UK's Government

All of the history and points of UK politics is good information. However, one small point should be mentioned.

When Labour came into office in 1997 the held reforendums for devolution in Scotland and Wales (giving the two countries greater power to run themselves). I'm not sure how the Welsh are doing, but the SNP are now the strongest party here and appear to be doing a decent job, though when it comes to a general Election I'm not sure how it will go.

It can get confusing here at times. Brown is the PM for all the nations, and Labour hold over all control in central government (Westminster). At one time all decisions come from there, but since 1997 Scotland and Wales have more of a say in the way things are run. I guess it's a little like the way you have States, if I am correct they run themselves but the Federal(?) government has last say. I'm not sure about Wales or NI. But there are diferences in health care, for example presriptions are cheaper in Scotland than in England by nearly £2.00, eventually the Scottish parliament intends to phase out prescription charges altogether. Ther are several more differences, but I think it can said that Scotland has partial independance, more than that of Wales, not sure about NI. It I think that is easiest way I can think of explaining our set up, there are other who could give you greater and better deatail.

huldah153 said:

Everyone knows now that they lied. The British weapons expert Dr. David Kelly made a few public comments which did not support Blair's claims. He was later found dead in a wood. It was claimed that he had committed suicide by cutting his wrists and bleeding to death but the ambulance men at the scene said there was very little blood. No one in possession of the facts believes it was suicide. He was undoubtedly murdered.

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Thank you! I have never, *ever* understood why more wasn't made of this. He and the BBC publicly challenged the government regarding their "jusitification" for going to war, and within days, he was found dead. But it was on the news for like a day, then disappeared.

Things like that happening always seem very (no offense intended) American - the stuff of movies. And in the film, someone risks life and limb to prove it was murder and the entire government is brought down. But here, nothing like that has happened. But I really believe he was murdered by the government and that's such a scary thing to contemplate; almost as much as the fact that millions of people probably couldn't even tell you his name anymore

Robin Cook, onetime Foreign Secretary, denounced government policy over Iraq. He died suddenly of a coronary so we were told but there are those who believe that he was murdered too.

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Seriously? This one seems more conspiracy-theoryish than Dr Kelly, somehow. I can't see this one being true.

Strong in Him said:

And just to add to the confusion - the PM and his chancellor are both Scottish! Not that that disqualifies them from holding office, but it does seem a tad ironic that the Scots want independence from England, when we have a Scottish PM.

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Let's not forget that Scotland is also represented by having MP's in Edinburgh and London. I presume that it is the same for the Welsh assembly?