United Kingdom 31717 225985621 2008-07-16T09:40:46Z Fishiehelper2 5623775 /* Geography */ correcting and adding ref {{Redirect|UK}} {{otheruses}} {{Infobox Country |conventional_long_name = United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland{{Ref|1}} |common_name = the United Kingdom |image_flag = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg |image_coat = UK Royal Coat of Arms.svg |symbol_type = Royal coat of arms |image_map = Location UK EU Europe.png |map_caption = {{map_caption |countryprefix=the |region=on the [[Europe|European continent]] |subregion=the [[European Union]] |location_color=dark green | subregion_color=light green |region_color=dark grey |legend=}} |national_motto = {{lang|fr|''"[[Dieu et mon droit]]"''}}{{Ref|2}}{{spaces|2}}<small>([[French language|French]]) <br />"God and my right"</small> |national_anthem = "[[God Save the Queen]]"{{Ref|3}} |official_languages = [[English language|English]]{{Ref|4}} |regional_languages = [[Welsh language|Welsh]], [[Irish language|Irish]], [[Ulster Scots (linguistics)|Ulster Scots]], [[Scots language|Scots]], [[Scottish Gaelic]], [[Cornish language|Cornish]]{{Ref|5}} |ethnic_groups = 92.1% [[White people|White]],<br>4.00% [[British Asian|South Asian]], 2.00% [[Black British|Black]], 1.20% [[British Mixed-Race|Mixed Race]], 0.80% [[East Asian people in the United Kingdom|East Asian]] and [[Other ethnic group (United Kingdom Census)|Other]] |ethnic_groups_year = [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001]] |demonym = [[British people|British]], [[British people|Briton]] |capital = [[London]] |latd = 51 |latm = 30 |latNS = N |longd = 0 |longm = 7 |longEW = W |largest_city = [[London]] |government_type = [[Parliamentary system]] and [[Constitutional monarchy]] |leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Monarch]] |leader_name1 = [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] |leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] |leader_name2 = [[Gordon Brown]] [[MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 2005|MP]] |sovereignty_type = [[History of the United Kingdom|Formation]] |legislature = [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] |upper_house = [[House of Lords]] |lower_house = [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] |sovereignty_note = |established_event1 = [[Acts of Union 1707|Acts of Union]] |established_date1 = [[1 May]] [[1707]] |established_event2 = [[Act of Union 1800|Act of Union]] |established_date2 = [[1 January]] [[1801]] |established_event3 = [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] |established_date3 = [[12 April]] [[1922]] |accessionEUdate = [[1 January]] [[1973]] |EUseats = 78 |area_rank = 79th |area_magnitude = 1 E11 |area_km2 = 244820 |area_sq_mi = 94526 |percent_water = 1.34 |population_estimate_year = mid-2006 |population_estimate = 60,587,300<ref> {{Cite web | url = http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=6 | work = Population Estimates | title = UK population grows to 60.6 million | date = 2007-08-22 | accessdate = 2007-08-22 | publisher= [[Office for National Statistics]] | quote = In mid-2006 the resident population of the UK was 60,587,000. The UK population has increased by 8 per cent since 1971, from 55,928,000. }} </ref> |population_estimate_rank = 22nd |population_census = 58,789,194[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/pop2001/united_kingdom.asp] |population_census_year = 2001 |population_density_km2 = 246 |population_density_sq_mi = 637 |population_density_rank = 48th |GDP_PPP_year = 2006 |GDP_PPP = US$2.270 [[1000000000000 (number)|trillion]] |GDP_PPP_rank = 6th |GDP_PPP_per_capita = US$37,328 |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 13th |GDP_nominal = $2.772 [[1000000000000 (number)|trillion]] |GDP_nominal_rank = 5th |GDP_nominal_year = 2007 |GDP_nominal_per_capita = US$45,845 |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 9th |HDI_year = 2005 |HDI = {{increase}} 0.946 |HDI_rank = 16th |HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font> |Gini = 34<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html CIA World Factbook][Gini rankings]</ref> |Gini_year = 2005 |currency = [[Pound sterling]] (£) |currency_code = GBP |country_code = GBR |time_zone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] |utc_offset = +0 |time_zone_DST = [[British Summer Time|BST]] |utc_offset_DST = +1 |cctld = [[.uk]] {{Ref|7}} |calling_code = 44 |footnotes = [[United Kingdom#Footnotes|Footnotes]]}} The '''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland''', commonly known as the '''United Kingdom''', the '''UK''', or '''Britain''',<ref>See [[British Isles (terminology)]] for further explanation of the usage of the term "Britain" in geographical and political contexts.</ref> is a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] [[island country]]<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110750/United-Kingdom | title = Encyclopaedia Britannica | quote = Island country located off the north-western coast of mainland Europe | accessdate = 2007-09-25 }}</ref><ref name="Countries">{{cite web |url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page823.asp |title=Countries within a country |author=www.number-10.gov.uk |accessdate=2007-06-13|quote=Countries within a country}}</ref> <!--This reference is here for a purpose, please do not remove it.--> located off the northwestern coast of [[continental Europe]]. The UK includes the island of [[Great Britain]], the northeast part of the island of [[Ireland]] and many small islands. [[Northern Ireland]] is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with the [[Republic of Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.eu2005.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1115141709899/ |title = Member States: United Kingdom |accessmonthday = [[May 29]] |accessyear = [[2006]] |publisher = UK Presidency of the EU 2005 }} </ref> Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the [[Atlantic Ocean]], the [[North Sea]], the [[English Channel]] and the [[Irish Sea]]. The largest island, Great Britain, is linked to [[France]] by the [[Channel Tunnel]]. The United Kingdom is a [[political union|union]]<ref> {{cite news | last = Macwhirter | first = Iain | title = The break-up of the union now appears inevitable | work = Comment | publisher = [[The Guardian]] | date = 2008-01-10 | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jan/10/scotland.politics | accessdate = 2008-06-26 | quote = Gordon Brown's acknowledgment on Tuesday that 2008 will be "an important year for the union" was an understatement. }}</ref><ref> {{cite news | last = Enright | first = Simon | title = An Act of Disunion | work = [[Newsnight]] | publisher = [[bbc.co.uk]] | date = 2007-01-16 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/6267799.stm | accessdate = 2008-06-26 | quote = We're devoting the whole programme to discussing the future of the Union - will England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland see another century, let alone three, as United countries? }} </ref> of four [[constituent country|constituent countries]]<!--before changing this term, see the discussion at WP:Mediation Cabal/Cases/2008-06-22 United Kingdom-->: [[England]], [[Northern Ireland]], [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]]. The United Kingdom is governed by a [[parliamentary system]] with its [[seat of government]] in [[London]], the [[capital]], and is a [[constitutional monarchy]] with [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] as the [[head of state]]. The [[Crown Dependencies]] of the [[Channel Islands]] and the [[Isle of Man]], formally possessions of [[the Crown]], are not part of the UK but form a [[federacy]] with it.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/LivingintheUK/DG_10012517 | title = Key facts about the United Kingdom | accessdate = 2008-06-26 | work = Government, citizens and rights | publisher = [[Directgov]] | quote = The full title of this country is 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. 'The UK' is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 'Great Britain' (or just 'Britain') does not include Northern Ireland. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not part of the UK. }} </ref> The UK has fourteen [[British overseas territories|overseas territories]],<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/fco-in-action/global-network/ | title = FCO global network | work = FCO in Action | publisher = [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] | accessdate = 2008-06-26 }} </ref> all remnants of the [[British Empire]], which at its height encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface, making it the [[List of largest empires|largest empire in history]]. As a result of the empire, British influence can be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies such as [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[India]], and the [[United States]]. Queen Elizabeth II remains the head of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] and head of state of each of the [[Commonwealth realm]]s. The UK is a [[developed country]], with the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|fifth]] (nominal GDP) or [[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|sixth]] (PPP) largest [[Economy of the United Kingdom|economy]] in the world. It was the [[Superpower|world's foremost power]] during the 19th and early 20th century,<ref>{{cite book |last=Ferguson|first=Niall |year=2004 |title=Empire, The rise and demise of the British world order and the lessons for global power |publisher=Basic Books|id=ISBN 0465023282}}</ref> but the economic cost of two world wars and the decline of its empire in the latter half of the 20th century diminished its leading role in global affairs. The UK nevertheless retains strong economic, cultural, military and political influence and is a [[List of states with nuclear weapons|nuclear power]], with the [[List of countries by military expenditures|second or third (depending on method of calculation) highest defence spending in the world]]. It is a [[Member State of the European Union|member state]] of the [[European Union]], holds a permanent seat on the [[United Nations Security Council]], and is a member of the [[G8]], [[NATO]], [[World Trade Organization|WTO]] and the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. == History == {{Main|History of the United Kingdom|History of the formation of the United Kingdom}} [[Image:Sadler, Battle of Waterloo.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Battle of Waterloo]] marked the end of the [[Napoleonic Wars]].]] On [[May 1st]], [[1707]], the [[political union]] of the [[Kingdom of England]] (which included the once independent [[Principality of Wales]]) and the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] created the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://personal.pitnet.net/primarysources/act.html |title=The Treaty (or Act) of Union, 1707 |publisher= |accessdate=2006-05-15}}</ref> usually referred to thereafter as the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]. This event was the result of the [[Treaty of Union]] that was agreed on [[22 July]] [[1706]],<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/about/images/historical/1707union.cfm Articles of Union with Scotland 1707] www.parliament.uk </ref> and then ratified by the Parliaments of [[Kingdom of England|England]] and [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]] each passing an [[Acts of Union 1707|Act of Union]] in 1707. Almost a century later, the [[Kingdom of Ireland]], which had been brought under English control between 1541 and [[Treaty of Limerick|1691]], joined the united Kingdom of Great Britain with the passing of the [[Act of Union 1800]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actofunion.ac.uk/actofunion.htm#act | title=The Act of Union |publisher=Act of Union Virtual Library |accessdate=2006-05-15}}</ref> Prior to 1707, England and Scotland had existed as separate sovereign and independent states with their own [[monarchs]] and political structures from the 9th century, though a [[personal union]] was created between the kingdoms after the Scottish King, [[James I of England|James VI]], became King of England as well in 1603. [[Image:British Empire 1897.jpg|thumb|left|The [[British Empire]] in 1897. By 1920 it had become the [[list of largest empires|largest empire in history]]]] In its first century, the United Kingdom played an important role in developing [[Western world|Western]] ideas of the [[Parliamentary System]] as well as making significant contributions to [[literature]], the [[arts]] and [[science]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Niall |authorlink=Niall Ferguson |year=2003 |title=Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order |publisher=Basic Books |id=ISBN 0-465-02328-2}}</ref> The UK-led [[Industrial Revolution]] transformed the country and fuelled the [[British Empire]]. During this time, like other [[Great Powers]], the UK was involved in colonial exploitation, including the [[Atlantic slave trade|slave trade]], though the passing of the 1807 [[Slave Trade Act 1807|Slave Trade Act]] made the UK the first country to prohibit trade in slaves. After the defeat of [[Napoleon]] in the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the UK became the principal naval power of the 19th century. The United Kingdom remained an eminent power into the mid-20th century, and its empire expanded to its maximum size by 1921, gaining the [[League of Nations]] mandate over former German and Ottoman colonies after [[World War I]]. Long simmering tensions in Ireland led to the [[Government of Ireland Act 1920|partition]] of the island in 1920, followed by independence for the [[Irish Free State]] in 1922. Six of the nine [[Counties of Ireland|counties]] of the [[Provinces of Ireland|province]] of [[Ulster]] remained within the UK, which then [[Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927|changed]] to the current name in 1927 of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.<ref name="CAIN">{{cite web |url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/ait1921.htm |title=The Anglo-Irish Treaty, [[6 December]] [[1921]] |publisher=CAIN |accessdate=2006-05-15}}</ref> [[Image:Supermarinespitfire.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Battle of Britain]]. The United Kingdom was the only [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Europe]]an country to remain free from occupation during [[World War II]].]] After [[World War I]], the world's first large-scale international broadcasting network, the [[BBC]], was created. Britain was one of the major Allied powers in [[World War II]], and wartime leader [[Winston Churchill]] and his peacetime successor [[Clement Atlee]] helped plan the post-war world as part of the "Big Three". World War II left the United Kingdom financially damaged. [[Loans]] taken out during and after World War II from both Canada and the United States were economically costly but, along with post-war [[Marshall Plan|Marshall aid]], the UK began the road to recovery. The immediate post-war years saw the establishment of the British [[Welfare State]], including one of the world's first and most comprehensive public [[National Health Service|health services]], while the demands of a recovering economy brought people from all over the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] to create a [[multi-ethnic|multiethnic]] Britain. Although the new post-war limits of Britain's [[political]] role were confirmed by the [[Suez Crisis]] of 1956, the international spread of the [[English language|language]] meant the continuing impact of its literature and [[culture]], while at the same time from the 1960s its [[popular culture]] found influence abroad. Following a period of global economic slowdown and industrial strife in the 1970s, the 1980s saw the inflow of substantial [[North Sea Oil|oil revenues]] and economic growth. The premiership of [[Margaret Thatcher]] marked a significant change of direction from the post-war political and economic consensus; a path that was not reversed by the [[New Labour]] government of [[Tony Blair]] in 1997. The United Kingdom was one of the 12 founding members of the [[European Union]] at its launch in 1992 with the signing of the [[Treaty on European Union]]. Prior to that, it had been a member of the EU's forerunner, the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC), from 1973. The attitude of the present [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] government towards further integration with this organisation is mixed,<ref name=Times>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-1948441,00.html |title=Modest progress but always on back foot |publisher=Times Online |date=2005-12-21 |accessdate=2006-05-16}}</ref> with the [[Official Opposition (United Kingdom)|Offical Opposition]], the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], favouring a return of some powers and competencies to the state.