Lecture

2013

THE UNITED KINGDOM

Geography, history, culture & heritage

Terrain

Ben Nevis: 1 343 m. (centre west of the Grampian Mountains)

Geography

Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains

ENGLANDA mainly lowland country with a few upland regions :- North (Pennine Chain, Cumbrian Mountains, Yorkshire Moorlands)- South West (Cornwall, Devon, Somerset)

SCOTLAND- populated central lowlands - sparsely populated highlands and the northern islands

WALES: agriculture accounts for 80% of the land area:- cattle rearing in the hill regions- dairy farming in the lowlands

NORTHERN IRELANDPopulation and industry concentrated on the eastern seaboard / the rest is mainly rural

GeographyClimatetemperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlanticmore than one-half of the days are overcast

Natural resourcescoal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land

Environmentcontinues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move toward a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government reduced the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and recycled or composted at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015

Population density

2011 Census update: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/interactive/census-map-2-1---pop-density/index.html

Population (2012 est.)

UK:. Land: 242 sq km (= Oregon)(79th biggest in the world (total: 223). Coastline: 12,429 km. Total population: 63 million(22nd most populated country in the world)Arable land: 23 %Urban pop. 80 % / rural pop. 10 %0,5 % annual rate of change (2005-2010 est.)

Population density:UK (2005) : 247 p./sq- England (2001) : 380- Scotland (2001) : 65- Wales (2001) : 141- Northern Ireland (2001) : 125

Age breakdown:- Under 15: 17 %- 65 and over 65: 16 %

Median age: 40Life expectancy at birth: 80 (30)Fertility rate: 1.9 (138) 1.7 (175) in 2010(average per woman of child bearing age)

Immigration rate: 2.59 (29)2.16 migrants / 1 000 p. (40)(2005: total of 235 000)

Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica, CIA world factbook 2010, 2012Office for National Statistics, 2005

Main conurbations and cities (2008 figures)

Greater London 7.7 million (inner london: 3)

Metropolitan Counties: Major Cities:

Greater Manchester 2.5 million -> Manchester 470 000Merseyside 1.4 million -> Liverpool440 000 (—)South Yorkshire 1.3 million -> Sheffield 540 000 Tyne and Wear 1.1 million -> Newscastle 280 000

Gateshead 200 000

West Midlands 2.6 million -> Birmingham 1 000 000West Yorkshire 2.1 million -> Leeds 780 000

& Bradford 500 000

Scotland: Glasgow 580 000 (—)Edinburgh 470 000

Wales: Cardiff 330 000Northern Ireland: Belfast 370 000 (ONS, 2012)

Ethnicity, Religion

Ethnic composition:- 92 % White (of which English 84 %, Scottish 9 %, Welsh 5 %, Northern Irish 3 %) - 2 % black- 1.8 % Indian- 1.3 % Pakistani- 1.2 % mixed

Languages: Welsh (26% of the pop. of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 1/10th of the pop. in Scotland)

Religion:Christian : 72 % (of which Anglican 29 %, Roman Catholics 11 %)Muslim: 2.7 %Hindu: 1%Unspecified or none: 23 % (Source: 2001 Census)

See2011 census data - key points | UK news | guardian.co.uk

2011 census data - key pointsPaul Owen

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 11 December 2012 11.51 GMT

Population• Population up 7% since 2001. Population grew in all regions.• 23.4 million households; 2.4 residents per household.Religion• Christians down 13 percentage points to 59%.• Respondents with no religion up 10 points to 25%.• Muslim population up from 3% to 5%.Ethnicity• White ethnic group down five points to 86%.• Whites in London 59.8%.• 80% in England and Wales are white British, down seven points.• In London white British figure is 45%, down from 58% in 2001.• Other ethnic groups in England and Wales: Asian (Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, other) 6.8% (2001: 4.4%), black 3.4% (2001: 2.2%), Chinese 0.7% (2001: 0.4%), Arab 0.4% (2001: not listed), other 0.6% (2001: 0.4%).• 2.2% in England and Wales are mixed race (up from 1.27% in 2001).• 12% of households had partners or household members of different ethnic groups, three points up from 2001.

2011 Census

Nationality• 37% of Londoners born in foreign country.• Figure is 5% for north-east.• 13% in England and Wales born outside UK.• Just over half of these arrived in last 10 years.• India, Poland and Pakistan are top three countries foreign-born people in England and Wales come from.• 7.4% of people in England and Wales hold non-UK passport.Language• In 91% of households, everyone speaks English. In 4% no one speaks English as main language.Age• 16% are 65 or over (an increase of 0.9 million).• 0.8% are 90 or over (up from 0.7%).• 6% are under five (increase of 406,000 since 2001, although same proportion).

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/dec/11/census-2011-religion-race-education

National identity

British society: diverse or divided ?

