "England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin ˈɛlʲən ˈvanɪn or Mann (Mannin) is a self-governing Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea at the geographical The Bailiwick of Jersey ( Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. The Bailiwick of Guernsey (Bailliage de Guernesey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. Alderney ( French: Aurigny; Auregnais: Aoeur'gny) is the most northerly of the Channel Islands and a British Crown dependency Sark (Sercq Sercquiais: Sèr) is a small Island in the southwestern English Channel. . . is a separate country in the sense of the conflict of laws, though not one of them is a State known to public international law. Conflict of laws (or private international law) is that branch of International law and intranational interstate law that regulates all Lawsuits involving " But this may be varied by statute. The United Kingdom is one state for the purposes of the Bills of Exchange Act 1882. Great Britain is a single state for the purposes of the Companies Act 1985. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The Companies Act 1985 (1985 c 6 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, enacted in 1985 which enables companies Traditionally authors referred to the legal unit or state of England and Wales as "England" although this usage is becoming politically unacceptable in the last few decades. History The Roman occupation of Britain was the first period in which the area of present-day England and Wales was administered as a single unit (with the exception The Parliament of the United Kingdom is located in London, as is its civil service, HM Treasury and most of the official residences of the monarchy. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing In addition, the state bank of the UK is known as the "Bank of England". The Bank of England (formally the Governor and Company of the Bank of England) is a state-owned institution and the Central bank of the United Kingdom
Though associated with England for some purposes, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) have their own parliaments, and are not parts of the UK. The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin ˈɛlʲən ˈvanɪn or Mann (Mannin) is a self-governing Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea at the geographical The Channel Islands ( Norman: Îles d'la Manche, French: Îles Anglo-Normandes or Îles de la Manche) are a group of Islands The Bailiwick of Jersey ( Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. The Bailiwick of Guernsey (Bailliage de Guernesey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. They are neither technically in the United Kingdom, European Union nor part of England. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in
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Political history
Pre-Union politics
The English Parliament traces its origins to the Anglo-Saxon Witenagemot. The Parliament of England was the Legislature of the Kingdom of England. For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south The Witenagemot or the Witena gemot (ˈwɪtənəgɪˌməʊt also known as the Witan (more properly the title of its members was a political institution in In 1066, William of Normandy brought a feudal system, where he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws. William I of England ( 1027 His reign which brought Norman culture to England had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed Ecclesiology (from Greek grc ἐκκλησίᾱ ekklēsiā, "congregation church" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the In 1215, the tenants-in-chief secured the Magna Carta from King John, which established that the king may not levy or collect any taxes (except the feudal taxes to which they were hitherto accustomed), save with the consent of his royal council, which slowly developed into a parliament. Magna Carta ( Latin for Great Charter, literally " Great Paper " also called Magna Carta Libertatum ( Great Charter of Freedoms John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death
In 1265, Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester summoned the first elected Parliament. Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester (1208 – August 4, 1265) was the principal leader of the Baronial opposition to King Henry III of England An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office The franchise in parliamentary elections for county constituencies was uniform throughout the country, extending to all those who owned the freehold of land to an annual rent of 40 shillings (Forty-shilling Freeholders). Suffrage (from the Latin suffragium, meaning "voting tablet" and figuratively "right to vote" probably from suffrago "hough" and originally The counties of England are territorial divisions of England for the purposes of administrative political and geographical demarcation A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures goals or loyalty Fee simple is an estate in land in Common law. It is the most common way Real estate is owned in common law countries and is ordinarily the most £sd (pronounced and sometimes written Lsd) was the popular name for the pre-decimal currencies ( sterling) used in the United Kingdom and Forty shilling freeholders were a group of (mostly landowners who had the Parliamentary franchise to vote in County constituencies in various parts of the British Isles In the boroughs, the franchise varied across the country; individual boroughs had varying arrangements. A borough is an Administrative division of various countries In principle the term borough designates a self-governing Township although in practice This set the scene for the so-called "Model Parliament" of 1295 adopted by Edward I. A Model Parliament (also referred to as a Mock Parliament) is a simulation of the parliamentary proceedings of a Legislature or Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307 popularly known as Longshanks, was a King of England who achieved historical fame by conquering large parts of Wales and almost By the reign of Edward II, Parliament had been separated into two Houses: one including the nobility and higher clergy, the other including the knights and burgesses, and no law could be made, nor any tax levied, without the consent of both Houses as well as of the Sovereign. For the play see Edward II (play. For the film see Edward II (film.
