The History Book Club discussion

This is a thread which presents an introduction to British Government. Please feel free to discuss any people, events, topics, books, podcasts, videos or articles which explain the role of the British Government and how it works.

GV311 (2013/14) Week 1: Introduction to British Government

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH1v6...

And these are the slides to have printed out when you watch this course for week one. You cannot see the slides unless you print them out.

http://www.lse.ac.uk/assets/richmedia...

Source: The London School of Economics
Professor Simon Hix and Tony Travers

Simon Hix


Simon Hix is a British political scientist born 5 September 1968. He is Professor of European and Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the author of several books, including What's Wrong with the European Union and How to Fix It, Democratic Politics in the European Parliament with Abdul Noury and Gerard Roland, and The Political System of the European Union.

He obtained a PhD in Political and Social Science at the European University Institute in Florence 1995, and lectured in European Politics at Brunel University 1996-97, before joining the LSE in 1997. His main areas of research are voting in parliaments, democratic institutions, and EU politics.

Books:

The Political System of the European Union (2011), 3rd edn, with Bjørn Høyland, London: Palgrave.

by Simon Hix (no photo)

What’s Wrong with the European Union and How to Fix It (2008), London: Polity.

by Simon Hix (no photo)

Democratic Politics in the European Parliament (2007), with Abdul Noury and Gérard Roland, Cambridge

by Simon Hix (no photo)

The Political System of the European Union (2005), 2nd edn, London: Palgrave.

by Simon Hix (no photo)

The European Parliament at Fifty. Special issue of Journal of Common Market Studies 41(2) (2003), with Roger Scully (eds).

Not in goodreads - but found pdf: http://personal.lse.ac.uk/hix/Working...

Europeanised Politics? European Integration and National Political Systems (2001), with Klaus Goetz (eds), London: Frank Cass.

by Simon Hix (no photo)

The Political System of the European Union (1999), London: Palgrave.

by Simon Hix (no photo)

Political Parties in the European Union (1997), with Christopher Lord, London: Macmillan.

by Simon Hix (no photo)

More:
http://personal.lse.ac.uk/hix/
http://www.lse.ac.uk/government/whosW...

Simon Hix on Merkel and the EU

Simon Hix discusses Angela Merkel's recent visit to London and Britain's future within the EU.

http://youtu.be/GhAYIeylipc

Tony Travers



Professor Tony Travers is a British academic and journalist, specialising in issues affecting local government. He is the director of "LSE London", a research group at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He contributes a regular column to the Local Government Chronicle and has also written for The Guardian, The Evening Standard, The Independent, the Financial Times and The Times. He has published a number of books on cities and government.

Travers has held a number of official posts. From 1992 to 1997, he was a member of the Audit Commission and between 1999 and 2004, he was a Senior Associate of the King's Fund. He has advised the House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee and the Committee on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. He was also a member of the Urban Task Force Working Group on Finance.

Failure in British Government: The Politics of the Poll Tax


by David Butler and Tony Travers

The Politics of London: Governing an Ungovernable City

by Tony Travers

Other:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/researchAndExper...

At the Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/profile/to...

More:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/researchAndExper...

The British Civil Service: An Introduction

by Robert Pyper (no photo)

Synopsis:

An introduction to the historical development, nature, organization and role of the British civil service and an analysis of its importance as a political institution. The key precepts of permanency, neutrality and ministerial responsibility are outlined and a comparison made between the British civil service and other executives. The book also covers changes occurring in the civil service as a result of the Ibbs Report and the Next Steps Initiative, and looks at the relationship between Whitehall and Brussels. Up-to-date coverage includes the recent institutional changes and proposals for further reform.

Thanks Jill.

You are more than welcome. The British Civil Service is interesting as it does not mirror that of the US>

One thing I find interesting is that the British Government does not have a Constitution.

The UK is often said to have an ‘uncodified’ constitution because it has no single written constitutional document and I guess Irsrael, New Zealand are in the same boat.

What's Wrong with the British Constitution

by Iain McLean (no photo)

Synopsis:

In this provocative new study, Iain McLean argues that the traditional story of the British constitution does not make sense.

