United Kingdom

Tony Blair

British prime minister since 1997 and architect of "New Labour". Favored low taxes, tightly controlled social spending, and closer ties to Europe.

Brexit

The possible British Exit from the European Union; made popular following Prime Minister Cameron's promise to hold a national referendum before 2017

Cabinet

Top members of the UK government who assist the prime minister and run the major ministries

David Cameron

Conservative prime minister from 2010 to 2016; resigned following the Brexit referendum, which he campaigned against

Celtic Fringe

Refers to Scotland and Wales, which were not conquered by the Angles and Saxons

Nick Clegg

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Third largest political party, and deputy prime minister in the coalition government since 2010.

Collective Responsibility

Tradition that requires all members of the cabinet either to support government policy or to resign

Collectivist Consensus

Postwar consensus between the UK's major parties to build and sustain a welfare state.

Common Law

Legal system based on custom and precedent rather than formal legal codes

Commonwealth

Organization that includes the United Kingdom and most of its former colonies

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

The UK's most important group representing the private sector

Conservatives (Tories)

One of the United Kingdom's two largest parties; in government since 2010

Crown

Refers to the British monarchy and sometimes to the British state

English Civil War

Seventeenth-century conflict between Parliament and the monarch that temporarily eliminated and permanently weakened the monarchy

Nigel Farage

Outspoken leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and member of the European parliament

Good Friday Agreement

Historic 1998 accord between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland that ended decades of violence

Hereditary Peers

Seats in the House of Lords that were granted to aristocratic families in perpetuity but were largely eliminated by recent legislation

House of Commons

lower house of parliament

House of Lords

the upper house of the British parliament, whose reform is currently being debated

Hung Parliament

An election result in which no party wins a majority of parliamentary seats, such as the 2010 House of Commons general election

Labour Party

One of the United Kingdom's two largest parties; since 2010, it has been the party in opposition

Liberal Democratic Party

Centrist third party in the United Kingdom and junior member of a coalition government from 2010 to 2015

Liberals (Whigs)

The United Kingdom's historic first opposition party; one of its two major political parties until the early twentieth century

Life Peers

distinguished members of the society who are given lifetime appointments to the house of lords

Magna Carta

The 1215 document signed by King John that set the precedent for limited monarchical powers

Majoritarian

Term describing the virtually unchecked power of a parliamentary majority in the UK political system

Member of Parliament (MP)

An individual legislator in the House of Commons

Ed Miliband

Leader of the opposition Labour Party from 2010 to 2015

Northern Ireland

Northeastern portion of Ireland that is part of the United Kingdom; also known as Ulster

Parliament

UK legislature

Prime Minister

head of government

Quangos

Quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations that assist the government in making policy

Scottish National Party (SNP)

The party seeking Scottish independence, and currently in control of the Scottish regional government

Margaret Thatcher

Conservative British prime minister from 1979 to 1990; held that office longer than any other person; worked to cut welfare and housing expenses, promote free enterprise

Third Way

Term describing recent policies of the Labour Party that embrace the free market

Trades Union Congress (TUC)

The United Kingdom's largest trade union confederation

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Official name of the British state

vote of no confidence

Legislative check on government whereby a government deems a measure to be of high importance, and if that measure fails to pass the legislature, either the government must resign in favor of another leader or new parliamentary elections must be called