United Kingdom
Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. Today's United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. The UK currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside of the EMU for the time being. The government has said that a series of economic criteria must be met before it considers putting the issue to a referendum.
The economy - one of the largest in the world - is no longer manufacturing but services-based, with e-commerce of growing significance. London is a global financial center.
After decades of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, the Good Friday agreement of 1998, which led to a new assembly with devolved powers, brought hope of lasting peace. The assembly was suspended in autumn 2002 when a row erupted over allegations about IRA activities. Its suspension was to last for three and a half years. In a bid to restart the political process and after consultations with Dublin, the UK government published emergency legislation in spring 2006 paving the way for the recall of the Northern Ireland Assembly in May and setting a deadline of November 24, 2006 for the formation of a power-sharing executive. For more updates on progress, see "Recent Incidents" below.
In recent years the United Kingdom has made significant moves on devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales. The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff opened in 1999, and the possibility of devolution for the English regions has also been discussed.
The United Kingdom is home to a multicultural population, partly as the legacy of empire.
Former Treasury chief Gordon Brown became British prime minister on June 27 2007, promising "a new government with new priorities," after Tony Blair resigned to end a decade in power. Power changed hands behind closed doors in Buckingham Palace as Blair first called on Queen Elizabeth II to submit his resignation, and Brown arrived soon after to be confirmed as the new prime minister. Just as Brown took office, security forces thwarted a twin carbombing and the Glasgow Airport saw a botched attack (see "Recent Incidents" below).
Blair had been became the first Labour Party leader to win a third successive term (in 2005), although with a greatly reduced majority in parliament. He acknowledged that the war in Iraq had been a divisive issue and he promised to respond "sensibly and wisely" to the election result. Soon afterwards, security and counter-terrorism took center stage when suicide bombers - three of them British-born - killed 52 people on London's transport system in July 2005. Blair spoke of the "evil ideology" of extremism and said it was wrong to link the attacks to the war in Iraq. His government has put forward controversial new legislation intended to combat terrorism. Blair suffered his first House of Commons defeat as prime minister when MPs voted against increasing from 14 to 90 days the length of time terror suspects can be held without charge.
On July 7, 2005, Islamic extremists detonated explosives on three Underground trains and a bus in central London, resulting in over 50 deaths and hundreds of injuries. A similar, but unsuccessful attack against London’s public transport system took place on July 21, 2005. Two attacks were thwarted in central London in July 2007, followed by a botched attack at Glasgow Airport (see "Recent Incidents" below). UK authorities have identified and arrested people involved in these attacks. Heightened security measures remain in place. The United Kingdom lowered the threat level on its national alert system to “Severe” on August 14, 2006. This means that an attack is highly likely and indicates a continuing high level of threat to the United Kingdom. UK authorities have also enhanced airport security following an alleged terrorist plot in August 2006; please refer to the UK Department for Transport (www.dft.gov.uk) and the British Airport Authority (www.baa.co.uk) regarding the latest security updates and carry-on luggage restrictions.
The government urges citizens to be alert for suspect packages or people acting suspiciously at subway and train stations and airports and reporting anything suspicious to the appropriate authorities.
Political demonstrations are well policed and, except at times in Northern Ireland, generally orderly. There remains a potential for sectarian related violence in Northern Ireland (see “Background” above). Flash-points for sectarian confrontations still exist, but they are generally removed from areas where tourists congregate. Civil unrest, including during the Orange Order summer marching season (April-August), may cause delays and disruptions to travel plans. Tensions may be particularly heightened in the lead-up to and on the July 12 Northern Ireland public holiday.
Animal rights activists and concerned ecologists have caused some disruption but little actual damage at UK laboratory facilities and construction sites. Pharmaceutical and cosmetics test labs have been the principal animal rights targets; airport expansion, offshore structures and petrochemical facilities attract the attention of the ecologists.