The Laws in Wales Acts of 1535–42 annexed Wales as part of England and brought Welsh representatives to Parliament. The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 (Y Deddfau Uno 1535 a 1542 were a series of parliamentary measures by which the legal system of Wales was annexed to England and
When Elizabeth I was succeeded in 1603 by the Scottish King James VI, (thus becoming James I of England), the countries both came under his rule but each retained its own Parliament. The monarch of Scotland was the Head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James James I's successor, Charles I, quarrelled with the English Parliament and, after he provoked the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, their dispute developed into the English Civil War. Charles I, (19 November 1600 &ndash 30 January 1649 was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. The Wars of the Three Kingdoms (sometimes known as the Wars of the Three Nations) formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in Scotland, The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. Charles was executed in 1649 and under Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth of England the House of Lords was abolished, and the House of Commons made subordinate to Cromwell. Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 Old Style &ndash 3 September 1658 Old Style) was an English military and political leader best known The Commonwealth of England was the Republican government which ruled first England (including Wales) and then Ireland and Scotland After Cromwell's death, the Restoration of 1660 restored the monarchy and the House of Lords. The English Restoration, or simply The Restoration began in 1660 when the English monarchy, Scottish monarchy and Irish monarchy were restored
Amidst fears of a Roman Catholic succession, the Glorious Revolution of 1688 deposed James II (James VII of Scotland) in favour of the joint rule of Mary II and William III, whose agreement to the English Bill of Rights introduced a constitutional monarchy, though the supremacy of the Crown remained. The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, was the overthrow of King James II of England (VII of Scotland in 1688 by a union James II of England and Ireland James VII of Scotland (14 October 1633 &ndash 16 September 1701 was King of England, King of Scots, Later that same year James Mary II (30 April 1662 &ndash 28 December 1694 reigned as Queen of England, Ireland and Scotland from 1689 until her death William III or William of Orange (14 November 1650 &ndash 8 March 1702 He is informally known in Northern Ireland and Scotland as "King Billy" The Bill of Rights (or Declaration of Rights) is an act of the Parliament of England, with the Long title An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties A constitutional monarchy, or a limited monarchy, is a form of Constitutional Government, wherein either an elected or hereditary Monarch is For the third time, a Convention Parliament, i. The term Convention Parliament has been applied to three different English Parliaments of 1399 1660 and 1689 e. , one not summoned by the king, was required to determine the succession.
After the Union
- Acts of Union 1707, passed by both the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. The Acts of Union were a pair of Parliamentary Acts passed during 1706 and 1707 by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to put into The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland The Acts of Union were a pair of Parliamentary Acts passed during 1706 and 1707 by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to put into
- Act of Union 1800, passed by both the Parliament of Great Britain and the Parliament of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The phrase Act of Union 1800 (or sometimes Act of Union 1801) (Acht an Aontais 1800 is used to describe two complementary Acts whose official United Kingdom titles are
Following the Treaty of Union in 1707, Acts of Union were passed in both the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland, which created a new Kingdom of Great Britain. The Acts of Union were a pair of Parliamentary Acts passed during 1706 and 1707 by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to put into Year 1707 ( MDCCVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Acts of Union were a pair of Parliamentary Acts passed during 1706 and 1707 by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland to put into The Parliament of England was the Legislature of the Kingdom of England. This article is about the pre-1707 parliament The article on the devolved legislative body established in 1999 is at Scottish Parliament. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 The Acts dissolved both parliaments, replacing them with a new Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain based in the former home of the English parliament. All the traditions, procedures, and standing orders of the English parliament were retained, as were the incumbent officers, and English members comprised the overwhelming majority of the new body. It was not even considered necessary to hold a new general election. While Scots law and Scottish legislation remained separate, the legislation was now dealt with by the new parliament. Scots law is a unique legal system with an ancient basis in Roman law.