It purports to be both positive and normative: that is, to describe both how people actually behave and how they ought to behave. In fact, it fails to do either; it is not a correct description and it has no persuasive force. The book goes on to offer a reasoned alternative.

The position that still dominates the field of constitutional law is that of parliamentary sovereignty (or supremacy). According to this view, the supreme lawgiver in the United Kingdom is Parliament. Some writers in this tradition go on to insist that Parliament in turn derives its authority from the people, because the people elect Parliament. An obvious problem with this view is that Parliament, to a lawyer, comprises three houses: monarch, Lords, and Commons. The people elect only one of those three houses. This book aims to show, contrary to the prevailing view, that the UK exists by virtue of a constitutional contract between two previously independent states.

Interesting tidbit in course intro

One of the interesting tidbits in the intro to the British Government course is one that Simon Hix relates as to why Tony Blair who on the day he left being Prime Minister converted to Catholicism and did not do it before. Tony Blair always went to church with his wife and was a practicing Catholic but when he wanted to convert was told that he could not do so while he was Prime Minister because it would cause a constitutional crisis because it is the Prime Minister who appoints the Arch Bishop of Canterbury and a Catholic cannot appoint the head of the Church of England.

And he was further told that if he did this before he left office it would invariably lead to a discussion in England about the separation of church and state which would be extremely messy while he was trying to accomplish everything else. He decided not to cause a constitutional crisis. England has never had a Prime Minister who is not Protestant.

Bizarre - but a very true story which shows in effect that our founding fathers had it right - separation of church from state and no monarchs.

Simon Hix (no photo)

Tony Blair

Another thing that is very interesting is the lack of the separation of powers such as we have in the United States.

What is the House of Lords?

Video:

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

Source: www.parliament.uk

Introduction to Parliament

Video:

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

Source: www.parliament.uk

What Parliament Does?

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

Women In Politics:

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

Parliament and Government:

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

Source: www.parliament.uk

The Budget


Hushed in secrecy and carried in a bright red briefcase, the Chancellor's Budget reveals the government's tax proposals and spending plans.

Revealing the Budget

Every spring Members of Parliament (MPs) pack the House of Commons Chamber to hear the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the government's minister in charge of finance, deliver the Budget Speech.

MPs, press and other observers listen carefully for:

Spending announcements
What kinds of things does the government plan to spend taxpayers' money on?

Tax proposals
How will it pay for its plans? Will there be changes in the amount of tax being collected from people and businesses?

The Chancellor's economic outlook
How does the government expect the UK economy to perform in the coming year?

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

Source: www.parliament.uk

The State Opening of Parliament:

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

Source: www.parliament.uk

The Work of Select Committees

What are the main functions of Select Committees?
Malcolm Bruce MP, Chair of the Select Committee on International Development, gives his view.

Malcolm Bruce MP, Chair of the Select Committee on International Development, talks about the importance of having representatives from a range of political parties on a committee and explains how he thinks they can help to shape government policy in a positive way.

Video:

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

Source: www.parliament.uk

The work of the curators

Curating the Parliamentary art collection

Emma Gormley, Assistant Curator of parliamentary art, talks about her role looking after this unique collection and commissioning new works.

Video:

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

The parliamentary art collection includes thousands of works depicting Parliament and parliamentarians through history and today.

Caring for the collection in a working building, where MPs and Members of the Lords are constantly at work, can be a challenge. However, it is also a great opportunity to combine interests in history, politics and art.

In the video above, Emma Gormley explains why she enjoys commissioning new art works of recent Members of Parliament, learning about their fascinating careers, and working with some of the country's most talented artists.

Source: www.parliament.uk

MPs, Lords and the Monarch? - Who's Who

Video:

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

MPs and the House of Commons

Video:

http://www.parliament.uk/education/ab...

Source: www.parliament.uk

The British Constitution: A Very Short Introduction

by Martin Loughlin (no photo)

Synopsis:

Beginning with the Magna Carta in 1215, a number of documents--not one single document as in the United States--have constituted the British constitution.

What are the main characteristics of Britain's peculiar constitutional arrangements? How has the British constitution altered in response to the changing nature of its state--from England, to Britain, to the United Kingdom? What impact has the UK's developing relations with the European Union caused?