<ref name=Conservatives>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=europe.news.campaigns.display.page&obj_id=73417 |title=European Constitution: bad for Britain, bad for Europe |publisher=Conservative Party |accessdate=2006-05-23}}</ref> The end of the 20th century saw a major change to the government of the United Kingdom with the creation of a [[devolution|devolved]] [[Scottish parliament]] and [[Welsh Assembly]] following popular approval in pre-legislative [[Referendums in the United Kingdom|referenda]]. This produced the prospect of a legislative path to [[Scottish Independence|independence for Scotland]] when the [[Scottish National Party]] won the [[Scottish Parliament election, 2007|2007 election]] and formed a [[minority government]] in Scotland, with a mandate to hold a [[referendum]] on independence by 2011. == Government and politics == {{Main|Politics of the United Kingdom|Monarchy of the United Kingdom}} [[Image:Elizabeth II greets NASA GSFC employees, May 8, 2007 edit.jpg|left|thumb|upright|[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|HM Queen Elizabeth II]]]] The United Kingdom is a [[constitutional monarchy]] with [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]], as head of state; the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|monarch of the UK]] also serves as head of state of [[Commonwealth realm|fifteen other Commonwealth countries]], putting the UK in a [[personal union]] with those other states. The [[British crown|Crown]] has sovereignty over the [[Isle of Man]] and the [[Bailiwick]]s of [[Jersey]] and [[Guernsey]]. Collectively, these three territories are known as the [[Crown dependencies]], lands owned by the [[British monarch]] but not part of the United Kingdom. They are not part of the [[European Union]]. However, the Parliament of the United Kingdom has the authority to legislate for the dependencies, and the British government manages their foreign affairs and defence. The UK has fourteen [[British overseas territory|overseas territories]] around the world, the last remaining territories of the [[British Empire]]. The overseas territories are not considered part of the UK, but in most cases, the local populations have British citizenship and the right of abode in the UK. This has been the case since 2002. The UK has a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary government]] based on strong traditions: the [[Westminster system]] has been emulated around the world — a legacy of the [[British Empire]]. [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|The UK's constitution]] governs the legal framework of the country and consists mostly of written sources, including [[statute]]s, judge made [[case law]], and international treaties. As there is no technical difference between ordinary statutes and [[law]] considered to be "constitutional law," the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] can perform "constitutional reform" simply by passing [[Acts of Parliament]] and thus has the [[political power|power]] to change or abolish almost any written or unwritten element of the constitution. However, no Parliament can pass laws that future Parliaments cannot change.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/sovereignty.cfm|title=Official UK Parliament web page on parliamentary sovereignty}}</ref> The United Kingdom is one of the three countries in the world today that does not have a codified [[constitution]] (the other two being [[New Zealand]] and [[Israel]]).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.llrx.com/features/uk2.htm#UK%20Legal%20System |title=A Guide To the UK Legal System |author=Sarah Carter |publisher=[[University of Kent|University of Kent at Canterbury]] |accessdate=2006-05-16}}</ref> The position of [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], the UK's [[head of government]], belongs to the Member of Parliament who can obtain the confidence of a majority in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], usually the current leader of the largest political party in that chamber. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are formally appointed by the Monarch to form [[Her Majesty's Government]]. However, the Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet, and by convention, HM The Queen respects the Prime Minister's choices. The [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] is traditionally drawn from members of the Prime Minister's party in both legislative houses, and mostly from the House of Commons, to which [[Responsible government|they are responsible]]. Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and Cabinet, all of whom are sworn into [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council]], and become [[Minister of the Crown|Ministers of the Crown]]. ''The Rt Hon'' [[Gordon Brown]] [[MP]], leader of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], has been Prime Minister, [[First Lord of the Treasury]] and [[Minister for the Civil Service]] since [[27 June]] [[2007]]. [[Image:Westminster palace.jpg|thumb|The [[Houses of Parliament]]]] The [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] that meets in the [[Palace of Westminster]], is the ultimate legislative authority in the United Kingdom. A devolved parliament in [[Scottish parliament|Scotland]] and devolved assemblies in [[Northern Ireland Assembly|Northern Ireland]], and [[National Assembly for Wales|Wales]] were established following public approval as expressed in [[Referendum|referenda]], but these are not sovereign bodies and could be abolished by the UK parliament. The UK parliament is made up of two houses: an elected [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] and an appointed [[House of Lords]], and any Bill passed requires the [[Royal assent|assent]] of HM The Queen to become law. For elections to the House of Commons, the UK is currently divided into [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom|646 constituencies]], with 529 in England, 18 in Northern Ireland, [[Scottish Westminster constituencies from 2005|59 in Scotland]] and 40 in Wales, though this number will rise to 650 at the [[Next United Kingdom general election|next General Election]]. Each constituency elects one Member of Parliament by [[plurality electoral system|simple plurality]]. General Elections are called by the Monarch when the Prime Minister so advises. Though there is no minimum term for a Parliament, a new election must be called within five years of the previous general election. For elections to the [[European Parliament]], the UK has 78 MEPs, elected in 12 [[multi-member]] constituencies. Questions over sovereignty have been brought forward due to the UK's membership of the [[European Union]].<ref name=Times20050914>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1779849,00.htm |title=Europe Wins The Power To Jail British Citizens |publisher=The Times |date=2005-09-14}}</ref> The UK's three [[List of political parties in the United Kingdom#Major political parties in the United Kingdom|major political parties]] are the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], and the [[Liberal Democrats]], winning between them 616 out of the 646 seats available in the House of Commons at the [[2005 General Election]]. Most of the remaining seats were won by parties that only contest elections in one part of the UK such as the [[Scottish National Party]] (Scotland only), [[Plaid Cymru]] (Wales only), and the [[Democratic Unionist Party]], [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]], [[Ulster Unionist Party]], and [[Sinn Féin]] (Northern Ireland only, though Sinn Féin also contests elections in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]). In accordance with party policy, no elected Sinn Féin Member of Parliament has ever attended the House of Commons to speak in the House on behalf of their constituents as Members of Parliament are required to take an oath of allegiance to the Monarch. However, the current five [[Sinn Féin]] MPs have since 2002 made use of the offices and other facilities available at Westminster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1771635.stm|title=news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1771635.stm<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> === Devolved national administrations === {{main|Northern Ireland Assembly|Scottish Parliament|National Assembly of Wales}} [[Image:Edinburgh Scottish Parliament01 2006-04-29.jpg|thumb|[[Scottish Parliament]] is the national legislature of Scotland]] [[Northern Ireland]], [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]] each has a [[Devolution|devolved]], [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] legislature and its own [[Executive (government)|government or Executive]], led by a [[First Minister]]. England, despite being the largest country of the United Kingdom, has no devolved executive or legislature and is ruled and legislated for directly by the UK government and parliament. This situation has given rise to the so-called [[West Lothian question]] which concerns the fact that MPs from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales help decide the laws that apply to England alone. The [[Scottish Parliament]] has wide ranging legislative powers over any matter that has not been specifically '[[reserved matters|reserved]]' to the UK parliament, including [[education in Scotland|education]], [[NHS Scotland|healthcare]], [[Scots law]] and [[local government in Scotland|local government]]. Following their victory at the [[Scottish Parliament election 2007|2007 elections]], the [[Scottish independence|pro-independence]] [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] formed a minority [[Government of the 3rd Scottish Parliament|government]] with its leader, [[Alex Salmond]], becoming [[First Minister of Scotland]]. The pro-union parties responded to the electoral success of the SNP by creating a [[Scottish Constitutional Commission|Commission]] to examine the case for devolving additional powers while excluding [[Scottish independence]] as an option,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7311840.stm Devolution review body launched] BBC News, March 25, 2008</ref> though the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Wendy Alexander, has now indicated that Labour will support calls for independence to be placed before the people in a referendum in the hope that a vote to reject independence would settle the constitutional debate for a generation.<ref>[http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Wendy-39Bring-it-on39.4049804.jp Wendy: 'Bring it on'] [[Scotsman]], May 5th, 2008</ref>Most opinion polls do show minority support for independence though support varies depending on the nature of the question. However, a poll in April 2008 that used the proposed referendum wording found support for independence had reached 41% with just 40% supporting retention of the Union.<ref>[http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2192965.0.0.php 41% of Scots back the break-up of the union] Sunday Herald, April 13th, 2008</ref> The [[National Assembly for Wales]] has more limited devolved powers than those devolved to Scotland<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/wales_99/the_welsh_assembly/309033.stm Structure and powers of the Assembly] BBC News April 8th, 1999</ref> though following the passing of the [[Government of Wales Act 2006]], the Assembly can now legislate in some areas through [[Legislative Competency Order]]s which can be granted on a case by case basis.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/jul/16/wales.devolution What powers does the Welsh Assembly have?] Guardian July 16th, 2007</ref> The current [[Welsh Assembly Government]] was formed several weeks after the [[Welsh Assembly election, 2007|2007 elections]], following a brief period of minority administration, when [[Plaid Cymru]] joined [[Labour]] in a coalition [[Government of the 3rd National Assembly for Wales|government]] under the continuing leadership of First Minister [[Rhodri Morgan]]. The [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] has powers closer to those already devolved to Scotland. The [[Northern Ireland Executive]] is currently lead by First Minister [[Peter Robinson]] ([[Democratic Unionist Party]]) and deputy First Minister [[Martin McGuinness]] ([[Sinn Féin]]).<ref>http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/your-government/devolved-government.htm Northern Ireland Executive</ref> === Local government === {{main|Local government in the United Kingdom}} {{seealso|Local government in England|Local government in Northern Ireland|Local government in Scotland|Local government in Wales}} [[Image:ManchesterTownHall OwlofDoom.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Manchester Town Hall]] houses the [[Manchester City Council]].]] Each country of the United Kingdom has its own system of local government, with power over local government in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland being devolved. ([[City status in the United Kingdom|City status]], being governed by [[Royal Charter]], is conferred separately from local government arrangements.) [[Local government in England|England]]'s upper-tier [[subdivisions of England|subdivisions]] are the nine [[Regions of England|Regions]] also known as European Union government office regions. A [[Greater London Authority referendum, 1998|London referendum]] in 1998 on the question of having a directly elected assembly and directly elected mayor produced a large majority in favour and it was intended that other regions would also be given their own elected [[Regional Assemblies in England|regional assemblies]]. However, a rejection by a [[Northern England devolution referendums, 2004|referendum in 2004]] of a proposed assembly in the [[North East England|North East]] region stopped this idea in its tracks.<ref>"The Government is now expected to tear up its twelve-year-old plan to create eight or nine regional assemblies in England to mirror devolution in Scotland and Wales."{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article503255.ece|title=Prescott's dream in tatters as North East rejects assembly|accessdate=2008-02-15|work=The Times}}</ref> Below the region level, [[London]] consists of 32 [[London borough]]s and the rest of England has either [[metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|county council]]s and district councils or [[unitary authorities]]. [[Local government in Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]] is presently divided into 26 districts for local government purposes though these councils do not carry out the same range of functions as would be the case in the rest of the United Kingdom. However, on [[13 March]] [[2008]], the Executive agreed on proposals to create 11 new councils to replace the present system.<ref>[http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news/news-doe/news-doe-130308-foster-announces-the.htm ''Foster announces the future shape of local government'', NI Executive]</ref> [[Local government in Scotland|Scotland]] is divided into [[subdivisions of Scotland|32 council areas]] with wide variation in both size and population. The cities of [[Glasgow]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Aberdeen]] and [[Dundee]] are separate council areas as also is [[Highland Council]] which includes a third of Scotland's area but just over 200,000 people. The power invested in local authorities is administered by elected councillors, of which there are currently 1,222 who are each paid a part-time salary. Elections are conducted by [[Single Transferable Vote]] in multi-member wards that elect either three or four councillors. Each council elects a [[Provost (civil)|Provost]] or [[Convenor]] to chair meetings of the council and to act as a figurehead for the area. [[Local government in Wales]] consists of 22 unitary authorities, including the cities of [[Cardiff]], [[Swansea]] and [[Newport]] which are separate unitary authorities in their own right. == Foreign relations and armed forces == {{main|Foreign relations of the United Kingdom|British Armed Forces}} [[Image:HMS Illustrious 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[HMS Illustrious (R06)|HMS ''Illustrious'']]. Two [[Invincible class aircraft carrier]]s and a [[HMS Ocean (L12)|helicopter carrier]] are currently in service with a third [[Invincible class aircraft carrier|Invincible carrier]] in reserve.]] [[Image:Trident II missile image.jpg|thumb|A [[Trident II]] [[SLBM]] being launched from one of the [[Royal Navy]]'s 4 [[Vanguard class submarine]]s as a test launch.]] [[Image:Eurofighter-1.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Royal Air Force]]'s Eurofighter [[Eurofighter|Typhoon]] is an advanced fighter aircraft and second most expensive fighter aircraft after the [[F-22]].]] The United Kingdom is a permanent member of the [[United Nations Security Council]], a member of the [[G8]] and [[NATO]], and a member state of the [[European Union]]. The UK has a "[[Special Relationship]]" with the [[United States]]. Apart from the US and [[Europe]], Britain's close allies include [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth nations]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and other [[Anglosphere|English speaking countries]]. Britain's global presence and influence is further amplified through its trading relations and its armed forces, which maintain approximately eighty military installations and other deployments around the globe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpowereurope.eu/|title=www.globalpowereurope.eu/<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> The [[British Army|Army]], [[Naval Service|Navy]] and [[Royal Air Force|Air Force]] are collectively known as the British Armed Forces (or Her Majesty's Armed Forces) and officially the Armed Forces of the Crown. The [[commander-in-chief]] is the monarch, HM [[Queen Elizabeth II]] and they are managed by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]. The armed forces are controlled by the [[Defence Council of the United Kingdom|Defence Council]], chaired by the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]]. The United Kingdom fields one of the most technologically advanced and best trained armed forces in the world. According to various sources, including the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]], the UK has the second highest [[List of countries and federations by military expenditures|military expenditure]] in the world,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/Organisation/KeyFactsAboutDefence/DefenceSpending.htm|title=Defence Spending}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sipri.org/contents/milap/milex/mex_trends.html|title=www.sipri.org/contents/milap/milex/mex_trends.html<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> despite only having the 27th largest military in terms of [[List of countries by number of active troops|manpower]]. Total defence spending currently accounts for 2.2% of total national [[GDP]], compared to 4.4% at the end of the [[Cold War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hatareview.org/ardy.html|title=www.hatareview.org/ardy.html<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> It is the second largest spender on military science, engineering and technology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1394293,00.html|title=www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1394293,00.html<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> The Royal Navy is considered to be the only other [[blue-water navy]] along with those of [[Marine Nationale|France]] and the [[United States Navy|United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.henryjacksonsociety.org/sections/britain_world/naval_trident|title=www.henryjacksonsociety.org/sections/britain_world/naval_trident<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> The British Armed Forces are equipped with advanced weapons systems, including the [[Challenger 2]] tank and the [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] jet fighter. The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth £3.2bn to build two new [[super carrier]] sized [[Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier|aircraft carriers]] on [[3 July]] [[2008]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7486683.stm £3.2bn giant carrier deals signed] BBC News, July 3, 2008</ref> The United Kingdom is one of the [[List of countries with nuclear weapons|five recognised countries]] possessing nuclear weapons, utilising the [[Vanguard class submarine]]-based [[Trident missile|Trident II]] ballistic missile system. The British Armed Forces are charged with protecting the United Kingdom and its [[British overseas territories|overseas territories]], promoting the United Kingdom's global security interests, and supporting international peacekeeping efforts. They are active and regular participants in [[NATO]], including the [[Allied Rapid Reaction Corps]], as well as the [[Five Power Defence Arrangements]] and other worldwide coalition operations. Overseas garrisons and facilities are maintained at [[Ascension Island]], [[Military of Belize|Belize]], [[Military Forces based in Brunei|Brunei]], [[British Army Training Unit Suffield|Canada]], [[Diego Garcia]], the [[Military of the Falkland Islands|Falkland Islands]], [[British Forces Germany|Germany]], [[British Forces Gibraltar|Gibraltar]], [[Kenya]], and [[Sovereign Base Areas|Cyprus]].