After the Hanoverian George I ascended the throne in 1714 through an Act of Parliament, power began to shift from the Sovereign, and by the end of his reign the position of the ministers — who had to rely on Parliament for support — was cemented. The House of Hanover (the Hanoverians) is a Germanic royal Dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg George I (George Louis German Georg Ludwig; 28 May 1660 &ndash 11 June 1727 For the first year of his life George was the only heir to his father's and three childless Year 1714 ( MDCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Act of Settlement is an act of the Parliament of England, originally filed in 1700 and passed in 1701 to settle the succession to the English throne Towards the end of the 18th century the monarch still had considerable influence over Parliament, which was dominated by the English aristocracy and by patronage, but had ceased to exert direct power: for instance, the last occasion Royal Assent was withheld, was in 1708 by Queen Anne. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system Patronage is the support encouragement privilege and often financial aid given by a person or an organization The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of Lawmaking by formally assenting to an Year 1708 ( MDCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714 became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702 succeeding William III of England and II of At general elections the vote was restricted to freeholders and landowners, in constituencies that were out of date, so that in many "rotten boroughs" seats could be bought while major cities remained unrepresented. A general election is an Election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election Fee simple is an estate in land in Common law. It is the most common way Real estate is owned in common law countries and is ordinarily the most The term "rotten" or "decayed" borough referred to a parliamentary borough or Constituency in Great Britain and Ireland Reformers and Radicals sought parliamentary reform, but as the Napoleonic Wars developed the government became repressive against dissent and progress toward reform was stalled. For opposition to all forms of government social hierarchy or authority see Anarchism. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions —
Post-devolution Politics
Since Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland voted for devolved legislatures in referendums in 1997 and 1998 (see Scottish devolution referendum, 1997, Welsh devolution referendum, 1997, and Northern Irish Belfast Agreement referendum, 1998), there have been numerous debates about England's position within the United Kingdom. A devolved English Parliament, giving separate decision-making powers to representatives for voters in England similar to the representation given by the National Assembly English nationalism is the name given to a nationalist Political movement in England that desires National independence for England The West Lothian Question was first posed on 14 November 1977 by Tam Dalyell, Labour Member of Parliament (MP for the Scottish constituency Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a State to government at subnational level A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita The Scottish referendum of 1997 was a pre-legislative Referendum held in Scotland, over whether there was support for the creation of a parliament for Scotland The Welsh referendum of 1997 was a pre-legislative Referendum held in Wales only over whether there was support for the creation of an assembly for The Belfast Agreement referendum 1998 was a Referendum held in Northern Ireland over whether there was support for the Belfast Agreement.
The Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly were created by the UK parliament along with strong support from the majority of people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and are not yet independent of the rest of the United Kingdom. The Scottish Parliament ( Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba; Scots: Scottish Pairlament) is the devlolved national unicameral The National Assembly for Wales (Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Northern Ireland Assembly ( Irish: Tionól Thuaisceart Éireann, Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann Semmlie) is the devolved The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories However, this gave each country a separate and distinct political identity, leaving England (83% of the UK population) as the only part of the UK directly ruled in nearly all matters by the UK government in London, although London itself is devolved (see below). Direct rule was the term given during the late 20th and early 21st centuries to the administration of Northern Ireland directly from Westminster, seat of
While Scotland and Northern Ireland have always had separate legal systems to England (see Scots law and Northern Ireland law), this has not been the case with Wales (see English law, Welsh law and Contemporary Welsh Law). The three major legal systems of the world today consist of civil law, Common law and Religious law. Scots law is a unique legal system with an ancient basis in Roman law. Northern Ireland law concerns the Legal system of Northern Ireland. English law is the legal system of England and Wales, and is the basis of Common law legal systems used in most Commonwealth countriesand the Welsh law, the Law of Wales, was traditionally first codified by Hywel Dda ("Hywel the Good" during the period between 942 and 950 when Contemporary Welsh Law is a term applied to the body of primary and secondary Legislation generated by the National Assembly of Wales However, laws concerning the Welsh language, and also the National Assembly for Wales, have created differences between the law in Wales, and the law in England, as they apply in Wales and not in England. Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic The National Assembly for Wales (Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales.