These are some of the questions that legal scholar Martin Loughlin investigates in this Very Short Introduction. He traces how the British constitution has grown organically, in response to changes in the economic, political, and social environment.

By considering the nature and authority of the current British constitution, and placing it in the context of others, Loughlin reveals how the traditional idea of a constitution came to be retained, what problems have been generated as a result of adapting a traditional approach in a modern political world, and what the future holds for the British constitution.

About the Series:

Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library. Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.

About the Author:

Martin Loughlin is Professor of Public Law. He was educated at LSE, the University of Warwick and Harvard Law School and held chairs at the Universities of Glasgow and Manchester before in returning to LSE in 2000.

Between 2000 and 2002, he held a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship, in 2007-08 he was a Fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, and in 2012-13 held a Law & Public Affairs Fellowship at Princeton University.

He is also a Fellow of the British Academy. Martin has been a Visiting Professor at many law schools including Osgoode Hall, Paris II, Pennsylvania, Renmin University (Beijing), and Toronto.

More:
https://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/law...

Part of the issue with England in particular is that they are not viewed and probably do not view themselves as citizens but subjects - interesting view with a monarchy and parliament.

One of the things that is discussed in module one above is whether England should move to a written constitution which is pretty hard to move from not having one to having one. Would that create a constitutional identity for the country? These are some of the questions posed.

One of the students said that most constitutions have been imposed. Obviously the one in the United States had to be ratified and that was not an easy task but in the US it was born of necessity. I have to give Hix credit for correcting the student and indicating to him correctly that most of the constitutions are ratified through referendums rather than imposed. And of course in the case of the US it had to be ratified by each state.

In fact here is the ratification schedule for the US.
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/ra...

One of the challenges that Britain has is how would they write a constitution that would be able to retrofit to the laws that they have in place right now? It would be extremely difficult I would think. And the problem that one sees according to Travers is that the political folks like the flexibility of the lack of a constitution.

The House of Lords has only 92 "hereditary's" left - yet the appointed number has ballooned. There could be a 1000 soon. Some folks think that the House of Lords is more politically independent and stands up to the government because it is not ruled by parties.

In terms of the Queen she has all of the advantages of being the head of state and none of the advantages of government or governing. It is still an extremely powerful position to be in - being the constitutional monarchy.

One of the students argued that the monarchy was an important symbol for national identity.

As the government has grown - the position of Prime Minister has grown too and has become much more presidential. There was a poll on which Prime Ministers were considered Presidential and which were not. Tony Blair and David Cameron have been viewed as Presidential with John Majors being lessor so as well as Clement Attlee. It has made their Parliament less in the public eye and their MPs who are area based have to spend much more time with their constituencies. Simon Hix sees the MPs now as only being lobbyists of their local governments and certainly not legislators. But even if you see empty seats in the House of Commons - the MPs are working and they work in Select Committees and a lot of good has been done in these committees according to Travers.

With no party having a majority in the government there is nobody pulling the strings and telling these folks what to do because of the coalition government that England now has so the Select Committees have more autonomy.

Simon Hix states that this is the most rebellious Parliament in the post Second World War period in England.

Simon Hix stated that Margaret Thatcher described the Foreign Office as the ministry for foreigners - that they not in favor of protecting British interests and one of the things that Cameron asked for was a review of EU competence - a review of what the EU does and what Britain does, what are the powers and what should be changed under this - it has been run by the Foreign Office and the first report came out a few months ago and the second report was on its way. The first report came out and said that they reviewed things and everything seems fine to us; so the civil service report is that nothing should change in the relationship of the UK and the EU which is not what the mainstream Conservatives believe.

Travers states that Britain has developed a large welfare state since 1945. It appears that citizens will not pay enough taxes to fund the full cost of the welfare state. When the NHS was created it represented just 2% of the UK GDP now it is about 8% of a much larger GDP. And of course this is the situation in all countries whether it is private or public or a combination of the two it continues upward unabated. And in Britain this was the case at one time for university funding. At least these are the points that Travers made. He seems to feel that these services have to be rationed in England and that is and of itself a scary thought. Travers states that there have been payments in England - some folks pay for their prescriptions and in England they have always paid for dentistry. And if you are elderly in the social care system you pay for the social care that you get if you can afford it.