<ref>[http://www.northwood.mod.uk/pjobs/pjobs.htm Permanent Joint Operating Bases], northwood.mod.uk</ref><ref name="Facilities">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi-bin/newhtml_hl?DB=semukparl&STEMMER=en&WORDS=raf%20diego%20garcia&ALL=RAF&ANY=&PHRASE=%22Diego%20Garcia%20%22&CATEGORIES=&SIMPLE=&SPEAKER=&COLOUR=red&STYLE=s&ANCHOR=50221w33.html_spnew0&URL=/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050221/text/50221w33.htm#50221w33.html_spnew0 House of Commons Hansard], publications.parliament.uk</ref> The [[British Army]] had a reported strength of 102,440 in 2005,<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/6FBA7459-7407-4B85-AA47-7063F1F22461/0/modara_0405_s1_resources.pdf Annual Reports and Accounts 2004-05]|1.60&nbsp;[[Mebibyte|MiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 1686837 bytes -->}}. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved on [[14 May]] [[2006]]</ref> the [[Royal Air Force]] a strength of 49,210 and the 36,320-strong [[Royal Navy]], which includes the [[Royal Marines]], who provide [[commando]] units specialising in [[amphibious warfare]]. The [[United Kingdom Special Forces]], provide troops trained for quick, mobile, military responses in [[counter-terrorism]], land, maritime and [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious operations]], often where secrecy or covert tactics are required. There are reserve forces supporting the regular military. These include the [[Territorial Army]], the [[Royal Naval Reserve]], [[Royal Marines Reserve]] and the [[Royal Auxiliary Air Force]]. This puts total active and reserve duty military personnel at approximately 429,500, deployed in over eighty countries. Despite the United Kingdom's military capabilities, recent pragmatic defence policy has a stated assumption that "the most demanding operations" would be undertaken as part of a coalition.<ref>Office for National Statistics ''UK 2005: The Official Yearbook of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'', p. 89 </ref> Setting aside the [[Operation Palliser|intervention in Sierra Leone]], operations in [[Bosnian War|Bosnia]], [[Kosovo War|Kosovo]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Operation Telic|Iraq]] may all be taken as precedent. Indeed the last war in which the British military fought alone was the [[Falklands War]] of 1982, in which they were victorious. == Law and criminal justice == {{main|Law of the United Kingdom}} The United Kingdom does not have a single legal system due to it being created by the political union of previously independent countries with Article 19 of the [[Treaty of Union]] guaranteeing the continued existence of Scotland's separate legal system. Today the UK has three distinct [[systems of law]]: [[English law]], [[Courts of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland law]] and [[Scots law]]. Recent constitutional changes will see a new [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]] come into being in October 2009 that will take on the appeal functions of the Appellate Committee of the [[House of Lords]].<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.dca.gov.uk/consult/supremecourt/supreme.pdf Constitutional reform: A Supreme Court for the United Kingdom]|252&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 258317 bytes -->}}, Department for Constitutional Affairs. Retrieved on [[2006-05-22]]</ref> The [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]], comprising the same members as the Appellate Committee of the [[House of Lords]], is the highest court of appeal for several independent Commonwealth countries, the UK overseas territories, and the British crown dependencies. === England, Wales and Northern Ireland === {{main|English law|Northern Ireland law}} Both [[English law]], which applies in [[England and Wales]], and [[Courts of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland law]] are based on [[common law|common-law]] principles. The essence of common-law is that law is made by [[judges]] sitting in [[court]]s, applying their common sense and knowledge of [[legal precedent]] (''[[stare decisis]]'') to the facts before them. The [[Courts of England and Wales]] are headed by the Supreme Court of Judicature of England and Wales, consisting of the [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales|Court of Appeal]], the [[High Court of Justice]] (for civil cases) and the [[Crown Court]] (for criminal cases). The Appellate Committee of the [[House of Lords]] (usually just referred to, as "The House of Lords") is presently the highest court in the land for both criminal and civil cases in [[England]], [[Wales]], and [[Northern Ireland]] and any decision it makes is binding on every other court in the hierarchy. Crime in England and Wales increased in the period between 1981 and 1995 though, since that peak, there has been an overall fall of 42% in crime from 1995 to 2006/7.<ref>[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/crime0607summ.pdf Crime over the last 25 years] homeoffice.gov.uk</ref>Despite the fall in crime rates, the [[prison population of England and Wales]] has almost doubled over the same period, to over 80,000, giving England and Wales the highest rate of incarceration in Western Europe at 147 per 100,000.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7235438.stm New record high prison population] BBC News, February 8, 2008 </ref>[[Her Majesty's Prison Service]], which reports to the [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]], manages most of the [[prison]]s within England and Wales. === Scotland === {{main|Scots law}} [[Scots law]], a hybrid system based on both common-law and [[Civil law (legal system)|civil-law]] principles, applies in [[Scotland]]. The chief courts are the [[Court of Session]], for civil cases, and the [[High Court of Justiciary]], for criminal cases. The Appellate Committee of the [[House of Lords]] (usually just referred to as "The House of Lords") presently serves as the highest court of appeal for civil cases under Scots law but only if the Court of Session grants leave to appeal or the initial judgement was by a majority decision. [[Sheriff court]]s deal with most civil and criminal cases including conducting criminal [[trial]]s with a jury, known as Sheriff solemn Court, or with a Sheriff and no jury, known as (Sheriff summary Court). The [[Sheriff court]]s provide a local court service with 49 Sheriff courts organised across six [[Sheriffdom]]s. The Scots legal system is unique in having three possible [[verdict]]s for a criminal trial: "[[Guilt (law)|guilt]]y", "[[not guilty]]" and "''[[not proven]]''". Both "not guilty" and "not proven" result in an [[acquittal]] with no possibility of [[retrial]]. The [[Scottish Prison Service]] (SPS) manages the prisons in Scotland which contain between them over 7,500 prisoners.<ref>[http://www.sps.gov.uk/default.aspx?documentid=7811a7f1-6c61-4667-a12c-f102bbf5b808 Prisoner Population at Friday 13 June 2008] www.sps.gov.uk, June 26th, 2008 </ref> The [[Cabinet Secretary for Justice]] is responsible for the Scottish Prison Service within the Scottish Government. == Geography == {{main|Geography of the United Kingdom|Climate of the United Kingdom}} [[Image:uk topo en.jpg|thumb|UK's topography]] The total area of the United Kingdom is approximately {{convert|245000|km2|sqmi|-1}} comprising of the island of Great Britain, the northeastern one-sixth of the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland) and smaller islands. It lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, coming within {{convert|35|km|mi|0}} of the northwest coast of France, from which it is separated by the [[English Channel]]. Great Britain lies between latitudes 49° and 59° N (the Shetland Islands reach to nearly 61° N), and longitudes 8° W to 2° E. The Royal Greenwich Observatory, near London, is the defining point of the [[Prime Meridian]]. When measured directly north-south, Great Britain is a little over {{convert|1100|km|mi|-2}} in length and is a fraction under {{convert|500|km|mi|-2}} at its widest, but the greatest distance between two points is {{convert|1350|km|mi|-1}} between [[Land's End]] in [[Cornwall]] (near [[Penzance]]) and [[John O'Groats]] in [[Caithness]] (near [[Thurso]]). Northern Ireland shares a {{convert|360|km|mi|0|adj=on}} land boundary with [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The United Kingdom has a temperate [[climate]], with plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons but seldom drops below {{convert|-10|C|lk=on}} or rises above {{convert|35|C}}. The prevailing wind is from the southwest, bearing frequent spells of mild and wet weather from the Atlantic Ocean. Eastern parts are most sheltered from this wind and are therefore the driest. Atlantic currents, warmed by the [[Gulf Stream]], bring mild winters, especially in the west, where winters are wet, especially over high ground. Summers are warmest in the south east of England, being closest to the European mainland, and coolest in the north. Snowfall can occur in winter and early spring, though it rarely settles to great depth away from high ground. [[Geography of England|England]] accounts for just over half of the total area of the UK, covering {{convert|130410|km2|sqmi|-1}}. Most of the country consists of lowland terrain, and mountainous terrain north-west of the [[Tees-Exe line]]. Mountain chains are found in the north-west ([[Cumbrian Mountains]] of the Lake District), north (the upland moors of the [[Pennines]] and [[limestone]] hills of the [[Peak District]]) and south-west ([[Exmoor]] and [[Dartmoor]]). Lower ranges include the [[limestone]] hills of the [[Isle of Purbeck]], [[Cotswolds]] and [[Lincolnshire Wolds]], and the [[chalk]] downs of the [[Southern England Chalk Formation]]. The main rivers and estuaries are the [[Thames]], [[Severn]] and the [[Humber|Humber Estuary]]. England's highest mountain is [[Scafell Pike]], which is in the [[Lake District]] {{convert|978|m|ft|0}}. England has a number of large towns and cities and, in terms of [[Larger Urban Zones in the European Union|Larger Urban Zones]], has six of the top 50 Zones in the European Union. [[Image:BenNevis2005.jpg|thumb|[[Ben Nevis]], in the [[Grampian Mountains (Scotland)|Grampian Mountains]], is the highest point in the [[British Isles]]]] [[Geography of Scotland|Scotland]] accounts for about a third of the total area of the UK, covering {{convert|78772|km2|sqmi|-1}}<ref>[http://www.scotland.org/about/fact-file/index.html Scotland Facts] www.scotland.org, accessed July 16th, 2008</ref>. The topography of Scotland is distinguished by the [[Highland Boundary Fault]]{{ndash}} a [[geologic fault|geological rock fracture]]{{ndash}} which traverses the Scottish mainland from [[Helensburgh]] to [[Stonehaven]]. The faultline separates two distinctively different regions; namely the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]] to the north and west and the [[Scottish lowlands|lowlands]] to the south and east. The more rugged Highland region contains the majority of Scotland's mountainous terrain, including the highest peak, [[Ben Nevis]], at {{convert|1344|m|ft|0}}. Lowland areas, in the southern part of Scotland, are flatter and home to most of the population, especially the narrow waist of land between the [[Firth of Clyde]] and the [[Firth of Forth]] known as the [[Central Lowlands|Central Belt]]. [[Glasgow]] is the largest city in Scotland, although [[Edinburgh]] is the [[Capital city|capital]] and political centre of the country. Scotland also has nearly eight hundred [[List of islands of Scotland|islands]], mainly west and north of the mainland, notably the [[Hebrides]], [[Orkney Islands]] and [[Shetland Islands]]. [[Geography of Wales|Wales]] accounts for less than a tenth of the total area of the UK, covering just {{convert|20758|km2|sqmi|-1}}. Wales is mostly mountainous though [[South Wales]] is less mountainous than North and Mid Wales. The main population and industrial areas are in [[South Wales]], consisting of the cities of [[Cardiff]], [[Swansea]] and [[Newport]] and surrounding [[South Wales Valleys]]. The highest mountains in Wales are in [[Snowdonia]], and include [[Snowdon]] (''Yr Wyddfa'' in Welsh), which, at 1,085&nbsp;m (3,560&nbsp;ft) is the highest peak in Wales. The 14 (or possibly 15) Welsh mountains over 3,000 feet (914&nbsp;m) high are known collectively as the [[Welsh 3000s]]. Wales borders England to the east and the sea in the other three directions: the [[Bristol Channel]] to the south, [[St George's Channel]] to the west, and the [[Irish Sea]] to the north. Wales has over 1,200&nbsp;km (750&nbsp;miles) of coastline. There are several [[island]]s off the Welsh mainland, the largest being [[Anglesey]] (''Ynys Môn'') in the northwest. [[Geography of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]] accounts for just {{convert|14160|km2|sqmi|-1}} and is mostly hilly. It includes [[Lough Neagh]], at {{convert|388|km2|sqmi|0}}, the largest body of water in the UK and [[Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/ni/geog.htm |title=Geography of Northern Ireland |publisher=University of Ulster |accessdate=2006-05-22}}</ref> The highest peak is [[Slieve Donard]] at {{convert|849|m|ft|0}} in the province's [[Mourne Mountains]]. === Cities and conurbations === {{main|List of largest United Kingdom settlements by population|List of conurbations in the United Kingdom}} The capitals of the individual countries of the UK are: [[Belfast]] (Northern Ireland), [[Cardiff]] (Wales), [[Edinburgh]] (Scotland) and [[London]] (England), which is also the capital of the UK as a whole. {{United Kingdom cities}} The largest conurbations are as follows: * [[Greater London Urban Area]] - 8.28 million * [[West Midlands conurbation]] - 2.28 million * [[Greater Manchester Urban Area]] - 2.24 million * [[West Yorkshire Urban Area]] - 1.50 million * [[Greater Glasgow]] - 1.17 million == Demography == {{main|Demography of the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups of the United Kingdom}} === Population, migration and ethnicity === [[Image:Populations of the nations in the United Kingdom.svg|right|thumb|The populations and percentage of total population in the four nations of the United Kingdom.]] At the April [[2001 UK Census]], the total population of the United Kingdom was 58,789,194, the third largest in the [[European Union]] (behind [[Germany]] and [[France]]), the fifth largest in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] and the twenty-first largest in the world. By mid-2006, this had been estimated to have increased to 60,587,300.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=6 |title=UK population approaches 60 million |publisher=Office for National Statistics |date=2005-08-25 |accessdate=2006-05-14}}</ref> Much of this increase was due to net [[immigration]] but was also due to a rising [[List of countries and territories by fertility rate|birth rate]] and increasing life expectancy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1857779,00.html |title=Rising birth rate, longevity and migrants push population to more than 60 million |publisher=The Guardian |date=2006-08-25 |accessdate=2006-08-25}}</ref> England's population by mid-2006 was estimated to be 50,762,900 making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world with 383 people resident per square kilometre.<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=760 Population] National Statistics </ref> About a quarter of the UK population lives in England's prosperous south-east and is predominantly urban and suburban,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/pyramids/pages/j.asp |title=Census 2001: South East |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=2006-05-14}}</ref> with an estimated 7,517,700 in the capital of London.