Regarding parliamentary matters, an anomaly called the West Lothian Question has come to the fore as a result of legislative devolution for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland without corresponding legislative devolution for England. The West Lothian Question was first posed on 14 November 1977 by Tam Dalyell, Labour Member of Parliament (MP for the Scottish constituency Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Before devolution, for example, purely 'Scottish' legislation was debated at Westminster in a Scottish Grand Committee composed of just those MPs representing Scottish constituencies. However, legislation was still subject to a vote of the entire House of Commons and this frequently led to legislation being passed despite the majority of Scottish MPs voting against. (This was especially true during the period of Conservative rule from 1979 to 1997 when the Conservative Party had an overall majority of MPs but only a handful representing Scotland and Wales. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. ) Now that many Scottish matters are dealt with by the Scottish Parliament, the fact that MPs representing Scotland and Wales can not vote on those issues as they affect Scotland, but can vote on those same issues as they affect England is causing some disquiet. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland
The Campaign for an English Parliament is a notable proponent of a separate English parliament. A devolved English Parliament, giving separate decision-making powers to representatives for voters in England similar to the representation given by the National Assembly
England in the Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom is located in London. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories
The House of Commons
English MPs are elected at the same time as the rest of the UK's MPs. There are 529 English constituencies. Because of their large number, they form an inbuilt majority in the House of Commons. The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords Even though Clause 81 of the Scotland Act 1998 equalised the English and Scottish electoral quota, and thereby reduced the number of Scottish MPs in the House of Commons to 59, these MPs can still have an important influence on the passage of legislation affecting England along through the Parliament. The Scotland Act 1998 (1998 c 46 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Similarly, Scottish and Welsh MPs are still able to question government Ministers, even when those Ministers may have responsibility over matters affecting only England. These issues are now known collectively as the West Lothian question. The West Lothian Question was first posed on 14 November 1977 by Tam Dalyell, Labour Member of Parliament (MP for the Scottish constituency
The House of Lords
The House of Lords also has an inbuilt English majority. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords"
Members of the House of Lords who sit by virtue of their ecclesiastical offices are known as Lords Spiritual. Formerly, the Lords Spiritual comprised a majority in the House of Lords, including the Church of England's archbishops, diocesan bishops, abbots, and priors. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated Bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others this means that they lead A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight The word abbot, meaning Father, is a title given to the head of a Monastery in various traditions including Christianity. A priory is a House of men or women under religious vows headed by a Prior or prioress After 1539, however, only the archbishops and bishops continued to attend, for the Dissolution of the Monasteries suppressed the positions of abbot and prior. The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the formal process between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded In 1642, during the English Civil War, the Lords Spiritual were excluded altogether, but they returned under the Clergy Act 1661. The Clergy Act 1661 (13 Car II St I c2 was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of England passed in 1661 The number of Lords Spiritual was further restricted by the Bishopric of Manchester Act 1847, and by later acts. Now, there can be no more than 26 Lords Spiritual, always including the five most important prelates of the Church: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Durham, and the Bishop of Winchester. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Bishop of London is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury. See also List of Bishops of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Anglican Bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in See also List of bishops of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England Membership of the House of Lords also extends to the 21 longest-serving other diocesan bishops of the Church of England. The current Lords Spiritual, therefore, represent only the Church of England, although members of other churches and religions can be appointed by the Queen.
England in Europe
While Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are each treated as single European Parliament constituencies, England itself gets nine European constituencies, out of a total of twelve UK constituencies. Elections in the European Union take place every five years by universal adult suffrage. The European Parliament ( Europarl or EP) is the only directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures goals or loyalty Because of the controversy over Gibraltar, it is included in South West England. Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar The current English European constituencies are
| Constituency | Region | Seats | Pop. | per Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. London | Greater London | 9 | 7. London is a Constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 9 MEPs using the D'Hondt method of Party-list proportional Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. 4m | 822k |
| 2. South East England | South East | 10 | 8m | 800k |
| 3. South East England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. South East England is one of the nine official Regions of England. South West England | South West, Gibraltar | 7 | 4. South West England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. South West England is one of the Regions of England. It is the largest such region in terms of area and extends from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar 9m | 700k |
| 4. West Midlands | West Midlands | 7 | 5. West Midlands is a Constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 7 MEPs using the D'Hondt method of Party-list proportional The West Midlands is an official Region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. 2m | 740k |
| 5. North West England | North West | 9 | 6. North West England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. North West England is one of the nine official Regions of England. 7m | 745k |
| 6. North East England | North East | 3 | 2. North East England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. North-East England is one of the nine official Regions of England and comprises the combined area of Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear 5m | 833k |
| 7. Yorkshire and the Humber | Yorkshire and the Humber | 6 | 4. Yorkshire and the Humber is a Constituency of the European Parliament. Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the nine government office Regions of England. 9m | 816k |
| 8. East Midlands | East Midlands | 6 | 4. East Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 6 MEPs using the D'Hondt method of Party-list proportional The East Midlands is one of the Regions of England and consists of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. 1m | 683k |
| 9. East of England | Eastern | 7 | 5. East of England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. The East of England is one of the nine official Regions of England. 4m | 770k |
Devolution within England
London Devolution
Greater London has a certain amount of devolution, with the London Assembly and the directly elected Mayor of London. City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority which comprises the Mayor of London and London Assembly. The Greater London Authority ( GLA) is the city-wide governing body for London, England. Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a State to government at subnational level The London Assembly is an elected body part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power with a two-thirds The Mayor of London is an elected politician who along with the London Assembly of 25 members is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London (see The Assembly was established on July 3, 2000, after a referendum in which 72% of those voting supported the creation of the Greater London Authority, which included the Assembly along with the Mayor of London. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The London referendum of 1998 was a Referendum held in the Greater London area on Thursday May 7 1998 asking whether there was support for the creation of the The referendum and establishment were largely contigious with Scottish and Welsh devolution.