Travers then goes on to local governments and centralization. He states that England is a unitary government. England has a highly centralized form of taxation and political controls are also very centralized - 95% of all of the taxes paid in England are determined by the chancellor. England is not a federal country like the United States.

Hix interjects that there was a discussion if Heathrow should be expanded and there was a guy from Birmingham who said that in Birmingham we would like to expand Birmingham Airport and we are not allowed because the government decides whether we can expand Birmingham Airport and this guy said we are not even allowed to issue bonds in Birmingham - or be able to say - let us issue bonds so that we the local Birmingham tax payers would then have liability on so we could pay to rebuild Birmingham Airport; we could build as many runways as we want because nobody cares around here and we could go toe to toe with Heathrow - and they are just not allowed to do it.

There is a shrinking membership in political parties and really all politics is local and yet there is not enough emphasis on local government. The power is not there.

Hix stated that the national politicians and media do not want things handed to local governments because they think that local governments can't handle it and not to be trusted with these things. One student stated that he thinks that local governments use the idea of centralization as an excuse - post 2010 - a lot of local governments use the idea of the centralization of things like libraries to say that it's not our problem because we do not have any resources - but they have the choice in their own hands but they choose to pass the buck.

Hix joked that there was a poll that a larger percentage of folks from England were in favor of Scottish independence than Scottish in Scotland - a joke I presume.

Hix is allowed the last couple of minutes and explains we joined what was then the European Communities and we had a referendum in 1975 and two thirds voted to stay in and this included Margaret Thatcher at that time - and yet we have seen over the last 15 years in the UK - a rise of so called Europe skepticism in that a fourth party in British politics could pop up and potentially win the European elections next year and meanwhile the EU having created a single market for the continent Europe and for the most of Europe now created a single currency and this would be a challenge for whoever would be in government in Westminster - rising to questions as to what should be the role of Britain in emerging European integration. The rest of Europe is building deeper monetary and economic union and the question is what should be Britain's role in this. Could there be any relationship and should that new relationship be put to a vote in the UK? There was a bill going through the parliament at the time of this lecture being backed by conservative and labor backbench to have the referendum before the next election trial - they both want to have this before the election to kill off each other.

The Blunders of our Governments

by Anthony King

Synopsis:

From the poll tax to ID cards, a groundbreaking look at three decades of outrageous political mishaps.

A lively and intrepid analysis of the mistakes made by both the Labour and Tory governments over the past three decades. Written by two of Britain's most distinguished political scientists.

Paul Kelly

all by or include writings by Paul Kelly

Unfortunately the Paul Kelly that goodreads has attributed to all of these is not the correct Paul Kelly from LSE

More:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/researchAndExper...

OK we are off to Week Two:
GV311 (2013/14) Week 2: Philosophical influences and ideas

Paul Kelly from LSE is the professor - refer to message 22 for background

Professor Kelly will be discussing the philosophical influences and ideas which were the underpinnings for the British government.

Here are the slides:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/assets/richmedia...

Here is the link to the video of the lecture itself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtHwj...

What exactly is a Constitutional Monarchy....here is a short explanation.

"Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a king or queen acts as Head of State.

The ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament, not with the Monarch.

As a system of government, constitutional monarchy separates the Head of State’s ceremonial and official duties from party politics.

A constitutional monarchy also provides stability, continuity and a national focus, as the Head of State remains the same even as governments change.

The Sovereign/Monarch governs according to the constitution - that is, according to rules, rather than according to his or her own free will. The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution which sets out the rights and duties of the Sovereign, they are established by conventions. These are non-statutory rules which can be just as binding as formal constitutional rules.

As a constitutional monarch, the Sovereign must remain politically neutral.

On almost all matters the Sovereign acts on the advice of ministers. However, the Sovereign retains an important political role as Head of State, formally appointing prime ministers, approving certain legislation and bestowing honours.

The Sovereign has other official roles to play such as Head of the Armed Forces."

Source: RoyalGov.uk

Thanks for the add Jill on this thread and all of the British History threads

God Save the Queen: The Spiritual Dimension of Monarchy

by Ian Bradley (no photo)

Synopsis:

On the fiftieth anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne, this book both celebrates and explores the religious and spiritual dimensions of monarchy. Ian Bradley argues that it is in this area, largely neglected in current debate, that the future of monarchy lies.