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431860/subreports/pop_time_series/report.aspx |title=All people population: City of London |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=2006-08-31}}</ref> The mid-2006 estimates put Scotland's population at 5,116,900, Wales at 2,965,900 and Northern Ireland at 1,741,600<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=6 UK population grows to 60.6 million]National Statistics Online, Population estimates </ref> with much lower population densities than England. Compared to England's 383 people resident per square kilometre, the corresponding figures were 142 for Wales, 125 for Northern Ireland and just 65 for Scotland. In 2006, the average [[total fertility rate]] (TFR) across the UK was 1.84 children per woman,<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?ID=951 UK fertility highest since 1980]National Statistics Online, accessed April 26, 2008</ref> below the replacement rate of 2.1 but higher than the 2001 record low of 1.63. Within the UK, England and Wales, at 1.86, were both close to the UK average, but Scotland was lower at only 1.67. The UK's TFR was considerably higher during the 1960s 'baby boom', peaking at 2.95 children per woman in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=369|title=www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=369<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> The present day population of the UK is descended from varied ethnic stocks though mainly: [[Cruithne (people)|pre-Celtic]], [[Celts|Celtic]], [[Roman citizenship|Roman]], [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]], and the [[Normans]]. Since 1945, international ties forged by the [[British Empire]] have contributed to substantial immigration, especially from [[Africa]], [[Caribbean]] and [[South Asia]]. Since [[EU]] citizens are free to live and work in other EU member states, the accession of new to the EU of new member states from [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Eastern Europe]] in 2004 has resulted in rising immigration from these countries. As of 2008, the trend is reversing and many [[Poles]] are returning to [[Poland]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7374683.stm 'Why I left UK to return to Poland'], BBC News</ref> As of [[2001 British Census|2001]], 92.1% of the population identified themselves as White, leaving 7.9%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=764&Pos=4&ColRank=1&Rank=176 |title=Ethnicity: 7.9% from a non-White ethnic group |publisher=Office for National Statistics |date=2004-06-24 |accessdate=2007-04-02}}</ref> of the UK population identifying themselves as mixed race or [[ethnic minority]]. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right; font-size:95%;" !width="200px"| [[Ethnic group]] !! [[Population]] !! % of total* |- | align = "left"| [[White people|White]] || {{commas|54153898}} || 92.1%</tr> | align = "left"| [[Mixed race]] || {{commas|677117}} || 1.2%</tr> | align = "left"| [[India]]n || {{commas|1053411}} || 1.8%</tr> | align = "left"| [[Pakistan]]i || {{commas|747285}} || 1.3%</tr> | align = "left"| [[Bengali people|Bangladeshi]] || {{commas|283063}} || 0.5%</tr> | align = "left"| Other [[British Asian|Asian]] (non-Chinese) || {{commas|247644}} || 0.4%</tr> | align = "left"| Black [[Caribbean]] || {{commas|565876}} || 1.0%</tr> | align = "left"| [[Black African]] || {{commas|485277}} || 0.8%</tr> | align = "left"| [[Black people|Black]] (others) || {{commas|97585}} || 0.2%</tr> | align = "left"| [[Chinese people|Chinese]] || {{commas|247403}} || 0.4%</tr> | align = "left"| Other || {{commas|230615}} || 0.4%</tr> |- |colspan="3" align="left"| {{smaller|* Percentage of total UK population}} |} Ethnic diversity varies significantly across the UK. 30.4% of London's population<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do;jsessionid=ac1f930dce6eace0153cf12440ca609dc762c8ae598.e38OaNuRbNuSbi0Ma3aNaxiQbNiLe6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy?a=3&b=276743&c=London&d=13&e=13&g=325264&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1201351285750&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812&bhcp=1|title=Resident population estimates by ethnic group (percentages): London|publisher=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=2008-04-23}}</ref> and 37.4% of [[Leicester]]'s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276827&c=Leicester&d=13&e=13&g=394575&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1208962134759&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812|title=Resident population estimates by ethnic group (percentages): Leicester|publisher=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=2008-04-23}}</ref> was estimated to be non-white as of June 2005, whereas less than 5% of the populations of [[North East England]], Wales and the [[South West England|South West]] were from ethnic minorities according to the 2001 census.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/commentaries/ethnicity.asp|title=Census 2001 - Ethnicity and religion in England and Wales|publisher=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=2008-04-23}}</ref> As of 2007, 22% of primary school children and 17.7% of children at secondary school in [[England]] were from ethnic minority families.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/27/nschools127.xml |title=One fifth of children from ethnic minorities |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |author=Graeme Paton |date=2007-10-01 |accessdate=2008-03-28}}</ref> Britain's [[Immigration to the United Kingdom (1922-present day)|immigrant]] population will almost double in the next two decades to 9.1 million, a report said on January 31, 2008.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1577120/Britain-to-have-'9.1m-immigrants-by-2030'.html Britain to have '9.1m immigrants by 2030'], Telegraph</ref> In contrast with some other European countries, high [[Foreign-born population of Great Britain, 2001|foreign-born]] immigration is contributing to a rising population,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/immigration/story/0,,1852513,00.html |title=Immigration fails to stem European population loss |publisher=The Guardian |date=2006-08-17 |accessdate=2006-08-20}}</ref> accounting for about half of the population increase between 1991 and 2001. The latest official figures (2006) show net immigration to the UK of 191,000 (591,000 immigrants and 400,000 emigrants) up from 185,000 in 2005 (overall, there was a loss of 126,000 Britons and a gain of 316,000 foreign citizens).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=494235&in_page_id=1770|title=Half a million migrants pour into Britain in a year}}</ref><ref name=ONS>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1311 |title=International migration: Net inflow rose in 2004 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |date=2005-12-15 |accessdate=2006-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=260&Pos=2&ColRank=2&Rank=224 |title=International migration 2005: Net inflow 185,000 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |date=2006-11-02 |accessdate=2006-11-22}}</ref> One in six were from [[Eastern Europe]]an countries, with larger numbers coming from [[New Commonwealth]] countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/15/nemi115.xml|title=Emigration soars as Britons desert the UK}}</ref> Immigration from the [[Indian subcontinent]], mainly fuelled by family reunion, accounted for two-thirds of net immigration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006510002,00.html|title=1,500 migrants enter UK a day}}</ref> By contrast, at least 5.5 million British-born people are living abroad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ippr.org/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=509 |title=Brits Abroad: Mapping the scale and nature of British emigration |author=Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah and Catherine Drew |publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research |date=2006-12-11 |accessdate=2007-01-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/britsabroad |title=Brits Abroad |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6210358.stm |title=5.5&nbsp;m Britons 'opt to live abroad' |publisher=BBC News |date=2006-12-11 |accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref> The most popular emigrant destinations were [[Australia]], [[Spain]], [[France]], [[New Zealand]] and the [[U.S.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aol.in/news/story/2007042004189012000001/index.html|title=Indians largest group among new immigrants to UK}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/02/uimmigrants5005.xml|title=1500 immigrants arrive in Britain daily, report says}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,,1830838,00.html |title=Spain attracts record levels of immigrants seeking jobs and sun |publisher=The Guardian |date=2006-07-26 |accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref> A study by a city forecaster, however, contends that the above immigration figures are unreliable and that net immigration for 2005 was [[circa]] 400,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/05/nimm04.xml |title=Immigration 'far higher' than figures say |publisher=The Telegraph |date=2007-01-05 |accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref> Nonetheless, the proportion of foreign-born people in the UK population remains slightly below that of some other European countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=402 |title=Europe: Population and Migration in 2005 |author=Rainer Muenz |publisher=Migration Policy Institute |date=June 2006 |accessdate=2007-04-02}}</ref> In 2004, the number of people who became British citizens rose to a record 140,795 - a rise of 12% on the previous year. This number had risen dramatically since 2000. The overwhelming majority of new citizens come from [[Africa]] (32%) and [[Asia]] (40%), the largest three groups being people from [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and [[Somalia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4706862.stm|title=BBC Thousands in UK citizenship queue}}</ref> In 2006, there were 149,035 applications for British citizenship, 32% fewer than in 2005. The number of people granted citizenship during 2006 was 154,095, 5% fewer than in 2005. The largest groups of people granted British citizenship were from [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Somalia]] and the [[Philippines]].<ref>John Freelove Mensah, [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb0807.pdf Persons Granted British Citizenship United Kingdom, 2006], Home Office Statistical Bulletin 08/07, 22 May 2007, accessed 21 September 2007</ref> 21.9% of babies born in England and Wales in 2006 were born to mothers who were born outside the UK, (146,956 out of 669,601), according to official statistics released in 2007 that also show the highest [[List of countries and territories by fertility rate|birth rates]] for 26 years.<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=369 Fertility rate highest for 26 years]National Statistics, accessed April 13, 2008</ref> As in the rest of the European Union, however, the birth rate remains [[Sub-replacement fertility|below the replacement rate]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4768644.stm|title=The EU's baby blues|author=Clare Murphy|publisher=BBC News|date=2006-03-27|accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/09/nmigrant109.xml|title=Britain's highest birth rates among migrants|author=Ben Leapman|publisher=''Daily Telegraph''|date=2007-12-12|accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> When the [[EU]] enlarged further east in 2004 and again in 2007, this gave the right for nationals from countries like [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]], [[Lithuania]], and more recently [[Romania]] and [[Bulgaria]] to live in the UK.<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2008/06/polish-poles-immigration-soft 'Poles are a soft target'], New Statesman</ref> Figures published in August 2007 indicated that 682,940 people applied to the [[Worker Registration Scheme]] (for nationals of the central and eastern European states that joined the EU in May 2004) between [[1 May]] [[2004]] and [[30 June]] [[2007]], of whom 656,395 were accepted.<ref>Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue & Customs and Communities and Local Government, [http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/aboutus/accessionmonitoringmay04jun1.pdf Accession Monitoring Report: A8 Countries, May 2004-June 2007], [[21 August]] 2007, accessed [[26 August]] 2007.</ref> Self-employed workers and people who are not working (including students) are not required to register under the scheme so this figure represents a lower limit on immigration inflow. These figures do not indicate the number of immigrants who have since returned home, but 56% of applicants in the 12 months ending 30 June 2007 reported planning to stay for a maximum of three months, with net migration in 2005 from the new EU states standing at 64,000.<ref name=ONS/> Research suggests that a total of around 1 million people had moved from the new EU member states to the UK by April 2008, but that half this number have since returned home or moved on to a third country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ippr.org/members/download.asp?f=%2Fecomm%2Ffiles%2Ffloodgates%5For%5Fturnstiles%2Epdf|title=Floodgates or turnstiles? Post-EU enlargement migration flows to (and from) the UK|author=Naomi Pollard, Maria Latorre and Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah|publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research|date=2008-04-30|accessdate=2008-04-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7372025.stm|title=Half EU migrants 'have left UK'|publisher=BBC News|date=2008-04-30|accessdate=2008-04-30}}</ref> One in every four [[Poles]] in the UK is planning to remain for life, a survey has revealed.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-509042/One-Poles-Britain-plan-stay-life-says-survey.html One in every four Poles in Britain plan to stay for life, says survey]</ref> [[National Insurance Number]] data suggests that 2.5 million foreign workers moved to the UK to work (including those moving for short periods), the majority from EU countries, between 2002 and 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6913296.stm|title=UK gets 2.5m new foreign workers|Date=24 July 2007}}</ref> The UK government is currently introducing a new [[Points-based immigration system (United Kingdom)|points-based immigration system]] to replace the existing schemes for immigration from outside of the [[European Economic Area]]. === Languages === {{main|Languages of the United Kingdom}} [[Image:Anglospeak.svg|thumb|Countries where [[English language|English]] has ''de facto'' or ''de jure'' official language status.]] Though the UK does not ''[[de jure]]'' have an official language, the predominant [[spoken language]] is [[English language|English]], a [[West Germanic]] language descended from [[Old English]] featuring a large number of borrowings from [[Old Norse]], [[Norman language|Norman]] [[French language|French]] and [[Latin language|Latin]]. The English language has spread across the world (largely due to the British Empire) and has thus become [[International English|the business language of the world]]. Worldwide, it is [[English language learning and teaching|taught as a second language]] more than any other.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cepr.org/pubs/new-dps/dplist.asp?dpno=2055 |title=English-Language Dominance, Literature and Welfare |author=Jacques Melitz |publisher=Centre for Economic Policy Research |date=1999 |accessdate=2006-05-26}}</ref> The other indigenous languages of the UK are [[Scots language|Scots]] (which is closely related to English) and four [[Celtic languages]]. The latter fall into two groups: two P-Celtic languages ([[Welsh language|Welsh]] and [[Cornish language|Cornish]]); and two Q-Celtic languages ([[Irish language|Irish]] and [[Scottish Gaelic]]). Celtic dialectal influences from [[Cumbric]] persisted in Northern England for centuries, most famously in a unique set of numbers used for counting sheep (see [[Yan Tan Tethera]]). According to the 2001 census, just above 20% of the population of Wales claim to be able to speak Welsh which represents a slight increase on 1991. In addition, it is estimated that about 200,000 Welsh speakers live in England.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/voices/multilingual/welsh.shtml Welsh today by Prof. Peter Wynn Thomas]bbc.co.uk</ref> Welsh and Scottish Gaelic are also spoken by small groups around the globe with some [[Scottish Gaelic in Canada|Gaelic]] still spoken in [[Nova Scotia]], [[Canada]], and Welsh in [[Patagonia]], [[Argentina]]. Immigrant languages constitute for up to 10% of the UK's population, [[French language|French]] is spoken by 2.3% of the country's population, 1.0% of Britons speak [[Polish language|Polish]] reflecting the recent mass migration to the UK. 0.9% of the UK's population speak [[German language|German]] and 0.8% [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. The majority of other foreign languages spoken in the UK originate from [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[Africa]]. A large percentage of the immigrants to the UK come from [[Anglophone]] countries (such as [[Nigeria]], [[Jamaica]], [[Hong Kong]] and the [[Philippines]]), which is why there is not a great deal of diversity between some of the country's ethnic minority communities. === Religion === {{Main|Religion in the United Kingdom}} While the United Kingdom has a long tradition of [[Christianity]] and a link between [[Separation of church and state|church and state]] still remains in England, in practice the UK is a predominantly [[secular]] society with only 38%<ref name=Eurobarometer>{{PDFlink|[http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf Eurobarometer poll conducted in 2005]|1.64&nbsp;[[Mebibyte|MiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 1722129 bytes -->}}. Page 9. European Commission. Retrieved on [[7 December]] [[2006]]</ref> proclaiming a belief in a [[God]]. People identify themselves with [[religion]] in the UK for both cultural and religious reasons and this is reflected by the disparity between the figures for those proclaiming a belief in a [[God]] and those identifying themselves with a particular religion. Christianity has the largest number of adherents followed by Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism. ==== Christianity ==== [[Image:Westminster abbey west.