The United Kingdom, with its constituent parts, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is an island country in northwest Europe. England, one of the world’s top 20 most developed economies, is home to The Beatles, the birthplace of rock and pop music. England is also a site of numerous ancient Stonehenge, Baths of Stonehenge and thousands of years-old castles and churches. The Welsh valleys are famous for their striking mountains and Moors. And the Scottish islands offer an experience of wild life and scintillating beauty.
UK Politics: The two main parties in Westminster, known as the Conservative and Labour governments, seek to maintain public finances while pursuing social policies geared towards economic recovery. David Cameron, Prime Minister of the UK, was elected in 2010 on the promise of a “tory miracle”. He promised a “country that leaves the European Union” will emerge “a stronger and more united nation”. His party is led by Cameron and his government has pushed through major welfare cuts and tax hikes. Though unemployment is above the national average, many see the recession as a golden chance for change.
UK Politics: The UK’s six main political parties-the Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party, the Conservatives, the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Party of Australia and New Zealand’s Labor Movement – compete for power through proportional representation and seats in the UK parliament. There are three main groups in the UK politics: the Liberals, Labor, and the National Parties. Each party has a mandate for forming a government, and seats are gained through the election process. The last general election saw a hung parliament, resulting in a coalition government being formed between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
David Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader since 2010. He is a member of the Liberal Democrats, which hold the balance of power in the House of Commons. At present, many see him as the de facto prime minister of the UK. His main challenge is to form a government that can deliver its promises of fiscal stability and growth. His main goal is to keep Britain in the European Union, which he regards as vital to the future of its economy.
The Liberal Democrats are the party of Prime Minister David Cameron and is represented in the House of Commons by their coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats. They are an economically left-wing party, which advocates higher taxation and stricter regulations for businesses. Its leader, deputy leader and finance spokesperson, Tim Farron, enjoys a strong base of support in the Commons due to his strong personal popularity. However, his lead is being challenged by his deputy Nick Clegg, who is gaining on in the polls, though polls remain close between the two leaders. Nick Clegg has promised a tough line on welfare reform, which has so far not been promised by the Prime Minister.
If an election were to be held today, the number of seats won by the Liberal Democrats would reduce from five to four. The current arrangement of the lower house and the upper house, with the Libdem majority holding more seats than the Conservatives, means that David Cameron will have to rely on his party’s ability to form an overall majority. Though polls suggest that they are currently the most popular option for a party leader, there are other parties that could come onto the scene and challenge them in the coming years. Should a by-election take place at any point in the future, it is likely that the Liberals will struggle to hold on to their current numbers of seats in the House of Commons.