An insider look at the daily workings of the government of the UK.

Everyday Life in British Government

by R.A.W. Rhodes(no photo)

Synopsis

As citizens, why do we care about the everyday life of ministers and civil servants? We care because the decisions of the great and the good affect all our lives, for good or ill. For all their personal, political, and policy failings and foibles, they make a difference. So, we want to know what ministers and bureaucrats do, why, and how. We are interested in their beliefs and practices.
In Everyday Life in British Government, a fascinating, new piece of political anthropology, R.A.W. Rhodes uncovers exactly how the British political elite thinks and acts. Drawing on unprecedented access to ministers and senior civil servants in three government departments, he answers a simple question: 'what do they do?' On the basis of extensive fieldwork, supplemented by revealing interviews, Rhodes tries to capture the essence of their everyday life, describes the ministers' and permanent secretaries' world through their own eyes, and explores how their beliefs and practices serve to create meaning in politics, policy making, and public-service delivery. Everyday Life in British Government goes on to analyze how such beliefs and practices are embedded in traditions; in webs of protocols, rituals, and languages.
The story Rhodes has to tell is dramatized through in-depth accounts of specific events to show ministers and civil servants 'in action'. He challenges the conventional constitutional, institutional, and managerial views of British governance. Instead, he describes a storytelling political-administrative elite, with beliefs and practices rooted in the Westminster model, which uses protocols and rituals to domesticate rude surprises and cope with recurrent dilemmas

Britain Unwrapped: Government and Constitution Explained

by Hilaire Barnett (no photo)

Synopsis:

Britain Unwrapped provides a wide-ranging discussion of the contemporary system of government. It takes apart the constitutional framework, the current system and the workings of government, Parliament and the legal system. The relationship between Britain and the EU, the domestic legal systems and the law of the EU are also covered. Written in a period that has witnessed extensive and on-going constitutional reform, the text discusses the major areas of reform and looks in detail at such key issues as the Human Rights Act, reform of the House of Lords, devolution and voting reform. Britain Unwrapped is succinct, readable and a key book both for general readers and students wishing to understand how Britain is really run.

Part of the "Dilemmas in American Politics" series.

Checks and Balances: How a Parliamentary System Could Change American Politics

by Paul Christopher Manuel (no photo)

Synopsis:

Could the United States function under a British-style parliamentary system? Would we be better off? What would be the implications for the United States if it adopted a British-style parliamentary system? This book applies the broader debate in the field of political science over the advantages of a parliamentary system to the case of the United States. It asks whether it is better for a democracy to function under a parliamentary or presidential system.In the face of a parliamentary alternative to the American presidential system, Checks and Balances? How a Parliamentary System Could Change American Politics illustrates how the Constitutional system of checks and balances functions, including the separation of powers and the legislative process. Throughout, the text explains how the institutional dimension of the political equations sometimes overlooked by politicians and scholars alike is of vital importance to a proper understanding of American politics. This book is designed to help American readers better understand their own form of government, while expanding their knowledge of other governments.

Even in staid Britain, scandal touches the government.

No Expenses Spared

by Robert Winnett (no photo)

Synopsis:

The "Daily Telegraph"'s expose of MPs' expenses, which dominated the news agenda for more than six weeks, made history by leading to the resignation of the Speaker and several Cabinet ministers, as well as taking Gordon Brown to the very brink of losing his grip on power. It is a story which began in the unlikely setting of a Chilean vineyard, when Robert Winnett, the paper's deputy political editor, first learned from Gordon Brown's soon-to-be-disgraced aide Damian McBride, that a disc containing details of every MP's expense claims had gone missing. Winnett was destined to become the reporter who would secure the disc and its contents for his newspaper, landing what has been described by some commentators as "the political scoop of the century." Yet it was only after several other newspapers had been approached, that John Wick, a former SAS Major turned whistle blower, made contact with the "Daily Telegraph" to offer the explosive material.

