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2018 in United Kingdom politics and government

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List of years in the United Kingdom
In United Kingdom politics and government
2015
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2017
2018
2019
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Events

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January

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February

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March

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  • 1 March – Former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, is suspended from the Labour Party indefinitely, amid claims of anti-semitism.[11]
  • 5 March – A Sinn Féin delegation meets the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels about the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland due to Brexit.[12]
  • 6 March – Ex-UKIP leader Henry Bolton announces he will create a new political party called "OneNation" that would "campaign unceasingly for our full independence from the EU", and "mirror some of the changes that I sought to bring to UKIP".[13]
  • 7 March
  • 13 March – The government's next fiscal statement, which is now called the Spring Statement is published.[16][17]
  • 14 March – The UK government calls for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal on 4 March. Theresa May announces that 23 Russian diplomats will be expelled from the UK after Russia fails to respond to claims of involvement.[18]
  • 15 March – The Space Industry Act 2018 becomes law, giving UK spaceports the legal framework to function.[19]
  • 18–19 March – Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dismisses claims from Russian EU ambassador, Vladimir Chizhov, who said that Porton Down may have been the source of the nerve agent. It is reported that experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will arrive on 19 March to test samples of the substance.[20]
  • 23 March – Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn sacks Owen Smith from the Shadow Cabinet, for calling for a second EU referendum contrary to official Labour Party position. Smith is replaced by Tony Lloyd.[21]
  • 24 March – Plaid Cymru announces that if elected, they will hold an independence referendum for Wales by 2030.[22]
  • 31 March – The government receives a request from the Russian Embassy to visit Yulia Skripal in hospital after the poisoning on 4 March.[23]

April

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May

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June

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  • 1 June
  • 5 June – The UK government approves a controversial plan for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.[52]
  • 13 June – By 327 votes to 126, the House of Commons rejects a Lords amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill, which had attempted to keep the UK in the European Economic Area after Brexit. Other changes made to the bill are also overturned, including a requirement to negotiate a customs union with the EU.[53]
  • 14 June – A by-election is held in Lewisham East. The seat is held for Labour by Janet Daby.[54]
  • 17 June – The UK government announces an extra £20bn for the NHS by 2023, a budget increase of 3.4% a year.[55] However, this is less than the average 3.7% the NHS had over the previous 70 years. The plan is also criticized by former Treasury officials, who cast doubt on the idea of a "Brexit dividend" and say the extra public spending will require higher taxes or public borrowing.[56]
  • 18 June – The leadership election for UKIP Wales begins.[57]
  • 20 June – A rebellion by Conservative MPs is defeated, as the House of Commons votes by 319 to 303 against a "meaningful vote", which could have given MPs the power to stop Britain leaving the EU without a deal.[58][59]
  • 28 June – The Washington Post reports that former UKIP leader Nigel Farage is being investigated by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team for his ties to Donald Trump's associates and Russian colluders.[60]
  • 29 June –The leadership election for the Welsh Conservatives begins.[61]

July

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August

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September

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  • 3 September – Latest available data shows that SNP membership has overtaken the Conservatives across the UK for the first time, pushing the party of government into third place.[84]
  • 6 September – Paul Davies defeats Suzy Davies (no relation) in the Welsh Conservatives leadership election.[85]
  • 21 September – Theresa May demands new proposals from the EU to break the "impasse" after her Chequers plan was rejected by EU leaders.[86] The pound falls by its highest amount of the year so far.
  • 25 September – Labour Party delegates approve a motion that could pave the way for a second EU referendum if MPs are unable to agree over a Brexit deal.[87]
  • 26 September – It is reported that MP David Rutley has been appointed as a Minister of Food (the first since 1958) to ensure the protection of food supplies through the Brexit process.[88]

October

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  • 29 October – Chancellor Philip Hammond says the era of austerity "is finally coming to an end" as he delivers his third budget.[89]