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Westminster Abbey]] is used for the [[coronation]] of [[British Monarchs]], when they are also made the head of the [[Church of England]].]] [[Christianity]] is the major religion with many Christian [[churches]], [[denominations]], and [[groups]]. The [[Tearfund]] Survey<ref name=Tearfund_Survey>{{cite web |url=http://www.tearfund.org/webdocs/Website/News/Final%20churchgoing%20report.pdf |title=Tearfund Survey 2007 |accessdate=2007-05-05}}</ref> in 2007 revealed 53% identified themselves as Christian. The report compared this to the 2004 British Social Attitudes Survey in which the results were very similar,<ref name=BSAS2004>{{Citation |publication-date = 2006-02-20 |year = 2004 |title = British Social Attitudes Survey |publisher = National Centre for Social Research |url = http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/findingData/snDescription.asp?sn=5329 |accessdate = 2008-02-25 }}</ref> and to the 2001 UK Census in which 71.6% said that Christianity was their religion,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293 |title=UK Census 2001 |accessdate=2007-04-22}}</ref> although noting that the latter used "a softer question". The Church of England, which split from [[Roman Catholic Church|Rome]] in 1534 (see [[English Reformation]]) is, today, the '[[Established church|established]]' Church in England and the senior branch of the worldwide [[Anglican Communion]]. The [[British monarch]] is required to be a member of the Church of England under the [[Act of Settlement 1701]] and is its [[Supreme Governor of the Church of England|Supreme Governor]]. The [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] is the senior bishop of the Church. The direct influence of the [[Church of England]] has been on the decline for years, but the church retains a [[Lords Spiritual|representation]] in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] and the right to draft legislative measures (usually related to religious administration), through the [[General Synod]], that can be passed into law, but not amended by Parliament. The [[Church of Scotland]] (known informally as the [[Kirk]]), which broke with Rome in 1560 (see [[Calvinism]] and [[Scottish Reformation]]) is a [[Presbyterian]] church, recognised as the [[national church]] of Scotland, and not subject to state control. The British monarch is an ordinary member, and is required to swear an oath to "defend the security" of the Church at the coronation. The [[Scottish Episcopal Church]], which is now part of the Anglican Communion, dates from the final establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland in 1690, when it split from the Church of Scotland, and is not a 'daughter church' of the Church of England. Further splits in the Church of Scotland, especially in the nineteenth century, led to the creation of various other Presbyterian churches in Scotland, including the [[Free Church of Scotland]]. In the 1920s, the [[Church in Wales]] was separated from the Church of England and became '[[Disestablishment|disestablished]]'. The Church in Wales remains in the [[Anglican Communion]]. [[Methodism]] and other independent churches are traditionally strong in Wales. The Anglican [[Church of Ireland]] was disestablished in the nineteenth century. It covers the entire island of [[Ireland]] (both [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]). In Northern Ireland the [[Roman Catholicism in Ireland|Catholic Church in Ireland]] is the largest single denomination, although [[Protestant]]s are in the majority overall. The [[Presbyterian Church in Ireland]] is the largest Protestant denomination and is in terms of theology and history closely linked to the Church of Scotland The [[Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain|Roman Catholic Church]] is the second largest denomination of Christianity in the UK. After the [[Protestant Reformation]], strict laws were passed against Catholics; these were removed by the [[Catholic Emancipation]] laws in 1829. There are separate Catholic hierarchies for [[Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales|England and Wales]], [[Roman Catholic Church in Scotland|Scotland]] and [[Roman Catholic Church in Ireland|Ireland]]. Other large Christian groups include the [[Methodists]] (founded by [[John Wesley]] in London) and the [[Baptists]]. There are also growing [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] and [[Pentecostal]] churches, many of which have flourished with [[Immigration to the United Kingdom|immigration]] from around the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] and beyond. Pentecostal churches are now third after the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church in terms of church attendance.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article757934.ece 'Fringe' Church winning the believers] Timesonline, December 19, 2006</ref> ==== Other religions ==== [[Image:ELM and LMC Angled View 1.jpg|thumb|[[East London Mosque]], one of the country's largest Islamic places of worship.]] [[Islam in the United Kingdom|Muslims]] in the United Kingdom are believed to number 1.8 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3933-2299410,00.html |title=We need imams who can speak to young Muslims in their own words |accessdate=2006-08-09 |date=2006-08-05 |publisher=The Times}}</ref> [[Mosque]]s are present in most regions: The biggest groups are of [[Pakistani Briton|Pakistani]], [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]] and [[Indian British|Indian]] origin. More recently, [[refugees]] from [[Somalia]], [[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus|Northern Cyprus]], the [[Balkans]] and [[Arab]] countries have increased Britain's Muslim population. The 2006 controversy over the [[burqa]], brought up in comments by politician [[Jack Straw (politician)|Jack Straw]], reflects a split between some Britons [[Criticism of Islam|questioning Muslim integration]] with British society, and others who believe that wearing the veil is compatible with it, in Britain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/10/07/uk.straw/ |title=Veil: British papers back Straw |accessdate=2006-05-11 |date=2006-07-10 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> [[Indian religions|Religions of Indian origin]], such as [[Hinduism]], [[Sikhism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]] are followed in Britain. As of the 2001 census, there are about 560,000 Hindus and 340,000 Sikhs. [[Buddhism]] is practised by about 150,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/uk.asp |title=Census 2001 - Profiles |accessdate=2007-01-27 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> It is likely that these figures have increased since 2001. One [[non-governmental organisation]] estimates that there are 800,000 Hindus in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hinduism.iskcon.com/tradition/1212.htm |title=Hinduism in Britain today |publisher=International Society for Krishna Consciousness |accessdate=2007-04-22}}</ref> [[Leicester]] houses one of the world's few [[Jainism|Jain]] temples that are outside of India. There are approximately 270,000 [[History of the Jews in the United Kingdom|Jews in Britain]], according to the 2001 census.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/uk.asp |title=Census 2001 - Profiles |accessdate=2007-12-02 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> The United Kingdom has a large and growing [[atheist]] and [[agnostic]] population with 9.1 million (15% of the UK population) claiming [[irreligion|no religion]] in the 2001 census.<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=6590 Religion: 2001 Census] National Statistics website.</ref> == Economy == {{main|Economy of the United Kingdom|Banknotes of the pound sterling}} [[Image:HSBC Tower.jpg|thumb|The [[HSBC]] bank headquarters [[8 Canada Square]] in [[Canary Wharf]]. HSBC is the largest corporation in the world according to the [[Forbes Global 2000]] rankings.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 April 2008 |url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/18/biz_2000global08_The-Global-2000_Rank.html |title=Forbes Global 2000 |publisher=[[Forbes]] |accessdate=2008-04-09 }}</ref>]] [[Image:London.bankofengland.arp.jpg|thumb|The [[Bank of England]]; the [[central bank]] of the United Kingdom.]] The UK economy is made up (in descending order of size) of the economies of [[Economy of England|England]], [[Economy of Scotland|Scotland]], [[Economy of Wales|Wales]] and [[Economy of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland]]. The British started the [[Industrial Revolution]], and, like most industrialising countries at the time, initially concentrated on heavy industries such as [[shipbuilding]], [[coal mining]], [[steel]] production, and [[textiles]]. The empire created an overseas market for British products, allowing the United Kingdom to dominate international trade in the 19th century. However, as other nations industrialised, coupled with economic decline after two world wars, the United Kingdom began to lose its competitive advantage and heavy industry declined, by degrees, throughout the 20th century. The British service sector, however, has grown substantially, and now makes up about 73% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web |date=2006-04-26 |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=9333 |title=Index of Services (experimental) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=2006-05-24}}</ref> The service sector of the United Kingdom is dominated by [[financial services]], especially in banking and insurance. London is the world's largest financial centre with the [[London Stock Exchange]], the [[London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange]], and the [[Lloyd's of London]] insurance market all based in the [[City of London]]. It has the largest concentration of foreign bank branches in the world. In the past decade, a rival financial centre in London has grown in the [[London Docklands|Docklands]] area, with [[HSBC]] and [[Barclays plc|Barclays Bank]] relocating their head offices there. Many multinational companies that are not primarily UK-based have chosen to site their European or rest-of-world headquarters in London: an example is the US financial services firm [[Citigroup]]. The Scottish capital, [[Edinburgh]], has one of the large financial centres of [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marklazarowicz.org.uk/parliament/speeches2003/4.30(WH).htm |title=Debate on Scottish financial services industry |first=Mark |last=Lazarowicz (Labour MP) |date=2003-04-30 |accessdate=2006-05-16}}</ref> [[London]] is a major centre for [[International Business|international business]] and commerce and is the leader of the three "command centres" for [[The Global Economy|the global economy]] (along with [[New York City]] and [[Tokyo]]).<ref>{{cite book|author=[[Saskia Sassen|Sassen, Saskia]]|title=The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo|year=2001|publisher=Princeton University Press|edition=2nd edition}}</ref> In recent years, the UK economy has been managed in accordance with principles of market liberalisation and low taxation and regulation. Based on [[market]] [[exchange rate]]s, the United Kingdom is the fifth largest economy in the world,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2006/01/data/dbcoutm.cfm?SD=2005&ED=2005&R1=1&R2=1&CS=3&SS=2&OS=C&DD=0&OUT=1&C=512-941-914-446-612-666-614-672-311-946-213-137-911-962-193-674-122-676-912-548-313-556-419-678-513-181-316-682-913-684-124-273-339-921-638-948-514-686-218-688-963-518-616-728-223-558-516-138-918-353-748-196-618-278-522-692-622-694-156-142-624-449-626-564-628-283-228-853-924-288-233-293-632-566-636-964-634-182-238-453-662-968-960-922-423-714-935-862-128-716-611-456-321-722-243-965-248-718-469-724-253-576-642-936-643-961-939-813-644-199-819-184-172-524-132-361-646-362-648-364-915-732-134-366-652-734-174-144-328-146-258-463-656-528-654-923-336-738-263-578-268-537-532-742-944-866-176-369-534-744-536-186-429-925-178-746-436-926-136-466-343-112-158-111-439-298-916-927-664-846-826-299-542-582-443-474-917-754-544-698&S=NGDPD&CMP=0&x=31&y=8 |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |publisher=International Monetary Fund |date=2005 |accessdate=2006-05-15}}</ref> and the second largest in Europe after [[Germany]]. [[Tourism in the United Kingdom|Tourism]] is very important to the British economy. With over 27 million tourists arriving in 2004, the United Kingdom is ranked as the sixth major tourist destination in the world.<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.world-tourism.org/facts/eng/pdf/highlights/2005_eng_high.pdf International Tourism Receipts]|1.10&nbsp;[[Mebibyte|MiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 1160859 bytes -->}}. UNWTO Tourism Highlights, Edition 2005 Page 12. World Tourism Organisation. Retrieved on [[24 May]] [[2006]]</ref> The British manufacturing sector, however, has greatly diminished, relative to the economy as a whole, since World War II. It is still a significant part of the economy, but only accounted for one-sixth of national output in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dti.gov.uk/ministers/speeches/hewitt150704b.html |title=TUC Manufacturing Conference |author=Patricia Hewitt |publisher=Department for Trade and Industry |date=2004-07-15 |accessdate=2006-05-16}}</ref> The [[British motor industry]] is a significant part of this sector, although it has diminished with the collapse of [[MG Rover]] and most of the industry is foreign owned. Civil and defence aircraft production is led by the United Kingdom's largest aerospace firm, [[BAE Systems]], and the continental European firm [[EADS]], the owner of [[Airbus]]. [[Rolls-Royce plc|Rolls-Royce]] holds a major share of the global aerospace engines market. The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is strong in the UK, with the world's second and sixth largest pharmaceutical firms ([[GlaxoSmithKline]] and [[AstraZeneca]], respectively)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dti.gov.uk/sectors/biotech/pharmaceutical/page10219.html |title=The Pharmaceutical sector in the UK |accessdate=2007-02-27 |publisher=Department of Trade and Industry}}</ref> being based in the UK. The [[creative industries]] accounted for 7.3% GVA in 2004 and grew at an average of 5% per annum between 1997 and 2004.<ref>{{cite web |date=2007-03-09 |url=http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/70156235-8AB8-48F9-B15B-78A326A8BFC4/0/CreativeIndustriesEconomicEstimates2006.pdf |title=Creative Industries Economic Estimates |publisher=DCMS |accessdate=2007-03-09}}</ref> The United Kingdom's agriculture sector accounts for only 0.9% of the country's GDP.<ref>{{cite web |date=2005-02-28 |url=http://www.travlang.com/factbook/print/uk.html |title=CIA World Factbook - United Kingdom |publisher=CIA |accessdate=2007-02-08}}</ref> [[Image:Oil platform.jpg|thumb|right|[[North Sea oil|North Sea oil and gas]] supply most of the UK's energy needs.]] The UK has a small [[coal]] reserve along with significant [[natural gas]], and [[oil reserves]]. Government involvement throughout the economy is exercised by the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] (currently [[Alistair Darling]]) who heads [[HM Treasury]], but the [[Prime Minister]] (currently ''The Rt Hon'' [[Gordon Brown]] MP), is [[First Lord of the Treasury]]; the Chancellor of the Exchequer is the Second Lord of the Treasury. However since 1997, the [[Bank of England]], headed by the [[Governor of the Bank of England]], has control of interest rates and other monetary policy. As of 2007, United Kingdom's [[government debt]] rose to 43.3% of [[GDP]].<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html#Econ United Kingdom - Economy] CIA - The World Factbook</ref> The currency of the UK is the [[pound sterling]], represented by the symbol '''[[Pound sign|£]]'''. The [[Bank of England]] is the [[central bank]], responsible for issuing currency. Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland retain the right to issue their own notes, subject to retaining enough Bank of England notes in reserve to cover the issue. The UK chose not to join the [[euro]] at the currency's launch, and the British Prime Minister, ''The Rt Hon'' Gordon Brown MP, has ruled out membership for the foreseeable future, saying that the decision not to join had been right for Britain and for Europe.<ref>{{cite web |date=2007-07-24 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2127640.ece |title=Puritanism comes too naturally for 'Huck' Brown |publisher=Times Online |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> The government of former Prime Minister Tony Blair had pledged to hold a public referendum for deciding membership should "[[five economic tests]]" be met. In 2005, more than half (55%) of the UK were against adopting the currency, while 30% were in favour.<ref>{{cite web |date=[[2005-02-28]] |url=http://www.mori.com/polls/2005/citigroup-feb.shtml |title=EMU Entry And EU Constitution |publisher=MORI |accessdate=2006-05-17}}</ref> == Education == {{main|Education in the United Kingdom}} {{seealso|Education in England|Education in Scotland|Education in Wales|Education in Northern Ireland}} [[Image:KingsCollegeChapelWest.jpg|thumb|[[King's College, Cambridge|King's College]], part of the [[University of Cambridge]], [[England]].]] Each country of the United Kingdom has a separate education system, with power over education matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland being devolved. [[Education in Scotland]] is the responsibility of the [[Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning]], with day to day administration and funding of state schools being the responsibility of Local Authorities. Qualifications at the secondary school and [[post-secondary education|post-secondary]] ([[further education]]) level are provided by the [[Scottish Qualifications Authority]] and delivered through various schools, colleges and other centres. Scotland first legislated for universal provision of education in 1696. The proportion of children in Scotland attending private schools is just over 4% though it has been rising slowly in recent years.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6563167.stm Increase in private school intake] BBC News April 17th, 2007</ref>Scottish students who attend Scottish universities pay neither tuition fees nor graduate endowment charges as the fees were abolished in 2001 and the graduate endowment scheme was abolished in 2008.