Only 50 % of English people describe themselves as British35 % of Welsh people do15 % of Scottish people do

2007 election results for Scotland: SNP is now the lasgest party in the Scottish Parliament

A multicultural society?« In our attempt to avoid imposing a single British identity and culture, have we ended up with some communities living in isolation of each other, with no common bonds between them? »

Ruth Kelly, Sec. State for Communities and Local Gvt, 2005 (just after the bombings in London)

History & Administration4 Nations:• England• Wales• Scotland• Northern Ireland

divided in counties (Home counties?, shires?)

British isles ?Great Britain / Ireland?The UK = Britain ?

The English have anglo-saxon origins, wheareas the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish have Celtic origins

Airports in

the UK

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Land use

Greater London and the industrial cities of the West Midlands, the North West,Yorkshire and Humberside, and the North include the largest concentrations of manufacturing industry 11/04/23 14

The main economic

areas in the UK

Main North Sea oil and gas fields

Urban centre undergoingRegeneration

Most dynamic urban centres

More marginal regions

New technologies,

The South East: fast-growing economy

Intensive agriculture

`Main fish farming area

Coastal areas whose eco wasboosted by … 11/04/23 15

A few economic factsGDP per capita: 37,500 (2012 est. ) (34), 36,600 (2011-2010 (37) /36,100 (2009 est.) (32) Data are in 2011 US $Growth rate: 0.2% (2012), 0,9% (2011 est.) (182) 1.8% (2010 est.) (165) — 4.9% (2009 est.)(184); 0.7% 2008 est. (188); 2.6% 2007 est.

Labour force (2006) & % of GDP per economic sector: - agriculture: 1.4 % (1.2% of GDP) 0.7 %in 2010-2011-2012 est.- industry: 18.2 % (24 % of GDP) 21,4% 2011 est., 22 % in 2010 est., 21% 2012- services: 80.4 % (75 % of GDP) 77,8% 2011 est., 77.5% in 2010 est., 78.3% 2012 Average earnings per week : £489 (2009); £ 447 in 2008http://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Country=United_Kingdom/Salary

Unemployment rate: 8% (2012) 8.1 (2011 est.) 7.8 (2010 est) 7.6% (2009 est.)5.6 % (2008 est.); 5.3% 2007

Population below poverty line: 14 % (2006 est.)Inflation: 2.8% (2012) 4.5% (2011 est.), 3.3% (2010 est.) 2.2% (2009 est.); 3.6 % 2008Public debt (/GDP) : 90% 2012 (86.3% (17) 2011 est., 76% (2010 est.) 68% of GDP (2009 est.); 51.8% of GDP (2008 est.) (UK 19; Ireland: 10, France: 17, the US: 35 [– 66 in 2010]

(estimates - corrected -www.statistics.gov.uk; CIA World Factbook 2008-2013) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uk.html

The 9 English RegionsThe region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier (level) of sub-national government entity, used by Central gvtfor statistical purposes.

London, has a directly elected assembly.

The other regions have regional assemblies, which have limited powers and functions devolved from Government departments, with members appointed by local government bodies.

The uniquely shaped London City Hall (on the left) is home to the Greater London Authority, which consists of the Mayor of London and a 25-member London Assembly.

Subdivisions in England

districts = boroughs in everyday use

(Administrative organization)UK Administrative reorganizations:-1986: Greater London and the other metropolitan counties lost their administrative functions to boroughs /metropolitan districts. Each counties covered large urban areas, typically with populations of 1.2 to 2.8 million. Each divided into several metropolitan districts. In 1986, most of their functions were devolved to the individual boroughs, making them de facto unitary authorities. The remaining functions were taken over by joint boards. The metropolitan counties have population densities of between 800 (South Yorkshire) and 2800 (West Midlands) people/km². Today, residents of metropolitan counties account for around 22% of the population of England, or 18% of the UKMid nineties:Wales: the 8 administrative counties -> 22 new unitary counties Scotland: the 9 administrative regions -> 32 new unitary local government areasEngland: 46 new unitary authorities were carved out of or replaced counties. Most of these encompass urban centres, while most English administrative counties now cover slightly smaller and more rural areas.Unitary authorities combine the powers and functions that are normally delivered separately by the councils of non-metropolitan counties and non-metropolitan districts:housing, waste management & collection, council tax collection, education, libraries, social services, transport, planning, consumer protection, licensing, cemeteries and crematoria. 2000: the County of Greater London regains some of its powersLocal government: county, city, borough and district councils and unitary authorities

(Non metropolitan counties or shires)

A non-metropolitan county, or shire county, is a county-level entity in England that is not a metropolitan county.

The counties typically have populations of 300,000 to 1.4 million.

The term shire county is, however, an unofficial usage.