November

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December

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  • 4 December – In a vote of 311–293, MPs find the UK Government in contempt of parliament for failing to publish its full legal advice on Theresa May's Brexit deal. They also back Dominic Grieve's amendment to hand back control of Brexit to Parliament if the deal is defeated.[102]
  • 5 December – The Attorney General's full legal advice on the Brexit deal is published.[103]
  • 10 December – The government delays the parliamentary vote on approving the European Union Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration, postponing it from the following day to 21 January 2019. The pound falls to its lowest level in 18 months.[104]
  • 12 December – Theresa May wins a vote of no confidence on her leadership of the Conservative Party by 200–117.[105]

Deaths

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References

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  1. ^ "James Brokenshire: Northern Ireland Secretary resigns". BBC News. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  2. ^ Stamp, Gavin (8 January 2018). "Reshuffle: Lewis is new Tory chairman". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Donald Trump cancels February visit to UK". BBC News. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Tory government votes not to retain European human rights charter in UK law after Brexit". The Independent. 17 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  5. ^ Swinford, Steven (16 January 2018). "Jacob Rees-Mogg to lead Eurosceptic Tory MPs and 'hold Government to account' over Brexit". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
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  8. ^ "Sargeant seat by-election date announced". BBC News. 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  9. ^ "UKIP members voted to sack embattled leader Henry Bolton". BBC News. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Munroe Bergdorf: Trans model becomes Labour's LGBT adviser". BBC News. BBC. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Labour suspends Ken Livingstone indefinitely over anti-Semitism claims". BBC News. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Sinn Féin set for Brexit talks with EU chief". BBC News. 5 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Ousted UKIP leader Henry Bolton 'to set up new party'". BBC News. 6 March 2018.
  14. ^ "PM to raise Yemen concerns in Saudi crown prince visit". BBC News. 7 March 2018.
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  16. ^ "Spring Statement will be on 13 March 2018". BBC News. BBC. 6 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Spring Statement: Philip Hammond hails better debt and growth forecasts". BBC News. BBC. 13 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Russian spy: UK to expel 23 Russian diplomats". BBC News. BBC. 14 March 2018.
  19. ^ "The UK's spaceport ambitions inch closer to reality". engadget. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  20. ^ "Spy poisoning: Russia stockpiling nerve agent, says Johnson". BBC News. 18 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Jeremy Corbyn sacks Labour frontbencher over referendum call". BBC News. 23 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Plaid Cymru 'would hold Wales independence referendum'". BBC News. 24 March 2018.
  23. ^ "Russian spy: the UK considers a request to visit Yulia Skripal". BBC News. 31 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders to stand down". BBC News. BBC. 2 April 2018.
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  30. ^ "Prince Charles to be next Commonwealth head". BBC News. BBC. 20 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Carwyn Jones to quit as first minister after the 'darkest of times'". BBC News. BBC. 21 April 2018.
  32. ^ Hughes, Laura (24 April 2018). "Statue of suffragist Millicent Fawcett unveiled in London". Financial Times.
  33. ^ McCann, Kate; Mendick, Robert; Crilly, Rob. "Amber Rudd resigns as Home Secretary as she admits misleading Parliament on migration". The Daily Telegraph.
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  35. ^ "Javid replaces Rudd as home secretary". BBC News. 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  36. ^ "Final voters cast ballots in local elections". BBC News. 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  37. ^ "Date is set for West Tyrone by-election". BBC News. 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
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  40. ^ "Iran nuclear deal: UK won't walk away, says Boris Johnson". BBC News. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  41. ^ "Robertson quits as SNP deputy leader". BBC News. 2018-02-03. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  42. ^ "Laird to be Scottish Labour deputy leader". BBC News. 2018-05-29. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  43. ^ "Brexit: Leave.EU fined £70,000 for breaking electoral law during referendum". BBC News. 11 May 2018.
  44. ^ "Grenfell Tower inquiry panel broadened in apparent U-turn". BBC News. 11 May 2018.
  45. ^ "Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones to leave assembly in 2021". BBC News. 11 May 2018.
  46. ^ "May loses 15th Lords vote on Brexit bill as peers vote to keep EU environmental standards – Politics live". The Guardian. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  47. ^ "Ken Livingstone to quit Labour amid anti-Semitism row". BBC News. 21 May 2018.