In Greater London, the 32 London borough councils have a status close to that of unitary authorities, but come under the Greater London Authority, which oversees some of the functions performed elsewhere in England by Counties including transport, policing, the fire brigade and also economic development. The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. The Greater London Authority ( GLA) is the city-wide governing body for London, England.
The Mayor of London is also referred to as the London Mayor, a form which helps to avoid confusion with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, the ancient and now mainly ceremonial role in the City of London. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of (and head of the City of London Corporation. For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically The Mayor of London is mayor of Greater London, which has a population of over 7. 5 million while the City of London is only a small part of the modern city centre and has a population of less than 10,000. The term Central London refers to the districts of London England which are considered closest to the centre The first elected Mayor of London was Ken Livingstone, who was re-elected in 2004. Kenneth Robert Livingstone (born 17 June 1945 is a British Socialist Politician. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The second and (current) Mayor is the Conservative Boris Johnson, elected in 2008. Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964 is a British Politician and Journalist.
There is also a London political party, One London, which is represented in the assembly, and is eurosceptic, with roots in the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and Veritas. One London is a small British Political party formed on September 1, 2005 by Damian Hockney and Peter Hulme-Cross. Euroscepticism Euro (disambiguation --> has become a general term for opposition to the process The United Kingdom Independence Party (commonly known as UKIP, ˈjuːkɪp Veritas ( Latin: "Truth" is a Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in February 2005 by politician-celebrity Robert Kilroy-Silk
Regional Assemblies
- Further information: Regional Assemblies in England
After power was to be devolved to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales without a counterweight in England, a series of referendums were planned to establish elected regional assemblies in some of the regions. " Regional Assembly " is the name which has been adopted by the English bodies established as regional chambers under the Regional Development Agencies The first was held in London in 1998 and was successfully passed. The London referendum of 1998 was a Referendum held in the Greater London area on Thursday May 7 1998 asking whether there was support for the creation of the The London Assembly and Mayor of London of the Greater London Authority were created in 2000. The London Assembly is an elected body part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power with a two-thirds The Mayor of London is an elected politician who along with the London Assembly of 25 members is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London (see The Greater London Authority ( GLA) is the city-wide governing body for London, England. A referendum was held in North East England on 4 November 2004 but the proposal for an elected assembly was rejected. The Northern England devolution referendums were Referendums starting with the North East region of England, in the United Kingdom, Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Plans to hold further referendums in other regions were then cancelled. The remaining eight regional assemblies are planned to be abolished in 2010 as part of a Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration with most of their functions transferring to the relevant Regional Development Agency and to local authorities. A regional development agency (RDA is a non-departmental public body established for the purpose of development primarily economic of one of England 's Government Office [1]
Status of Cornwall
Cornwall's status is particularly controversial in regard to England, with some regarding it as a county, and some regarding it as something quite different. Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar A county is a Land area of Regional Government within a larger State. For more information on these matters, please see the articles Cornish self-government movement and constitutional status of Cornwall. The Cornish self-government movement (sometimes referred to as Cornish nationalism) is a Social movement which seeks greater autonomy for the area of The constitutional status of Cornwall, in the southwest of the United Kingdom, is the subject of ongoing debate One notable feature of the Cornish campaign is its rejection of the English South West Regional Assembly with Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, in favour of a democratically elected Cornish Assembly. The Cornish people (Kernowyon are regarded as an Ethnic group of the United Kingdom originating in Cornwall. The South West Regional Assembly (SWRA is the regional assembly for the South West region of England, established in 1999. Devon is a large county in the South West of England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name Dorset ( (or archaically, Dorsetshire) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast History See also History of Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a historic county mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 10th century Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county Etymology The county formerly 'Wiltonshire' or 'Wiltunscir' (9th century is named after the former county town of Wilton (itself named after the River Wylye The Cornish Assembly is a proposed devolved Regional assembly for Cornwall in the United Kingdom along the lines of the Scottish Parliament [2][3] Cornwall's political party, Mebyon Kernow, which has local representation, and all five Cornish Lib Dem MPs support the proposal for the Cornish Assembly. Mebyon Kernow ( Cornish for "Sons of Cornwall" often abbreviated MK) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the [4]