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7268101.stm MSPs vote to scrap endowment fee] BBC News, February 28, 2008</ref> [[Education in England]] is the responsibility of the [[Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families]] and the [[Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills]], though the day to day administration and funding of state schools is the responsibility of [[Local Education Authority|Local Education Authorities]]. Universal state education in England and Wales was introduced for primary level in 1870 and secondary level in 1900.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.humana.org/Article.asp?TxtID=223&SubMenuItemID=183&MenuItemID=43 |title=United Kingdom |publisher=Humana |accessdate=2006-05-18}}</ref> Education is mandatory from ages five to sixteen (15 if born in late July or August). The majority of children are educated in state-sector schools, only a small proportion of which select on the grounds of academic ability. Despite a fall in actual numbers, the proportion of children in England attending [[private school]]s has risen to over 7%.<ref>[http://education.guardian.co.uk/publicschools/story/0,,2208553,00.html Private school pupil numbers in decline] guardian.co.uk November 9th, 2007</ref> Just over half of students at the leading universities of [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] and [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] had attended state schools.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6905288.stm More state pupils in universities] BBC News, July 19th, 2007</ref> State schools which are allowed to select pupils according to intelligence and academic ability can achieve comparable results to the most selective private schools: out of the top ten performing schools in terms of GCSE results in 2006 two were state-run [[grammar schools]]. England has some of the top universities in the world with [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], and [[University of London|London]] ranked amongst the top 20 in the 2007 [[THES - QS World University Rankings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/hybrid.asp?typeCode=144|title=The top 200 world universities|publisher=''Times Higher Education''|date=2007-11-09|accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>There are fears, however, that a decline in England in the number studying a foreign language will have a negative effect on business, and has led to calls for languages to be given greater priority.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4442223.stm|title=news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4442223.stm<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/6960432.stm|title=news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/6960432.stm<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> The [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] is responsible for [[education in Northern Ireland]] though responsibility at a local level is administered by 5 Education and Library Boards covering different geographical areas. The [[National Assembly for Wales]] has responsibility for [[education in Wales]]. A significant number of students in Wales are educated either wholly or largely through the medium of [[Welsh language|Welsh]] and lessons in the language are compulsory for all until the age of 16. There are plans to increase the provision of Welsh Medium schools as part of the policy of having a fully bi-lingual Wales. The [[Programme for International Student Assessment]] ranked the UK 14th in science which was higher than the OECD average. [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf] == Healthcare == {{main|Healthcare in the United Kingdom}} [[Image:NorfolkAndNorwichUniversityHospital(KatyAppleton)Aug2005.jpg|thumb|right|[[Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital]], the first [[Private Finance Initiative|PFI funded]] hospital, built in 2001]] Each country of the United Kingdom has a separate public healthcare system, with power over the provision of health services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland being devolved. Though each provides healthcare that is generally free to patients, being funded from general taxation, considerable differences are now developing between the different systems.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7149423.stm NHS now four different systems] [[BBC]] [[January 2]], [[2008]]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7457357.stm A four-way split on the NHS] BBC News, July 4, 2008</ref> A much smaller private medical system also exists. The UK and devolved governments take on both the role of suppliers of public healthcare and assessors of the quality of its delivery. Various regulatory bodies are organised on a UK-wide basis such as the [[General Medical Council]], the [[Nursing and Midwifery Council]] and non-governmental-based (e.g. [[Royal College]]s). Across the UK, there is a large number of [[medical school]]s and [[dental school]]s, and a considerable establishment for training [[nurse]]s and professions allied to medicine. Though the public health systems are commonly referred to as the NHS across the UK, in fact the [[National Health Service (England)|National Health Service]] just covers England. The NHS was set up by the [[National Health Service Act 1946]] and came into effect on July 5th 1948. The [[Secretary of State for Health]] is answerable to the UK Parliament for the running of the [[Department of Health]] and for the work of the NHS (in England). The NHS is one of the largest cohesive organisations of any type in the world employing over 1.3 million people.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6450303.stm NHS workforce 'falls by 11,000'] BBC News, March 14, 2007</ref> Public sector healthcare delivery consists of primary ([[General Practice]]), secondary ([[district general hospital]]) and tertiary ([[teaching hospital]]) levels of service. There is considerable interaction and cross-flow between the various levels. [[NICE]] advices on whether drugs or treatments should be provided by the NHS. [[Healthcare in Scotland]] is mainly provided by [[NHS Scotland]], Scotland's public healthcare system. The service was founded by the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1947 (later repealed by the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978) that took effect on July 5th, 1948 to coincide with the launch of the NHS in England and Wales. In 2006, the NHS in Scotland had around 158,000 staff including more than 47,500 nurses, midwives and health visitors and over 3,800 consultants. In addition, there were also more than 12,000 doctors, family practitioners and allied health professionals, including dentists, opticians and community pharmacists, who operate as independent contractors providing a range of services within the NHS in return for fees and allowances.<ref>[http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/introduction.aspx About the NHS in Scotland] NHS Scotland</ref> The [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]] responsible to the Scottish Parliament for the work of NHS Scotland. [[Healthcare in Wales]] is mainly provided by [[NHS Wales]]. It was originally formed as part of the same NHS structure created by the [[National Health Service Act 1946]] but powers over the NHS in Wales came under the Secretary of State for Wales in 1969.<ref>[http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?pid=11595&orgid=452 Introduction to NHS Wales 1960's] www.wales.nhs.uk </ref> In turn, responsibility for NHS Wales was passed to the Welsh Assembly and Executive under devolution in 1999. NHS Wales provides public healthcare in Wales and employs some 90,000 staff, making it Wales’ biggest employer.<ref>[http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?pid=11590&orgid=452 Introduction to NHS Wales - Staff] www.wales.nhs.uk </ref> The Minister for Health and Social Services is the person within the Welsh Assembly Government who holds cabinet responsibilities for both health and social care in Wales. [[Healthcare in Northern Ireland]] is mainly provided by the [[Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety]]. == Transport == <!--Please add information on communications systems--> {{main|Transport in the United Kingdom}} [[Image:Bb-forthrailbridge.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Forth Railway Bridge|Forth Bridge]], [[Scotland]]: an iconic feature of the [[Network Rail|rail network]]]] [[Image:Aircraft at LHR T3-2.JPG|thumb|[[Heathrow Airport]] is the [[World's busiest airports by international passenger traffic|world's busiest airport]] in terms of numbers of international passengers.]] The transport systems in the United Kingdom are the responsibility of each individual country. The English [[transport]] network is the responsibility of the UK [[Department for Transport]] (which also has responsibility for some transport matters in [[Scotland]], [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]] that are not devolved) with the [[Highways Agency]] being the [[executive agency]] responsible for trunk roads and motorways in England apart from the privately owned and operated [[M6 Toll]] <ref>[http://www.m6toll.co.uk/faqs/default.asp?mainmenuid=6 M6Toll Frequently asked questions] www.m6toll.co.uk, accessed July 13th, 2008</ref> . The Department for Transport states that [[traffic congestion]] is one of the most serious transport problems and that it could cost England an extra £22 billion in wasted time by 2025 if left unchecked.<ref> {{ cite web |title = Tackling congestion on our roads |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/roadcongestion/ |publisher = Department for Transport }}</ref> According to the government-sponsored [[Eddington Transport Study|Eddington report]] of 2006, congestion is in danger of harming the economy, unless tackled by [[road pricing]] and expansion of the transport network.<ref> {{ cite web |title = Delivering choice and reliability |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/speeches/congestion |publisher = Department for Transport }} </ref><ref> {{ cite web |title = The Eddington Transport Study |author = Rod Eddington |year = 2006 |month = December |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/transportstrategy/eddingtonstudy/ |publisher = UK Treasury }} </ref> The Scottish [[transport]] network is the responsibility of the [[Scottish Government's Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department]] with [[Transport Scotland]] being the [[Executive agencies of the Scottish Government|Executive Agency]] that is accountable to the [[Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth]] for Scotland's trunk roads and rail networks.<ref>[http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ Transport Scotland - Keeping Scotland moving] www.transportscotland.gov.uk, accessed July 1st, 2008 </ref> Scotland's rail network has around 340 railway stations and 3,000 kilometres of track with over 62 million passenger journeys made each year.<ref>[http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail Trasnport Scotland - Rail] www.transportscotland.gov.uk, accessed July 10th, 2008</ref> Across the UK, there is a radial road network of {{convert|46904|km|mi|0}} of main roads with a motorway network of {{convert|3497|km|mi|0}}. There are a further {{convert|213750|km|mi|0}} of paved roads. The [[Network Rail|rail network]] of 16,116 km (10,072 miles) in Great Britain and 303&nbsp;route&nbsp;km (189 route&nbsp;mi) in [[Northern Ireland]] carries over 18,000 passenger trains and 1,000 freight trains daily. Urban rail networks are well developed in London and other cities. There was once over 48,000 route&nbsp;km (30,000 route&nbsp;mi) of rail network in the UK, however most of this was reduced over a time period from 1955 to 1975, much of it after a report by a government advisor [[Richard Beeching]] in the mid 1960s (known as the [[Beeching Axe]]). Plans are now being considered to built new high speed lines by 2025.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7467203.stm Major new rail lines considered] BBC News, June 21, 2008 </ref> [[Heathrow Airport]] is the world's busiest international [[airport]] and, being an island country, the UK has a considerable number of sea ports. == Sport == {{main|Sport in the United Kingdom}} Many major [[sport]]s originated in the United Kingdom, including [[association football|football]], [[rugby football|rugby]], [[cricket]], [[tennis]] and [[golf]]. === Football === {{main|Football in the United Kingdom}} [[Image:Wembley Stadium closeup.jpg|thumb|right|England's new [[Wembley Stadium]]. It is the most expensive stadium ever built.<ref name="Daily Mail - stadium ready">{{cite news | date=2007-03-09 | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=441182 | title=Wembley kick-off: Stadium is ready and England play first game in fortnight | work=[[Daily Mail]] | accessdate=2007-03-19}}</ref>]] Like many team sports, football is organised on a separate basis for each of the countries of the United Kingdom and each has its own Football Association, national team and [[league system]], though a few clubs play outside their country's respective systems for a variety of historical and logistical reasons. [[Association football|Football]] was developed in the UK and is comfortably the most popular sport. [[England national football team|England]], [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]], [[Wales national football team|Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] compete as separate countries in international competition and, as a consequence, the UK does not compete as a single team in football events at the [[Olympic Games]]. Although there are [[United Kingdom national football team|proposals to have a UK team]] take part in the [[2012 Summer Olympic Games]], which are to be held in London, the [[Scottish FA|Scottish]], [[Welsh FA|Welsh]] and [[Irish Football Association|Northern Irish]] football associations have declined to participate, fearing that it would undermine their independent status - a fear confirmed by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/football/7286011.stm|title=Blatter against British 2012 team|publisher=BBC News|date=2008-03-09|accessdate=2008-04-02}}</ref> England has been the most successful of the home nations, winning the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] in 1966. [[Image:Hampden Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hampden Park]], Scotland]] The [[English football league system]] includes hundreds of inter-linked leagues, consisting of thousands of divisions. The [[FA Premier League]] is at the top, followed by The Football League and then the [[Football Conference]], where the structure starts to become regional and includes the [[Northern Premier League]], the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]], the [[Isthmian League]] and more besides. The [[English Premier League|Premiership]] is the most-watched football league in the world and is particularly popular in [[Asia]]; in the [[People's Republic of China]], matches attract television audiences between 100 million and 360 million, more than any other foreign sport.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3207829.stm |title=Chinese phone maker's fancy footwork |publisher=BBC News |date=2003-10-27 |accessdate=2006-08-09}}</ref> England is home to world-renowned football clubs such as [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. English teams have been successful in European Competitions including some who have become European Cup/UEFA Champions League winners: [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] (five times), [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] (three times), [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] (twice) and [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. More clubs from England have won the European Cup than any other country (four compared to three from Italy, Germany and the Netherlands). Moreover, England ranks second in the all time list of European club trophies won with 35, one behind Italy's 36. The European Cup competition itself was brought about due to the success of another English club, [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]], against top European sides<ref>http://galeb.etf.bg.ac.yu/~mirad/archive.html EuroCups Archive</ref> in the 1950s. The 90,000 capacity [[Wembley Stadium]] is the principal sporting stadium of England. [[Image:Millennium Stadium North.jpg|thumb|100px|[[Cardiff]]'s [[Millennium Stadium]], national stadium of [[Wales]]]] The [[Scottish football league system]] is much smaller, with just two national leagues: the [[Scottish Premier League]] (SPL) and the [[Scottish Football League]] which has three divisions. There are, however, other regional leagues that are not connected to the national system, most notably the [[Highland Football League]]. One English club, [[Berwick Rangers F.C.|Berwick Rangers]], plays in the Scottish system. Scotland is home to world-renowned football clubs such as [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] and [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]. Scottish teams that have been successful in European Competitions include [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] (European Cup in 1967), [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] (European Cup Winners Cup 1972) and [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] (European Cup Winners Cup and [[European Super Cup]] in 1983). The [[Welsh football league system]] includes the [[Welsh Premier League]] and regional leagues. Welsh Premiership club [[The New Saints F.C.|The New Saints]] play their home matches on the English side of the border in [[Oswestry]]. The Welsh clubs of [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], [[Colwyn Bay F.C.|Colwyn Bay]], [[Merthyr Tydfil F.C.