Monarchy and the End of Empire: The House of Windsor, the British Government and the Postwar Commonwealth

by Philip Murphy (no photo)

Synopsis:

By the early twentieth century it was becoming clear that the Empire was falling apart. The British government promoted the Crown as a counterbalance to the forces drawing the Empire apart, but when India declared their intent to become a republic in the late 1940s, Britain had to accept that allegiance to the Crown could no longer be the common factor binding the Commonwealth together. They devised the notion of the Headship of the Commonwealth, enabling India to remain in the Commonwealth while continuing to give the monarchy a pivotal symbolic role. Monarchy and the End of Empire provides a unique insight on the triangular relationship between the British government, the Palace, and the modern Commonwealth since 1945.
In the years of rapid decolonization which followed 1945 it became clear that this elaborate constitutional infrastructure posed significant problems for British foreign policy. Not only did it offer opportunities for the monarch to act without ministerial advice, it also tied the British government to what many within the UK had begun to regard as a largely redundant institution. Philip Murphy employs a large amount of previously-unpublished documentary evidence to argue that the monarchy's relationship with the Commonwealth, initially promoted by the UK as a means of strengthening Imperial ties, had increasingly become an impediment to British foreign policy.

How the British Empire became the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Britannic Vision: Historians and the Making of the British Commonwealth of Nations

by W. McIntyre (no photo)

Synopsis:

Shows the role of historians in making 'Dominion' status, which combined autonomy with unity and provided the peaceful route by which Canada, Australia and New Zealand gained their independence within the British Commmonwealth of Nations, while South Africa, the Irish Free State and India, also Dominions, chose to become republics.

BRITAIN VOTES TO LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION

23 June, 2016: Britain has voted to leave the European Union, results from Thursday's landmark referendum showed, an outcome that sets the country on an uncertain path and deals the largest setback to European efforts to forge greater unity since World War Two.

World financial markets dived as nearly complete results showed a 51.7/48.3 percent split for leaving. Sterling suffered its biggest one-day fall of more than 9 percent against the dollar, hitting its lowest level in three decades on market fears the decision will hit investment in the world's 5th largest economy.

The vote will initiate at least two years of messy divorce proceedings with the EU, raise questions over London's role as a global financial capital and put huge pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron to resign, though he pledged during the campaign to stay on whatever the result.

The euro slumped around 3.5 percent against the dollar on concerns a ‘Brexit’ vote will do wider economic and political damage to what will become a 27-member union. Investors poured into safe haven assets including gold, and the yen surged.

There was no immediate comment from the Bank of England. In an early mark of international concern, Japan's top currency diplomat Masatsugu Asakawa said he would consult with Finance Minister Taro Aso on how to respond to the market moves, describing the foreign exchange moves as very rough.

Yet there was euphoria among Britain's eurosceptic forces, claiming a victory they styled as a protest against British political leaders, big business and foreign leaders including Barack Obama who had urged Britain to stay in the bloc.

"Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom," said Nigel Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party.

"If the predictions are right, this will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, a victory for decent people...Let June 23 go down in our history as our independence day."

He called the EU a "doomed project".

By 5.20 am (0420 GMT), nearly 90 percent of the vote had been counted, making Leave's lead virtually impossible to reverse.

Asked if Cameron, who called the referendum in 2013 and campaigned to stay in the bloc, should resign if Britain voted for Brexit, Farage said: "Immediately."

The United Kingdom now faces a threat to its survival, as Scotland voted 62 percent in favor of staying in the EU and is likely to press for a new referendum on whether to become independent after its 2014 vote to stay in the UK.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Thursday's vote "makes clear that the people of Scotland see their future as part of the European Union."

Quitting the EU could cost Britain access to the EU's trade barrier-free single market and mean it must seek new trade accords with countries around the world. President Barack Obama says it would be at the "back of a queue" for a U.S. pact.

(Source: Rueters)

Cameron Resigns As PM After the Brexit Vote

Prime Minister David Cameron is to step down by October after the UK voted to leave the European Union.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, he said "fresh leadership" was needed.

The PM had urged the country to vote Remain but was defeated by 52% to 48% despite London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backing staying in.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage hailed it as the UK's "independence day", while Boris Johnson said the result would not mean "pulling up the drawbridge".