Status of the Isle of Wight
A smaller movement than Cornwall's also exists in the Isle of Wight, where the Vectis National Party and the Isle of Wight Party have both attempted to "disconnect" England from the island. The Isle of Wight is an English Island and county in the English Channel between three and five miles (8 km from the south coast of the The Vectis National Party was a minor Political party operating in the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s The VNP were motivated by the fact that they believed the sale of the Isle of Wight to the English crown in 1293 was unconstitutional.
Local Government
For the purposes of local government, England is divided into as many as four levels of administrative divisions. The subdivisions of England consists of as many as four levels of subnational division and at some levels there are a variety of types of administrative entity A metropolitan borough is a type of local government district in England covering urban areas within metropolitan counties. Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially ' shire districts', are a type of local government district in England. Local governments are administrative offices that are smaller than a State. Examples of administrative divisions English terms In many of the following terms corresponding to British cultural influence areas of relatively low mean population At some levels, various legislation has created alternative types of administrative division.
Districts in England may also have the status of borough, city or royal borough. A borough is an Administrative division of various countries In principle the term borough designates a self-governing Township although in practice England Regis Beeston Regis Bere Regis Bognor Regis Grafton Regis
The metropolitan counties were divided into metropolitan districts which are usually called boroughs. When the county councils were abolished the metropolitan districts gained much of their powers and therefore function similar to other unitary authorities.
Shire counties are divided into non-metropolitan districts. Power is shared with the county council, but shared differently to the metropolitan counties when first created.
The civil parish is the most local unit of government in England. A civil parish in the United Kingdom is a unit of local government. Under the legislation that created Greater London, they are not permitted within its boundary. Not all of the rest of England is parished, though the number of parishes and total area parished is growing.
See "list of administrative divisions of England"
English political parties
Most English parties tend to give themselves a British name, even if they do not operate outside England. The subdivisions of England consists of as many as four levels of subnational division and at some levels there are a variety of types of administrative entity The English Democrats Party ( EngDem) is an English Nationalist political party, committed to the formation of a devolved English Parliament Most of the parties that operate within England alone, tend to be either minor parties incapable of contesting many constituencies like Pensioners Party (England), or parties purely interested in English issues, such as the English Democrats Party (although they too have stood candidates in Monmouthshire). The Pensioners Party is a Political party operating in England and registered with the Electoral Commission. The English Democrats Party ( EngDem) is an English Nationalist political party, committed to the formation of a devolved English Parliament Ancient county See also Monmouthshire (historic The ancient county of Monmouthshire was formed from the Welsh Marches by the Laws in Wales There is also a tendency towards extremism, e. g. the far right England First Party. The England First Party (EFP is a minor far right wing English nationalist political party. The Green Party has had an amicable split from Scottish counterpart, and the Wales Green Party section is becoming increasingly autonomous. The Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW (Plaid Werdd Cymru a Lloegr is the principal Green political party in England and Wales. The Scottish Green Party (Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Alba is the Green party of Scotland. The Wales Green Party (WGP Plaid Werdd Cymru is a semi- autonomous regional party within the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW
The Conservative Party has recently adopted a policy of English Votes on English Legislation (EVoEL). The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The West Lothian Question was first posed on 14 November 1977 by Tam Dalyell, Labour Member of Parliament (MP for the Scottish constituency The Conservative policy of EVoEL aims to prevent MPs with constituencies outside of England from voting on legislation that only affects England. There is a significant element within the Conservative Party that supports full devolution for England with the establishment of a devolved English Parliament and English Executive, along the lines of those in Scotland. The Parliament of England was the Legislature of the Kingdom of England.