|Merthyr Tydfil]], [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]], [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] and [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] play in the English system. Cardiff's 76,250 seater [[Millennium Stadium]] is the principal sporting stadium of Wales. The [[Northern Irish football league system]] includes the [[Irish Football League]]. One Northern Irish club, [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]], plays their football outside of the UK in the [[FAI League of Ireland|Republic of Ireland football league system]]. === Other sports === [[Image:Wimbledon Grojean 2004 RJL.JPG|thumb|The [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] Championships, a [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] tournament, is held in [[Wimbledon, London]] every July.]] [[Image:Royal & Ancient Clubhouse.jpg|thumb|[[The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews]], generally regarded as the world's "Home of Golf".]] Both forms of rugby are national sports. [[Rugby league]] originates from and is generally played in the [[Northern England]], while [[rugby union]] is played throughout the UK. Though supposedly originating from the actions of [[William Webb Ellis]] at the School at [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], it is now considered the national sport of Wales. In [[rugby league]] the UK has been represented by a single 'Great Britain' team but this will change for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in which Scotland, England and Ireland will compete as separate nations.<ref>[http://www.rlwc08.com/ Official Website of Rugby League World Cup 2008]</ref> This bring it into line with rugby union in which England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (which consists of players from [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and Northern Ireland) already compete in international competition. However, every four years a [[British and Irish Lions]] team tours Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, composed of players selected from all the Home nations. There is no UK-wide [[cricket]] team. The game was invented in [[England]] and the England Cricket Team, technically the England and Wales team, is the only national team in the UK with Test status. [[Sport in Ireland|Irish]] and [[Cricket in Scotland|Scottish]] players have played for [[England]] because neither Scotland nor Ireland have Test status and only play in One Day Internationals. As of 2006, teams representing [[Scotland national cricket team|Scotland]], [[England national cricket team|England (and Wales)]], and [[Ireland national cricket team|Ireland]] (including Northern Ireland) compete at the One-Day International level. England and Wales has a professional [[County Championship|league championship]] in which County teams compete. [[Snooker]] is also one of Great Britain's sporting exports. A high-skill game similar to [[billiards]], the world championships are held annually in [[Sheffield]]. The sport continues to expand worldwide, with huge growth in China. The game of [[tennis]] first originated from the City of [[Birmingham]] between 1859 and 1865. The [[Wimbledon Championships]] are international [[tennis]] events held in [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]] in south London every summer and are regarded as the most prestigious event of the global tennis calendar. [[Thoroughbred racing]] is popular throughout the UK. It originated under [[Charles II of England]] as the "Sport of Kings" and is a royal pastime to this day. World-famous horse races include the [[Grand National]], the [[Epsom Derby]] and [[Royal Ascot]]. The town of [[Newmarket, Suffolk|Newmarket]] is considered the centre of English racing, largely due to the famous [[Newmarket Racecourse]]. The UK has proved successful in the international sporting arena in [[rowing (sport)|rowing]]. It is widely considered that the sport's most successful rower is [[Steven Redgrave]] who won five gold medals and one bronze medal at five consecutive [[Olympic Games]] as well as numerous wins at the [[World Rowing Championships]] and [[Henley Royal Regatta]]. Golf is one of the most popular participation sports played in the UK, with [[St Andrews]] in Scotland being the sport's home course. [[Shinty|Shinty (or ''camanachd'')]] (A sport derived from the same root as the [[Ireland|Irish]] [[hurling]] and similar to [[bandy]]) is popular in the [[Scottish Highlands]], sometimes attracting crowds numbering thousands in the most sparsely populated region of the UK. The UK is closely associated with [[motorsport]]. Many teams and drivers in [[Formula One]] (F1) are based in the UK and drivers from Britain have won more world titles than any other country. The country hosts legs of the F1 and [[World Rally Championship]] and has its own [[Touring Car Racing]] championship, the [[British Touring Car Championship]] (BTCC). The [[British Grand Prix]] takes place at [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]] each July. [[Dancesport]] or competitive Ballroom dancing has its origins in the UK when popular dancing at the time was codified by British dance schools from the 1920s onwards. For example, the Slow Waltz is still known as the English Waltz which is now as distinct from its original roots as its name, the Viennese Waltz. The UK remains a major centre for the sport and Ballroom dancing in general with the Empress Ballroom at the [[Winter Gardens]] in [[Blackpool]] being a popular venue for major competitions. == Culture == {{main|Culture of the United Kingdom}} The origins of the UK as a [[political union]] of formerly [[Independence|independent]] countries has resulted in the preservation of distinctive cultures in each of the [[home nations]]. For details, see articles on:[[Culture of England]], [[Culture of Scotland]], [[Culture of Wales]], [[Culture of Northern Ireland]]. === Cinema === {{main|Cinema of the United Kingdom}} The United Kingdom has been influential in the development of cinema, with the [[Ealing Studios]] claiming to be the oldest studios in the world. Despite a history of important and successful productions, the industry is characterised by an ongoing debate about its identity, and the influences of American and European cinema. The [[BFI Top 100 British films]] is a poll conducted by the [[British Film Institute]] which ranks what they consider to be the 100 greatest British films of all time. === Literature === {{main|British literature}} [[Image:Shakespeare.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Chandos portrait]], believed to depict [[William Shakespeare]].]] [[Image:Robert burns.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Robert Burns]]]] 'British literature' refers to [[literature]] associated with the United Kingdom, the [[Isle of Man]] and the [[Channel Islands]] as well as to literature from [[England]], [[Wales]] and [[Scotland]] prior to the formation of the United Kingdom. The English playwright and poet [[William Shakespeare]] is widely regarded as the greatest dramatist of all time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9109536 |title=Encyclopedia Britannica article on Shakespeare |accessdate=2006-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562101/Shakespeare.html |title=MSN Encarta Encyclopedia article on Shakespeare |accessdate=2006-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://columbia.thefreedictionary.com/Shakespeare,+William |title=Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia article on Shakespeare |accessdate=2006-02-26}}</ref> Among the earliest English writers are [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]] (12th century), [[Geoffrey Chaucer]] (14th century), and [[Thomas Malory]] (15th century). In the 18th century, [[Samuel Richardson]] is often credited with inventing the modern novel. In the 19th century, there followed further innovation by [[Jane Austen]], the [[Brontë|Brontë sisters]], the social campaigner [[Charles Dickens]], the [[naturalism (literature)|naturalist]] [[Thomas Hardy]], the visionary poet [[William Blake]] and romantic poet [[William Wordsworth]]. Twentieth century writers include the science fiction novelist [[H. G. Wells]], the controversial [[D. H. Lawrence]], the [[Modernists|modernist]] [[Virginia Woolf]], the prophetic novelist [[George Orwell]] and the poet [[John Betjeman]]. Most recently, the children's fantasy [[Harry Potter]] series by [[J. K. Rowling]] has recalled the popularity of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]. Scotland's contribution includes the detective writer [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], romantic literature by [[Sir Walter Scott]], the epic adventures of [[Robert Louis Stevenson]] and the celebrated poet [[Robert Burns]]. More recently, the modernist and nationalist [[Hugh MacDiarmid]] and [[Neil M. Gunn]] contributed to the [[Scottish Renaissance]]. A more grim outlook is found in [[Ian Rankin]]'s stories and the psychological horror-comedy of [[Iain Banks]]. Scotland's capital, [[Edinburgh]], is UNESCO's first worldwide city of literature. In the early medieval period, Welsh writers composed the [[Mabinogion]]. In modern times, the poets [[R.S. Thomas]] and [[Dylan Thomas]] have brought Welsh culture to an international audience. Authors from other nationalities, particularly from Ireland, or from [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, have lived and worked in the UK. Significant examples through the centuries include [[Jonathan Swift]], [[Oscar Wilde]], [[Bram Stoker]], [[George Bernard Shaw]], [[Joseph Conrad]], [[T. S. Eliot]] and [[Ezra Pound]], and more recently British authors born abroad such as [[Kazuo Ishiguro]] and Sir [[Salman Rushdie]]. In theatre, Shakespeare's contemporaries [[Christopher Marlowe]] and [[Ben Jonson]] added depth. More recently [[Alan Ayckbourn]], [[Harold Pinter]], [[Michael Frayn]], [[Tom Stoppard]] and [[David Edgar (playwright)|David Edgar]] have combined elements of surrealism, realism and radicalism. === Media === {{main|Media in the United Kingdom}} The prominence of the English language gives the UK media a widespread international dimension. ==== Broadcasting ==== {{main|Television in the United Kingdom}} [[Image:BBC Television Centre.JPG|thumb|[[BBC Television Centre]]. The BBC is the largest and oldest broadcaster in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC website: ''About the BBC - What is the BBC'' |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/purpose/what.shtml |accessdate=2008-06-14}}</ref> ]] [[Image:Channel 4 Building - Horseferry Road - London - 310504.jpg|thumb|The Channel 4 building.]] There are five major nationwide television channels in the UK: [[BBC One]], [[BBC Two]], [[ITV]], [[Channel 4]] and [[Five (channel)|Five]] - currently transmitted by analogue terrestrial, free-to-air signals with the latter three channels funded by commercial advertising. In Wales, [[S4C]] the Welsh Fourth Channel replaces Channel 4, carrying Welsh language programmes at peak times. It also transmits Channel 4 programmes at other times. The [[BBC]] is the UK's publicly funded [[radio]], [[television]] and [[internet]] broadcasting corporation, and is the oldest and largest broadcaster in the world. It operates several [[BBC Television|television channels]] and [[BBC Radio|radio]] stations in both the UK and abroad. The BBC's international television news service, [[BBC World]], is broadcast throughout the world and the [[BBC World Service]] radio network is broadcast in thirty-three languages globally, as well as services in Welsh on [[BBC Radio Cymru]] and programmes in Scottish Gaelic in Scotland and Irish in Northern Ireland. The domestic services of the BBC are funded by the [[television licence]], a legal requirement for any British household with a television receiver that is in use to receive broadcasts, regardless of whether or not the householders watch BBC channels. Households which are the principal residence of any person over 75 are exempt<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/agedover74s.jsp|title=TV licensing: aged over 74}}</ref> and the requirement does not extend to radio listeners. The BBC World Service Radio is funded by the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] and the television stations are operated by [[BBC Worldwide]] on a commercial subscription basis over cable and satellite services. It is this commercial arm of the BBC that forms half of [[UKTV]] along with [[Virgin Media]]. The UK now has a large number of digital terrestrial channels including a further six from the BBC, five from ITV and three from Channel 4, and one from S4C which is solely in Welsh, among a variety of others. The vast majority of digital [[cable television]] services are provided by [[Virgin Media]] with [[satellite television]] available from [[Freesat]] or [[BSkyB]] and [[free-to-air]] digital terrestrial television by [[Freeview (United Kingdom)|Freeview]]. The entire country [[Digital switchover in the United Kingdom|will switch to digital]] by 2012. [[Radio in the United Kingdom|Radio in the UK]] is dominated by [[BBC Radio]], which operates ten national networks and over forty local radio stations. The most popular radio station, by number of listeners, is [[BBC Radio 2]], closely followed by [[BBC Radio 1]]. There are hundreds of mainly local commercial radio stations across the country offering a variety of music or talk formats. ==== Print ==== Traditionally, [[List of newspapers in the United Kingdom|British newspapers]] could be split into ''quality'', serious-minded newspaper (usually referred to as "[[broadsheets]]" due to their large size) and the more populist, ''[[tabloid]]'' varieties. For convenience of reading, many traditional broadsheets have switched to a more [[Compact (newspaper)|compact]]-sized format, traditionally used by [[tabloid]]s. [[The Sun (newspaper)|''The Sun'']] has the highest circulation of any daily newspaper in the UK, with approximately a quarter of the market; its sister paper, ''[[The News of The World]]'' similarly leads the Sunday newspaper market,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,1782,00.html |title=ABC Newspaper Circulation Figures |publisher=The Times |date=2006-05-12 |accessdate=2006-05-16}}</ref> and traditionally focuses on celebrity-led stories. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', a [[Right-wing politics|right wing]] broadsheet paper, has overtaken ''[[The Times]]'' (tabloid size format) as the highest-selling of the "quality" newspapers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.org.uk/ |title=Audit Bureau of Circulation Interactive Analysis National Newspaper Selection - Average Net Circulation (UK) 03-Jul-2006 to 30-Jul-2006 | accessdate=2006-09-04}} Lists the circulation of ''Daily Telegraph'' as 844,929 and ''The Times'' as 620,456.</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' is a more [[Liberalism in the United Kingdom|liberal]] "quality" broadsheet. The ''[[Financial Times]]'' is the main business paper, printed on distinctive salmon-pink broadsheet paper. First printed in 1737, the ''[[The News Letter|Belfast News Letter]]'' is the oldest known English-language daily newspaper still in publication today. One of its fellow Northern Irish competitors, ''[[The Irish News]]'', has been twice ranked as the best regional newspaper in the United Kingdom, in 2006 and 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newspaperawards.co.uk/default.htm |title=The Newspaper Awards |accessdate=2007-05-19}}</ref> Aside from newspapers, British magazines and journals have achieved worldwide circulation including ''[[The Economist]]'' and ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]''. Scotland has a distinct tradition of newspaper readership (see [[List of newspapers in Scotland]]). The tabloid [[Daily Record]] has the highest circulation of any daily newspaper outselling the Scottish Sun by 4-1 while its sister paper, the [[Sunday Mail]] similarly leads the Sunday newspaper market. The leading "quality" daily newspaper in Scotland is [[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]], though it is the [[Scotsman]]'s sister paper, the [[Scotland on Sunday]] that leads in the Sunday newspaper market.