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was "absolutely determined" to keep Scotland in the EU so a second Scottish independence referendum was now "highly likely".

German chancellor Angela Merkel expressed "great regret" at the outcome, and EU chiefs said they expected the UK to begin negotiations to leave "as soon as possible, however painful that process may be".

But Boris Johnson, the ex-London mayor and public face of Vote Leave who is now a front-runner to be next prime minister, said there was "no need for haste" about severing the UK's ties.

He said voters had "searched in their hearts" and the UK now had a "glorious opportunity" to pass its own laws, set its own taxes and control its own borders.

Another leading Leave campaigner, Labour's Gisela Stuart, said the UK would be a "good neighbour" when it left the EU.

The pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985 as the markets reacted to the results.

The slide halted when the Bank of England said it stood ready with £250bn of extra funding to ensure market stability. But the pound remains 8% down against the dollar, and 6% lower against the euro.

Flanked by his wife Samantha, Mr Cameron announced shortly after 08:15 BST that he had informed the Queen of his decision to remain in place for the short term and to then hand over to a new prime minister by the time of the Conservative conference in October.

He would attempt to "steady the ship" over the coming weeks and months, but that it would be for the new prime minister to carry out negotiations with the EU and invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would give the UK two years to negotiate its withdrawal, he said.

"The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected," said Mr Cameron. "The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered."

(Source: BBC)

This book is part of the Law in Context series.

British Government and the Constitution

by Colin Turpin (no photo)

Synopsis:

The first five editions of this well established book were written by Colin Turpin. This new edition has been prepared jointly by Colin Turpin and Adam Tomkins. This edition sees a major restructuring of the material, as well as a complete updating. New developments such as the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and recent case law concerning the sovereignty of Parliament, the Human Rights Act, counter-terrorism and protests against the Iraq War, among other matters, are extracted and analysed. While it includes extensive material and commentary on contemporary constitutional reform, Turpin and Tomkins is a book that covers the historical traditions and the continuity of the British constitution as well as the current tide of change. All the chapters contain detailed suggestions for further reading. Designed principally for law students the book includes substantial extracts from parliamentary and other political sources, as well as from legislation and case law. As such it is essential reading also for politics and government students. Much of the material has been reworked and with its fresh design the book provides a detailed yet accessible account of the British constitution at a fascinating moment in its ongoing development.

This book explains how the territories of the ever shrinking Empire of Great Britain are governed.

British Overseas Territories Law

by I. D. Hendry (no photo)

Synopsis:

This is a manual of law and practice relating to the 14 British overseas territories: Anguilla * Bermuda * British Antarctic Territory * British Indian Ocean Territory * Cayman Islands * Falkland Islands * Gibraltar * Montserrat * Pitcairn Islands * St. Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha * South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands * Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus * Turks and Caicos Islands * and Virgin Islands. Most, if not all, of these territories are likely to remain British outposts, and many have new constitutional arrangements. This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date description of the constitutional and international status of these territories, and of the main elements of their modern governance in law and practice. British Overseas Territories Law describes their constitutional position and relationship with the UK, and the book goes on to deal with legislative, executive, and judicial authority and controls; the sources of law; and human rights protection in the territories. It analyzes: defense, security, and emergency powers in the territories; the nationality and status of people 'belonging' to them; their public finance arrangements; their relationship with the European Union; and the conduct of their external relations. It also examines the status of the territories in international law, their relationship with the UK in that context, and the UK's international responsibility for them. It concludes with a description of the means of terminating British sovereignty. An Annex sets out key features of each territory in turn, describing briefly its history, status, constitutional structure, courts, sources of law, and economy.

Brexit changed everything about this book but the author seems to have been prescient about the problems that would arise regarding Britain and the EU.

British Government and Politics

by Michael L. Mannin (no photo)

Synopsis:

This deeply informed text sets the government and politics of Britain firmly in the context of Britain's enduring membership in the European Union. Michael L. Mannin thoroughly applies the concept of "Europeanization" across the political system to explore how far change is a product of Britain's interdependent relationship with the EU. He shows how the EU's treaty relationships present new challenges to sovereign states, especially Britain, whose psyche has long revolved around iconic notions of Parliamentary sovereignty, imperial power, national independence, and an assumed cultural homogeneity. Examining the cultural, economic, and social background to Britain's twenty-first century politics, Mannin challenges some of the historical myths on which Britain's exceptionalism is founded. He then analyzes contemporary political institutions and processes in the context of Europeanization, as well as the impact of the EU on policy and policy making. Ideal for courses in British and European politics, this book breaks new ground in exploring the complex interdependence that the EU should bring to the study of European political systems.