Some English people and parties go further by calling for the dissolution of the Union entirely. The English people (from the adjective in Englisc) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to England who predominantly speak English However, the approach favoured by the current Labour government was (on the basis that England is too large to be governed as a single sub-state entity) to propose the devolution of power to the Regions of England. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one Lord Falconer claimed a devolved English parliament would dwarf the rest of the United Kingdom. Charles Leslie Falconer Baron Falconer of Thoroton, PC, QC (born 19 November 1951 is a British Barrister and Labour Party [5] Referendums would decide whether people wanted to vote for regional assemblies to watch over the work of the non-elected RDAs. The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one
Status of Monmouthshire
The historic county of Monmouthshire, lying in the Welsh Marches (the Anglo-Welsh border), is a bone of contention for some English nationalists. Monmouthshire, also known as the County of Monmouth (Sir Fynwy is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county Monmouthshire, also known as the County of Monmouth (Sir Fynwy is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county The Welsh Marches ( Welsh: Y Mers) is an area along the border of England and Wales on the island of Great Britain, in the current [6] Although the county is now mostly in Wales, to add to the confusion, Welsh Bicknor was an exclave of the county, and is in Herefordshire (England). Welsh Bicknor ( Welsh: Llangystennin Garth Brenni) is an area of Herefordshire, England. Constitution Herefordshire was reconstituted both as a new Non-metropolitan district (effective 19th July 1996 and as a new County comprising the area of the England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Welsh Border has historically been more fluid than the Anglo-Scottish border
Monmouthshire's Welsh status was ambiguous until relatively recently, with it often thought of as part of England. The Anglo-Scottish border (or English-Scottish border) runs for 96 Miles nbsp(154 km) between England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The entirety of Wales was made part of the Kingdom of England by the Statute of Rhuddlan, but did not adopt the same civil governance system, with the area of Monmouthshire being under the control of Marcher Lords. The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally The Statute of Rhuddlan was enacted on 3 March 1284 after the military conquest in 1282-83 of the Principality of Wales — which had been established by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd A Marcher Lord is the English equivalent of a Margrave (in the Holy Roman empire
The Laws in Wales Act 1535 integrated Wales directly into the English legal system and the "Lordships Marchers within the said Country or Dominion of Wales" were allocated to existing and new shires. The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 (Y Deddfau Uno 1535 a 1542 were a series of parliamentary measures by which the legal system of Wales was annexed to England and Some lordships were annexed to existing counties in England and some were annexed to existing counties in Wales, with the remainder being divided up into new counties. Despite Monmouthshire being a new county, it was given two Knights of the Shire in common with existing counties in England, rather than one as in the counties in Wales. In English and Welsh politics from Mediaeval times until the Representation of the People Act 1884, Knights of the Shire were representatives of counties The relevant section of the Act states that "one Knight shall be chosen and elected to the same Parliaments for every of the Shires of Brecknock, Radnor, Montgomery and Denbigh, and for every other Shire within the said Country of Dominion of Wales". As Monmouthshire was dealt with separately it cannot be taken to be a shire "within the said Country of Dominion of Wales". The Laws in Wales Act 1542 specifically enumerates the Welsh counties as twelve in number, excluding Monmouthshire from the count. The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 (Y Deddfau Uno 1535 a 1542 were a series of parliamentary measures by which the legal system of Wales was annexed to England and
The issue was finally clarified in law by the Local Government Act 1972, which provided that "in every act passed on or after 1st April 1974, and in every instrument made on or after that date under any enactment (whether before, on or after that date) "Wales", subject to any alterations of boundaries. The Local Government Act 1972 (1972 c 70 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, that reformed local government in England and Wales Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. . . " included "the administrative county of Monmouthshire and the county borough of Newport". [7] The name passed onto a district of Gwent between 1974 and 1996, and on 1 April 1996, alocal government principal area named Monmouthshire, covering the eastern 60% of the historic county, was created. The Monmouth district was one of five districts of Gwent in Wales between 1974 and 1996 Ancient county See also Monmouthshire (historic The ancient county of Monmouthshire was formed from the Welsh Marches by the Laws in Wales
However, the issue has not gone completely away, and the English Democrats nominated candidates for the 2007 Welsh Assembly elections in three of six constituencies in the area of the historic county with a view to promoting a referendum on 'Letting Monmouthshire Decide' whether it wished to be part of Wales or England. The 2007 National Assembly election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland [8] The party received between 2. 2% and 2. 7% of the vote and failed to have any members elected. [9]
An example of a former Welsh exclave in England is Welsh Bicknor. Welsh Bicknor ( Welsh: Llangystennin Garth Brenni) is an area of Herefordshire, England.