<ref>[http://www.business7.co.uk/business-news/breaking-business-news/2008/02/11/scottish-newspaper-readership-falls-97298-20316075/ Scottish newspaper readership falls] Business7, February 11, 2008</ref> === Music === {{main|British Music}} [[Image:Beatlessullivantogether.jpg|thumb|[[The Beatles]] were and still are considered one of the world's greatest bands.]] '''Classical music:''' Notable composers from the United Kingdom have included [[William Byrd]], [[Henry Purcell]], [[Sir Edward Elgar]], [[Sir Arthur Sullivan]] (most famous for working with librettist [[Sir W. S. Gilbert]]), [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]], and [[Benjamin Britten]], pioneer of modern British [[opera]]. London remains one of the major [[classical music]] capitals of the world. '''Popular music:''' Prominent among the UK contributors to the development of [[rock music]] in the 1960s and 1970s were [[The Beatles]], [[Pink Floyd]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[The Who]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]], and [[Black Sabbath]]. [[Heavy metal]], [[hard rock]], [[punk rock]] and [[New Wave (music)|New Wave]] were among the variations that followed. In the early 1980s, UK bands from the [[New Romantic]] scene such as [[Duran Duran]], [[Depeche Mode]], [[Spandau Ballet]], [[Soft Cell]] and [[Ultravox]] were prominent. In the 1990s, [[Britpop]] bands and [[electronica]] music attained international success. More recent pop acts, including [[The Smiths]], [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], [[Amy Winehouse]], [[Coldplay]], and the [[Spice Girls]], have ensured the continuation of the UK's massive contribution to popular music. === Philosophy === The United Kingdom is famous for the tradition of "British Empiricism", a branch of the philosophy of knowledge that states that only knowledge verified by experience is valid. The most famous philosophers of this tradition are [[John Locke]], [[George Berkeley]] and [[David Hume]]. Britain is notable for a theory of moral philosophy, Utilitarianism, first used by [[Jeremy Bentham]] and later by [[John Stuart Mill]], in his short work ''[[Utilitarianism (book)|Utilitarianism]]''. Other eminent philosophers from the UK and the countries that preceded it include [[William of Ockham]], [[Thomas Hobbes]], [[Bertrand Russell]], [[Adam Smith]] and [[Alfred Ayer]]. Foreign born philosophers who settled in the UK include [[Isaiah Berlin]], [[Karl Marx]], [[Karl Popper]], and [[Ludwig Wittgenstein]]. === Science, engineering and innovation === [[Image:GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sir Isaac Newton]]]] [[Image:Charles Darwin aged 51.jpg|thumb|right|[[Charles Darwin]]]] The modern scientific method was promoted by the English philosopher [[Francis Bacon]] in the early seventeenth century, and subsequent advances credited to British scientists and engineers include: * The [[Newton's laws of motion|laws of motion]] and illumination of [[gravity]], by [[Sir Isaac Newton]] in the late 17th century * The unification of electromagnetism, by [[James Clerk Maxwell]] * The discovery of [[hydrogen]], by [[Henry Cavendish]] * The [[steam locomotive]], by [[Richard Trevithick]] and [[Andrew Vivian]] * The [[telephone]], by [[Alexander Graham Bell]] * Evolution by [[natural selection]], by [[Charles Darwin]] * The [[Turing machine]], by [[Alan Turing]], the basis of modern computers * The structure of [[DNA]], by [[Francis Crick]] and others * The development of the [[World Wide Web#Origins|World Wide Web]], largely attributed to [[Tim Berners-Lee]] Notable [[civil engineering]] projects, whose pioneers included [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]], contributed to the world's first national railway transport system. Other advances pioneered in the UK include the [[marine chronometer]], [[television]], the [[jet engine]], the modern [[bicycle]], [[electric lighting]], the [[electric motor]], the [[screw propeller]], the [[internal combustion engine]], military [[radar]], the electronic [[computer]], [[vaccination]] and [[antibiotics]]. Scientific journals produced in the UK include ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'', the ''[[British Medical Journal]]'' and ''[[The Lancet]]''. In 2006, it was reported that the UK provided 9% of the world's scientific research papers and a 12% share of citations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/research/story/0,,1736095,00.html |title=Britain second in world research rankings |publisher=The Guardian |date=2006-03-21 |accessdate=2006-05-14}}</ref> === Visual art === {{main|Art of the United Kingdom}} The [[Royal Academy]] is located in London. Other major schools of art include the [[Slade School of Art]]; the six-school [[University of the Arts, London]], which includes the [[Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design]] and [[Chelsea College of Art and Design]]; the [[Glasgow School of Art]], and [[Goldsmiths, University of London]]. This commercial venture is one of Britain's foremost visual arts organisations. Major British artists include [[Sir Joshua Reynolds]], [[Thomas Gainsborough]], [[John Constable]], [[William Blake]], [[J. M. W. Turner]], [[William Morris]], [[L.S. Lowry]], [[Francis Bacon]], [[Lucian Freud]], [[David Hockney]], [[Gilbert and George]], [[Richard Hamilton]], [[Peter Blake]], [[Howard Hodgkin]], [[Antony Gormley]], and [[Anish Kapoor]]. During the late 1980s and 1990s, the [[Saatchi Gallery]] in London brought to public attention a group of multigenre artists who would become known as the [[Young British Artists]]. [[Damien Hirst]], [[Chris Ofili]], [[Rachel Whiteread]], [[Tracy Emin]], [[Mark Wallinger]], [[Steve McQueen (artist)|Steve McQueen]], [[Sam Taylor-Wood]], and the [[Chapman Brothers]] are among the better known members of this loosely affiliated movement. == Symbols == {{further|[[Symbols of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man]]}} * The [[flag of the United Kingdom]] is the [[Union Flag]] commonly known as the "Union Jack". It was created by the superimposition of the flags of [[Flag of England|England]] ([[St George's Cross]]) and [[Flag of Scotland|Scotland]] ([[Saint Andrew's Cross]]), with the [[Saint Patrick's cross]], to represent Ireland, being added to this in 1801. [[Wales]] is not represented in the Union Flag as Wales had been conquered and annexed to England prior to the formation of the United Kingdom. However, the possibility of redesigning the Union Flag to include representation of Wales has not been completely ruled out.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7114248.stm Welsh dragon call for Union flag] BBC News, November 27, 2007 </ref> * The [[national anthem]] of the United Kingdom is "[[God Save the King]]", with "King" replaced with "Queen" in the lyrics whenever the monarch is female. The anthem's name, however, remains "God Save the King". [[Image:Britannia-Statue.jpg|thumb|The Statue of [[Britannia]] in [[Plymouth]].]] * [[Britannia]] is a [[National personification|personification]] of the United Kingdom, originating from the [[Roman occupation of Britannia|Roman occupation]] of southern and central Great Britain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.24carat.co.uk/britanniaframe.html |title=Britannia on British Coins |publisher=Chard |accessdate=2006-06-25}}</ref> Britannia is symbolised as a young woman with brown or golden hair, wearing a [[Corinthian helmet]] and white robes. She holds [[Poseidon]]'s three-pronged trident and a [[shield]], bearing the Union Flag. Sometimes she is depicted as riding the back of a lion. At and since the height of the British Empire, Britannia has often associated with maritime dominance, as in the patriotic song ''[[Rule Britannia]]''. * The [[lion]] symbol is depicted behind Britannia on the [[British fifty pence coin|50 pence]] piece and one is shown crowned on the back of the [[10p|10 pence]] piece. It is also used as a symbol on the non-ceremonial flag of the [[British Army]]. * The [[bulldog]] is sometimes used as a symbol of [[Great Britain]], and has been associated with [[Winston Churchill]]'s defiance of Nazi Germany. === National symbols within the United Kingdom === {{main|National symbols of Scotland}} * A number of 'national anthems' are used for the individual countries of the UK with varying degrees of popular acceptance, the most popular being [[Flower of Scotland]], [[Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau]] in Wales, [[Londonderry Air]] in Northern Ireland and [[And did those feet in ancient time|Jerusalem]] in England. * [[Lion]]s have been used as [[heraldic device]]s, including in the royal arms of the kingdoms of [[Coat of Arms of England|England]], [[Royal coat of arms of Scotland|Scotland]] and [[Kingdom of Gwynedd]] in [[Wales]]. The lion is featured on the emblem of the [[England national football team]], giving rise to the popular football anthem ''[[Three Lions]]'', and the [[England national cricket team]]. The "three lions" on the English coat of arms were originally two leopards. An extra leopard was added by [[Richard the Lionheart]] and with the help of his name, they became known as three lions. They are now drawn to look more like lions. Leopards are traditionally depicted lying down whereas lions were drawn standing on all fours or up on their hind legs attacking, as in the Scottish [[Lion Rampant]]. * England (and sometimes Britain) has been personified as the character [[John Bull]], although this character is rarely used in modern times. * The [[oak]] tree and the [[rose]] have long been a widely used proxy for the visual representation of English identity. The red rose is the emblem of the [[England national rugby union team]] and the [[Rugby Football Union]]. * The [[thistle]] is widely used as a Scottish symbol. * The [[daffodil]] and [[leek]] are used as Welsh symbols. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Flag !! Country !! Patron saint !! Flower |- | {{flagicon|England}} || [[England]] || [[Saint George|St. George]] || [[Tudor rose]] |- | {{flagicon|Scotland}} || [[Scotland]] || [[Saint Andrew|St. Andrew]] || [[Thistle]] |- | {{flagicon|Wales}} || [[Wales]] || [[Saint David|St. David]] || [[Leek]]/[[Daffodil]] |- | || [[Northern Ireland]] || [[Saint Patrick|St. Patrick]] || [[Shamrock]]/[[Flax]] |} There is no official National [[flag of Northern Ireland]] following the [[Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973]] or any unofficial flag universally supported in Northern Ireland. The use of various flags in Northern Ireland is contentious. However, the [[Ulster Banner]] is often used for sporting events. See [[Northern Ireland flags issue]] and [http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-04474.pdf The Union Flags and flags of the United Kingdom]</div> == See also == {{main|List of United Kingdom-related topics|List of basic United Kingdom topics}} {{United Kingdom topics}} == References == {{reflist|2}} == Footnotes == {{refbegin}} {{Note|1}} In the United Kingdom and Dependencies, [[Languages in the United Kingdom|other languages]] have been officially recognised as legitimate [[Autochthonous language|autochthonous]] [[regional language|(regional) languages]] under the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]]. In each of these, the UK's official name is as follows:<br />{{lang-kw|Rywvaneth Unys Breten Veur ha Kledhbarth Iwerdhon}}; {{lang-ga|Ríocht Aontaithe na Breataine Móire agus Thuaisceart Éireann}}; {{lang-sco|Unitit Kinrick o Graet Breetain an Northren Irland}}; {{lang-gd|Rìoghachd Aonaichte Bhreatainn Mhòir agus Èireann a Tuath}}; {{lang-cy|Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon}}.<br /> {{Note|2}} This is the royal motto. In Scotland, the royal motto is the [[Scots language|Scots]] phrase [[In My Defens God Me Defend]] (Shown in the abbreviated form "IN DEFENS"). There is a variant form of the coat-of-arms for use in Scotland; see [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom]].<br />{{Note|3}} It serves as the [[de facto]] [[National Anthem]] as well as being the [[Royal anthem]] for several other countries.<br />{{Note|4}} [[English language|English]] is established by [[de facto]] usage. In [[Wales]], the [[Welsh Language Board|Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg]] is tasked with ensuring that, "in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice, the English and [[Welsh language|Welsh]] languages should be treated on a basis of equality".<ref name=language_welsh1>{{cite web |url=http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/welsh_language/?lang=en |title=Welsh Language |publisher=Welsh Assembly |accessdate=2007-03-09}}</ref><ref name=language_welsh2>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1993/Ukpga_19930038_en_2.htm |title=Welsh Language Act 1993 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |accessdate=2007-03-09}}</ref> [[Bòrd na Gàidhlig]] is tasked with "securing the status of the [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]] language as an [[official language]] of [[Scotland]] commanding equal respect to the English language".<ref name=language_gaelic>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/50007--a.htm#1 |title=Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |accessdate=2007-03-09}}</ref><br /> {{Note|5}}Under the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]] the Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, [[Cornish language|Cornish]], [[Irish language|Irish]], [[Ulster Scots]] and [[Scots language|Scots]] languages are officially recognised as [[Regional language|Regional]] or [[Minority language|Minority]] languages by the [[United Kingdom Government|UK Government]].<ref>Scottish Executive [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCulture/gaelic/gaelic-english/17910/europeancharter "European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages"] Updated 13/06/06 retrieved 23/08/07</ref> See also [[Languages in the United Kingdom]].<br />{{Note|6}} [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html#Econ CIA Factbook]. Official estimate provided by the UK [[Office for National Statistics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?ID=6 |title=Population Estimates |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=2007-03-09}}</ref><br />{{Note|7}} [[ISO 3166-1 alpha-2]] is [[Great Britain|GB]], but [[.gb]] is practically unused. The [[.eu]] domain is shared with other [[European Union]] member states. {{refend}} == External links == {{sisterlinks|United Kingdom}} {{wikiatlas|United Kingdom}} * [http://www.royal.gov.uk/ Official website of the British Monarchy] * [http://www.direct.gov.uk/ Official website of the United Kingdom Government] * [http://www.visitbritain.com/ Official tourist guide to Britain] * [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5703 Official Yearbook of the United Kingdom] * [http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page823.asp "Countries within a country"] from the [http://www.number-10.gov.uk Official Website of the British Prime Minister] * [http://dataranking.com/country.cgi?LG=e&CO=29 Economic & Social Data Ranking/ United Kingdom] * {{wikitravel}} <!-- Please discuss links on the talk page before adding them to this list - remember to read the WP:EL guideline.--> <br clear="both" /> {{Navboxes |list1= {{Template group |title = [[Image:Nuvola filesystems www.png|25px]] Geographic locale |list = {{United Kingdom constituents and affiliations}} {{Countries of Europe}} {{British Isles}} }} {{Template group |title = European Union |list = {{Members of the European Union (EU)}} }} {{Template group |title = International organisations |list = {{Commonwealth of Nations}} {{Anglophone states}} {{English official language clickable map}} {{Commonwealth Realms}} {{Council of Europe}} {{Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) }} {{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)|state=collapsed}} {{G8 nations}} {{UN Security Council}} {{Monarchies}} {{coor title d|52|N|1|W|region:GB_scale:100000000}} }} }} <!--Categories--> [[Category:United Kingdom| ]]<!--An article should be at the top of its own category, so please do not remove the space. Thank you.--> [[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]] [[Category:Constitutional monarchies]] [[Category:Island countries]] [[Category:G8 nations]] [[Category:1801 establishments]] [[Category:Liberal democracies]] [[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations]] {{Link FA|ta}} {{Link FA|yi}} <!--Interwikis--> [[af:Verenigde Koninkryk]] [[als:Grossbritannien und Nordirland]] [[am:ዩናይትድ ኪንግደም]] [[ang:Geānlǣht Cynerīce]] [[ar:المملكة المتحدة]] [[an:Reino Unito]] [[arc:ܡܠܟܘܬܐ ܚܕܝܬܐ]] [[roa-rup:Britania Mare]] [[frp:Royômo-Uni]] [[ast:Reinu Xuníu]] [[az:Böyük Britaniya]] [[bn:যুক্তরাজ্য]] [[zh-min-nan:Liân-ha̍p Ông-kok]] [[ba:Бөйөк Британия]] [[be:Вялікабрытанія]] [[be-x-old:Вялікабрытанія]] [[bi:United Kingdom]] [[bar:Großbritannien]] [[bs:Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo]] [[br:Rouantelezh Unanet Breizh-Veur ha Norzhiwerzhon]] [[bg:Обединено кралство Великобритания и Северна Ирландия]] [[ca:Regne Unit]] [[cv:Аслă Британи]] [[ceb:Hiniusang Gingharian]] [[cs:Spojené království]] [[co:Regnu Unitu]] [[cy:Y Deyrnas Unedig]] [[da:Storbritannien]] [[de:Vereinigtes Königreich]] [[dv:ޔުނައިޓެޑް ކިންގްޑަމް]] [[dsb:Wjelika Britaniska]] [[dz:ཡུ་ནའི་ཊེཊ་ཀིང་ཌམ་]] [[et:Suurbritannia]] [[el:Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο]] [[es:Reino Unido]] [[eo:Unuiĝinta Reĝlando]] [[ext:Réinu Uniu]] [[eu:Erresuma Batua]] [[fa:پادشاهی متحده]] [[fo:Stóra Bretland]] [[fr:Royaume-Uni]] [[fy:Grut-Brittanje]] [[fur:Ream Unît]] [[ga:An Ríocht Aontaithe]] [[gan:英國]] [[gv:Reeriaght Unnaneysit]] [[gd:An Rìoghachd Aonaichte]] [[gl:Reino Unido - United Kingdom]] [[zh-classical:英國]] [[hak:Yîn-koet]] [[ko:영국]] [[hy:Միավորված Թագավորություն]] [[hi:संयुक्त राजशाही (ब्रिटेन)]] [[hsb:Wulkobritaniska]] [[hr:Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo]] [[io:Unionita Rejio]] [[ilo:Pagarian ti Britania ken Umamianan nga Irlandia]] [[bpy:তিলপারাজ্য]] [[id:Britania Raya]] [[ia:Regno Unite]] [[ie:Reyatu Unit]] [[os:Стыр Британи]] [[is:Bretland]] [[it:Regno Unito]] [[he:הממלכה המאוחדת]] [[jv:Britania Raya]] [[kl:Tuluit Nunaat]] [[pam:United Kingdom]] [[kn:ಯುನೈಟೆಡ್ ಕಿಂಗ್‍ಡಮ್]] [[ka:გაერთიანებული სამეფო]] [[csb:Wiôlgô Britanijô]] [[kk:Құрама Патшалық]] [[kw:Rywvaneth Unys]] [[rw:Ubwongereza]] [[sw:Ufalme wa Muungano wa Britania na Eire ya Kaskazini]] [[ht:Wayòm Ini]] [[ku:Yekîtiya Keyaniyê ya Brîtanya Mezin û Bakurê Îrlandê]] [[la:Britanniarum Regnum]] [[lv:Apvienotā Karaliste]] [[lb:Groussbritannien an Nordirland]] [[lt:Jungtinė Karalystė]] [[lij:Regno Unïo]] [[li:Vereineg Keuninkriek]] [[ln:Ingɛlɛ́tɛlɛ]] [[jbo:ritygu'e]] [[hu:Egyesült Királyság]] [[mk:Обединетото Кралство]] [[ml:യുണൈറ്റഡ് കിങ്ഡം]] [[mt:Renju Unit]] [[mi:Kīngitanga Kotahi]] [[ms:United Kingdom]] [[cdo:Ĭng-guók]] [[mn:Нэгдсэн Вант Улс]] [[nah:Tlacetilīlli Huēyitlahtohcāyōtl]] [[nl:Verenigd Koninkrijk]] [[nds-nl:Verienigd Keuninkriek]] [[ne:संयुक्त अधिराज्य]] [[ja:イギリス]] [[nap:Gran Vretagna]] [[ce:Великобритани]] [[no:Storbritannia]] [[nn:Storbritannia]] [[nrm:Rouoyaume Unni]] [[nov:Unionati Regia]] [[oc:Reialme Unit]] [[uz:Birlashgan Qirollik]] [[ps:برطانيه]] [[pms:Regn Unì]] [[nds:Grootbritannien un Noordirland]] [[pl:Wielka Brytania]] [[pt:Reino Unido]] [[crh:Büyük Britaniya]] [[ty:Paratāne]] [[ksh:Jrußbrittannije]] [[ro:Regatul Unit]] [[rmy:Phandlo Thagaripen la Bare Britaniyako thai le Nordutne Irlandesko]] [[rm:Reginavel Unì da la Gronda Britannia ed Irlanda dal Nord]] [[qu:Hukllachasqa Qhapaq Suyu]] [[ru:Великобритания]] [[sc:Rennu Auniadu]] [[sco:Unitit Kinrick]] [[sq:Britania e Madhe]] [[scn:Regnu Unitu]] [[simple:United Kingdom]] [[sk:Spojené kráľovstvo]] [[cu:Велика Британїꙗ]] [[sl:Združeno kraljestvo Velike Britanije in Severne Irske]] [[szl:Wjelgo Brytańja]] [[sr:Уједињено Краљевство]] [[sh:Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo]] [[su:Britania]] [[fi:Yhdistynyt kuningaskunta]] [[sv:Storbritannien]] [[tl:United Kingdom]] [[ta:ஐக்கிய இராச்சியம்]] [[kab:Langliz]] [[tet:Reinu Naklibur]] [[th:สหราชอาณาจักร]] [[vi:Vương quốc Liên hiệp Anh và Bắc Ireland]] [[tg:Подшоҳии Муттаҳида]] [[tpi:Yunaitet Kingdom]] [[tr:Birleşik Krallık]] [[udm:Великобритания]] [[uk:Велика Британія]] [[ur:برطانیہ]] [[vec:Regno Unìo]] [[vo:Regän Pebalöl]] [[fiu-vro:Ütiskuningriik]] [[vls:Verênigd Keunienkryk]] [[war:Reino Unido]] [[wo:Nguur-Yu-Bennoo]] [[wuu:英国]] [[yi:פאראייניגטע קעניגרייך]] [[zh-yue:英國]] [[cbk-zam:Reinos Unidos de Gran Britania y Norte Irelandia]] [[diq:Britanya Gırde]] [[zea:Vereênigd Konienkriek]] [[bat-smg:Jongtėnė Karalīstė]] [[zh:英国]]