UK Government and Politics for AS/A-level (Fifth Edition)

by Philip Lynch (no photo)

Synopsis:

Inspire political thinking with our bestselling politics textbook, fully updated the new 2017 specifications. Help students get their best grade with political commentary and analysis; the final edition of the book will include coverage of the June 2017 general election results.

Covering key topics for all exam boards, this textbook puts politics in context with topical analysis of politics today and how UK governmental and political history shaped current events and thinking.

Extend knowledge and improve key skills with comprehensive coverage and analysis of relevant political developments, including possible consequences of Brexit, such as its effect on Scottish independence

Understand how different topics within the A-level link together with the new Synoptic Links feature

Develop key analysis and evaluation skills with activities and case studies throughout the textbook - look out for Debate, Case Study and activity boxes

Clarify knowledge and understanding of Political Language with summaries and explanations of key terms

Test and develop understanding of key topics with exam focus sections tailored to the new Politics specifications

Civics 101

Episode Segments - Podcasts

The Biggest Little Document of the Middle Ages

The Peace Agreement That Almost Wasn't

Magna Carta's Myths

"This is the king agreeing to obey the law."

How Magna Carta Made It To America

Magna Carta Justifies a Rebellion

Magna Carta was sealed on a field in England in 1215. It's purpose was to appease some frustrated Barons, and it was never intended to last.

Over 800 years later, this document is credited with establishing one of the most foundational principles of our democracy.

So what does Magna Carta actually say? And how did it get from dubious stalling tactic in the 13th century to Supreme Court arguments in the modern era?

In this episode, you’ll learn how Magna Carta survived and thrived its way into our democracy. Our experts this time around are Derek Taylor, William Hubbard, Joel Collins and Susan Herman.

Link: https://www.civics101podcast.org/civi...

Source: Civics 101

Want more Magna Carta history? The British Library gives it to you straight, and in less than 4 minutes!

https://youtu.be/7xo4tUMdAMw

Source: The British Library

A good source about the Magna Carta:

http://magnacarta.cmp.uea.ac.uk

Source: Magna Carta

Horrible Histories | Epic Magna Carta Rap Battle | CBBC - Humorous for Children

Watch this epic rap battle between the Noble Men of England (The Barons) and King John as they go head to head over the Magna Carta in Runnymede, Surrey.

Head to the CBBC website to find out more visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/

CBBC aims to encourage children to find out more about existing interests and inspire them to develop new ones; helps them understand the world around them and provides an entertaining watch when they just want to relax.

This is a wonderful little film that was put together at the beginning of NATO for all of the member states. This was the one put together for the United Kingdom.


The Instrument of Accession signed by His Majesty King George VI in London on 17 May 1949

Presentation of the history and contribution of the United Kingdom to Western defense and the Atlantic Community.

"Introducing the United Kingdom" is part of a series originally designed as "Know your Allies", and finally titled "the Atlantic Community Series".

Its objectives were to familiarize public opinion in each of the member country with the other Alliance members and to emphasize the national contributions to Western culture and political traditions, economic reconstruction and allied defense in the framework of NATO.

The series was produced between 1954 and 1956 and financed by the US government in the context of the Marshall Plan with the cooperation of the Information Service of NATO, and distributed by NATO. The films in the Atlantic Community Series received large non-theatrical distribution and, in some cases, were shown in cinemas and on TV. Language versions were made and distributed with the help of the national governments.

“My country and NATO” tells the story of each one of NATO’s members, using a selection of unique archival materials to take you back in time.

Link to film: https://youtu.be/ODrja3SmIL4
Note: This is an excellent little film produced between 1954 - 1956 so there is a lot of history in the making here. And it shows a lot of pride in the country.

The United Kingdom and Nato
Link: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/de...

Nato Declassified:
Link: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/de...