Status of Berwick-upon-Tweed
The status of Berwick, north of the River Tweed is controversial , especially amongst Scottish nationalists [1]. Berwick-upon-Tweed ( ˈbɛrɪk- ( Scots: Berwick or historically South Berwick) situated in the county of Northumberland, is the northernmost There are other rivers with this name see Tweed River The River Tweed ( Uisge Thuaidh in Gaelic (156 kilometres or long flows primarily through the Berwick remained a county in its own right until 1885, when it was included in Northumberland for Parliamentary purposes. Northumberland is a county in the North East of England. The non-metropolitan county of Northumberland borders Cumbria to the west The Interpretation Act 1978 provides that in legislation passed between 1967 and 1974, "a reference to England includes Berwick upon Tweed and Monmouthshire". The Interpretation Act 1978 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that governs the interpretation of terms within acts of Parliament Ancient county See also Monmouthshire (historic The ancient county of Monmouthshire was formed from the Welsh Marches by the Laws in Wales
In 2008, SNP MSP Christine Grahame made calls in the Scottish Parliament for Berwick to become part of Scotland again, saying
- "Even the Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council leader, who is a Liberal Democrat, backs the idea and others see the merits of reunification with Scotland. Christine Grahame (born September 9, 1944, Burton-on-Trent) is a Scottish politician The Scottish Parliament ( Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba; Scots: Scottish Pairlament) is the devlolved national unicameral " [2]
However, Alan Beith, the Liberal Democrat MP for Berwick, said the move would require a massive legal upheaval and is not realistic[10]. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the However he is contradicted by another member of his party, the Liberal Democrat MSP Jeremy Purvis, who was born and brought up in Berwick. Jeremy Purvis (born 15 January 1974) is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician and has been Member of the Scottish Parliament for Purvis has asked for the border to be moved twenty miles south (i. e. , south of the Tweed) to include Berwick borough council rather than just the town, and has said:
- "There’s a strong feeling that Berwick should be in Scotland, Until recently, I had a gran in Berwick and another in Kelso, and they could see that there were better public services in Scotland. Berwick as a borough council is going to be abolished and it would then be run from Morpeth, more than 30 miles away. Morpeth is the County town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town "[11].
According to a poll conducted by a TV company, 60% of residents favoured Berwick rejoining Scotland, largely due to reasons related to the higher public spending north of the border. [12]
References
- ^ eGov monitor - Planning transfer undermines democracy. 29 November 2007
- ^ MP Andrew George campaigns for a Cornish Assembly
- ^ 50,000 petition for Cornish Assembly
- ^ Cornish Lib Dems support the proposal for a Cornish Assembly
- ^ No English parliament - Falconer, BBC, 2006-03-10, accessed on 2008-01-20
- ^ http://www.monmouth.org.uk/History/wales1.php
- ^ Local government Act 1972 (c. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. 70), sections 1, 20 and 269
- ^ English Democrats Monmouthshire Referendum Website
- ^ Welsh assembly election 2007 (BBC News)
- ^ Berwick thinks it's time to change sides ... again. Retrieved on 2008-02-14. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German
- ^ The Sunday Post, Feb 10, 2008, Scots plan to capture 20 miles of England
- ^ TV poll backs Berwick border move BBC News, 17th February 2008
- Dicey & Morris (1993). The Conflict of Laws 12th edition. London: Sweet & Maxwell Ltd. ISBN 0-420-48280-6
See also
- List of England-related topics
- English National Health Service
- Political parties in England
- List of not fully sovereign nations
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