Many of the non-metropolitan counties bear historic names and most end in the suffix "-shire" such as Wiltshire or Staffordshire

They are divided in districts

2009: 9 new unitary authorities created in County Durham, Shropshire and Wiltshire +the remainder of Bedfordshire and Cheshire divided into two unitary authorities.

The UK Government: a Constitutional or Parliamentary

MonarchyA few dates on the formation of the UK as a Country:Act of Unions:1536 : Wales formally joins the kingdom of England1707: England and Scotland unite1801: Ireland, invaded in the 12th century, ceazes to be a colony and sends MPs to Westminster1921: Only Ulster remains part of the UK, creation of the Irish free State

A few dates on the formation of the Parliamentary Monarchy and DemocracyBritain has no written constitution but a series of statutes and acts amount to an unwritten consitution: pragmatic and flexible1688 Glorious Revolution (a bloodless one contrary to the French Revolution) ->1689 Bill of rights : the sovereign must govern with Parliament1832 Beginning of the extension of the franchise (right to vote) to the middle class1911 The elected House of Commons becomes the supreme legislative body

over the House of Lords1928 All men and women over 21 can vote (1969 over 18)

Executive PowerChief of State: Queen Elizabeth (since 06/02/1952) reigns but does not rule

(mainly symbolic role, politically impartial, cannot vote)Heir: Prince Charles (born 14/11/1948)

Head of government: the Prime Minister (PM)David Cameron Cons.(2010-), vice PM Nick Clegg Lib. Dem.Gordon Brown (since 27 June 2007) Lab.; Tony Blair (1997-2007) Lab.John Major (1990-1997) Cons.; Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990) Cons.

"Cabinet" = Cabinet of Ministers = Members of Parliament (MPs) from the House of Lords or Commons, appointed by the PM

ElectionsThe monarchy is hereditaryFollowing the general (=legislative) elections, the leader of the majority party or of the majority coalition becomes the PM

1. House of Commons

Last elections held in May 2010

Percentage of vote by party

Labour 29%Conservative 36%Liberal Democrats 23%other 12%

Seats by party

Labour 258 Conservative 305 Liberal Democrat 57 Other (Scottish National Party/Plaid Cymru 30Democratic Unionist; Sinn Fein -

Legislative Power

House of Lords

Source: House of Lords, 2013

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Houses of Parliament

The public are welcome to visit both Houses during debates and tour the building during recess (holidays) and on Saturdays. Gothic style (architect Sir Charles Barry)The construction of the new palace began in 1840 after the Houses of Parliament were destroyed by fire in 1834. The Grade I listed building became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Major dates1940 The Battle of Britain, the Blitz (Britain fights alone against

Germany and faces invasion)1942 Beveridge Report (5 giants: Want, Ignorance, Disease, Squalor and

Idleness)1944 Butler Act: free and compulsory education for all1945 VE Day

The newly elected Labour gvt creates the Welfare State: (NHS, welfare payments, unemployment benefits, education for all)

1947-49 Many former colonies reach independence (lecture on Commonwealth)

1951-64 Conservative gvts1956 Suez Canal crisis

1964-70 Labour Gvt : death penalty abolished, Abortion Act, Sexual Offences Act, Divorce Act

1968 Beginning of the troubles in Ulster between Catholics and Protestants

1973 Britain and Ireland enter the Common Market1979 Winter of discontent: strikes in ≠ sectors paralyse Britain

-> end of the Labour Gvt

Swinging London

Time, Apr. 15, 1966

Music: The BeatlemaniaFashion: Mary Quant, Carnaby StreetConflicting sub cultures(Mods & Rockers)

1970s-1980sConservative cultureHeritage movies 1976-1980s: punk sceneSex Pistols

http://www.citedelamusique.fr/francais/evenements/europunk/europunk.aspx

1979-90 First woman PM: Margaret Thatcher (nicknamed: "the Iron Lady") introduces liberal policies:  "Thatcherism" brings reform to Britain

1982 Falklands War won by Britain after Argentina invades the islands1984 General (= national) miner’s strike to protest against the closure of

coal pits lasts a year and is defeated1994 Channel Tunnel opens

New Labour New Britain?From mid 1990s cultural Renaissance: London becomes popular again –

contemporary arts (Young British Artists, http://artsy.net/gene/young-british-artists-yba)

Street Art, music scene, fashion, gastro pubs, …

1997 Labour landslide victory: Tony Blair PM with a "New Labour" approach

1998 Creation of a Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament (devolution)1999 First steps in the reform of the House of Lords2001 After 9/11, Britain support the US’s war on terrorism2002 Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee2003 Britain sends troops to Iraq2005 Tony Blair reelected for a third term

Terrorist attacks in London kill 52 people2007 Blair stands down as PM and is replaced by Gordon Brown2010- David Cameron, Conservative PM head cons/lib dem coalition gvt

Banksyhttp://www.banksy.co.uk/menu.html

http://www.banksy.co.uk/QA/qaa.html

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