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2000 United Kingdom Travel Views – Politics
5.1 Domestic Political Climate
The UK has two heads of state, the Prime Minister and the Queen.
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with a hereditary Chief of State, Queen Elizabeth II, and a Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Like the United States, the UK has a bicameral legislature, which consists of the House of Lords whose members are hereditary peers, life peers, and religious personnel; and the House of Commons whose members are popularly elected.
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View of Parliament at Dusk |
Two main political parties dominate Parliament: the center-left Labour Party, which has been in the majority (44.5%) since 1997, and the center-right Conservative (or Tory) Party (31%). The remainder of Parliament's seats are held by the Liberal Democratic Party (17%) and other small nationalist parties (a total of 7.5%).
Sources: The Economist Intelligence Unit (2000). United Kingdom Country Report.; CIA World Factbook (1999).
The UK domestic political scene is focused on the upcoming general election.
The next general election is tentatively scheduled for the second quarter of 2001. While Mr. Blair has lost some popularity, the Labour Party continues to rank high (45% approval rating, over 32% for the Conservatives) in opinion polls. The Labour Party is expected to maintain its control of the national government in 2001, though it fared poorly in 1999 local elections in Scotland and Wales. These returns have been blamed on low voter turnout due in part to constituent apathy as a result of the UK's current buoyant economy. In general, good economic times are less likely to produce high voter turnout, since voters feel that the current government is meeting their needs.
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit (2000). United Kingdom Country Report.
The Tories are mobilizing a right-wing political program to challenge the Blair government in the upcoming election.
The Conservative Party, under the leadership of William Hague, is mobilizing an election platform that will appeal to voters who want to preserve English sovereignty and are opposed to European unity. The Conservative Party opposes European common currency, is not favorable to migration and asylum and promotes free-market economics. In general, core Conservative voters, known as Tories, tend to be skeptical of EU consolidation.
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit (2000). United Kingdom Country Report.
5.2 Foreign Policy and European Integration
While the United Kingdom is a member of the European Union, it has long resisted regional integration.
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While the United Kingdom is a member of the European Union, it has long resisted regional integration. During the 1970s and 1980s, the UK, under Conservative leadership, became progressively more hostile to European integration, though the UK did sign the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, which served to develop the current EU single market framework. However, the UK chose to omit the clause that endorsed the European Monetary Unit. Since the ascension of the Labour Party to the majority government under the leadership of Tony Blair, the UK has become more accepting of European integration. The UK will probably choose to adopt the Euro in the near future, unless the Conservatives manage an upset in the upcoming election.
The United States and the UK are strong allies.
The United Kingdom is also a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and played a significant role in the recent Kosovo and Gulf War military campaigns, as well as peacekeeping missions in Bosnia. Since 1945, the UK has maintained a "special relationship" with the United States, valuing the US as its closest ally. In recent years, the U.S. has encouraged the UK to expand its relationship with the rest of Europe. |
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Sources: The Economist Intelligence Unit (2000). United Kingdom Country Report.; CIA World Factbook (1999). |
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