The United Kingdom, formerly known as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is an island country in northwest Europe. England, birthplace of Shakespeare and The Beatles – is home to the world’s capital, London. England is a site of Neolithic stonehenge, Thebes, Baths, and many other ancient civilizations. There are also castles and museums all across the country.
The United Kingdom has a multi-party system with two main parties that hold majority shares of seats in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The two main parties, the Labour Party led by David Cameron and the Conservative Party under Tony Blair, formed an alliance after the election of Labour Prime Minister Jack Clement in 1997. After a period of coalitions, the center-rightervatives came into power after Gordon Brown defeated David Davies of the Liberal Party, which had gained support due to his personal charisma. David Davis is a Euroskeptic and the new coalition’s only hope for survival in Westminster is on an anti-EU platform.
The two-party system has its roots in the Industrial revolution. Many towns and cities were developed rapidly during this era, many of which became major industrial centers. This growth sparked a new political era known as the New Economy, which emphasized flexible industrial relations and liberalization. It was under this New Economy that major political parties were born, with major influences from the New Left and the classical left. In recent years, however, New Labour has come to dominate the scene. David Miliband, the current leader of the Labour Party, has been credited as the driving force behind its turnaround.
The main center-right party in the United Kingdom is the Conservative Party led by Theresa May. A former cabinet minister and staunch Euroskeptic, Ms. May has taken a hard line on immigration, which was a chief worry for Remain voters. She has also put forward a tough stance on combating crime and keeping the UK safe from terrorism.
The center-left has suffered a decline in its popularity in the UK over the last decade. Owen Smith, a former Blairite MP, is now the favorite to succeed Ed Balls, who is tipped to take over from Mr. Brown as leader. Mr. Smith’s main platform is a promise to raise the living standards of the British people. He has promised to reverse the cuts to the welfare state and has backed scrapping the bedroom tax and nationalizing rail lines.
The three major parties have ruled out working together, despite some optimism on the part of an opposition party ever since the creation of the EU. Recent reports suggest that an agreement could be reached on a post-age pensions deal once the exit phase of the European Union comes to an end. The center-left is unlikely to form a government anytime soon, but it holds the key to a stable and relatively stable government for an indefinite period of time. The two-party system is highly unlikely to change anytime soon.