  48. ^ "Smoking ban plan for playgrounds and hospital grounds". BBC News. 25 May 2018.
  49. ^ "Caroline Lucas to step down as Green Party co-leader". BBC News. 30 May 2018.
  50. ^ "Greens prepare for leadership contest". BBC News. 2018-05-29. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  51. ^ "Keith Brown elected SNP deputy leader". BBC News. 2018-06-08. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  52. ^ "Heathrow Airport: Cabinet approves new runway plan". BBC News. 2018-06-05. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  53. ^ "Brexit: MPs reject bid to stay in EEA amid Labour revolt". BBC News. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  54. ^ "Labour hold Lewisham East in by-election". BBC News. 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  55. ^ "NHS gets £20bn 'birthday present'". BBC News. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  56. ^ "Doubts cast on 'Brexit dividend' for National Health Service". FT. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  57. ^ "UKIP members to be balloted on leader". BBC News. 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  58. ^ "Brexit 'meaningful vote': May wins after rebels accept compromise". The Guardian. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  59. ^ "Brexit: Theresa May wins 'meaningful vote' battle". BBC News. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  60. ^ "How the 'Bad Boys of Brexit' forged ties with Russia and the Trump campaign — and came under investigators' scrutiny". The Washington Post. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  61. ^ "Davies quits as Welsh Conservative leader". BBC News. 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  62. ^ "Brexit: Cabinet agrees 'collective' stance on future EU deal". BBC News. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  63. ^ "Statement from HM Government" (PDF). gov.uk. 2018-07-06. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  64. ^ Rayner, Gordon (8 July 2018). "David Davis resigns as Brexit secretary". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  65. ^ "Brexit Secretary David Davis resigns". BBC News. 9 July 2018.
  66. ^ "Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit secretary". BBC News. BBC. 9 July 2018.
  67. ^ "Johnson quits amid Brexit row". BBC News. BBC. 9 July 2018.
  68. ^ "Boris Johnson's resignation letter in full". BBC News. BBC. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  69. ^ "Jeremy Hunt replaces Boris Johnson amid Brexit turmoil". BBC News. BBC. 9 July 2018.
  70. ^ "Tory vice chairs quit over Brexit". BBC News. BBC. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  71. ^ "Brexit white paper seeks free movement for skilled workers and students". The Guardian. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  72. ^ "Trump praises Theresa May after he questioned her Brexit plan in British tabloid interview". www.cbsnews.com. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
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  75. ^ "Brexit: Government scrapes through Customs Bill vote". BBC News. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  76. ^ "Brexit campaign group 'broke electoral law', says Electoral Commission". BBC News. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  77. ^ "Brexit vote: Government defeats EU customs union bid". BBC News. 17 July 2018.
  78. ^ "Tory MP Philip Davies submits letter of no confidence in Theresa May". The Independent. 19 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  79. ^ "Brexit: Barnier rules out key UK customs proposal". BBC News. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  80. ^ "Outspoken AM voted UKIP assembly leader". BBC News. 2018-08-10. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  81. ^ "Ex-SNP leader Salmond resigns from party". BBC News. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  82. ^ Stewart, Heather; Walker, Peter (30 August 2018). "Frank Field resigns Labour whip over antisemitism crisis". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  83. ^ Walker, Peter (2018-09-04). "Jonathan Bartley and Siân Berry win Green party leadership race". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  84. ^ "SNP membership overtakes Conservatives across UK". BBC News. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  85. ^ Deans, David (2018-06-27). "Who will be the next Welsh Tory leader?". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  86. ^ "May: EU must respect UK in Brexit talks". BBC News. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  87. ^ "Labour votes to keep referendum option". BBC News. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  88. ^ "UK appoints food supplies minister amid fears of no-deal Brexit". The Guardian. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  89. ^ "Budget 2018". BBC News. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  90. ^ "Minister Jo Johnson quits over Brexit". BBC News. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  91. ^ "Why I cannot support the Government's proposed Brexit deal". Medium. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  92. ^ "Brexit deal: May wins cabinet support but hints at ministers' reservations – Politics live". The Guardian. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  93. ^ "Cabinet backs draft Brexit agreement". BBC News. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  94. ^ "Brexit: Dominic Raab and Esther McVey among ministers to quit over EU agreement". BBC News. 15 November 2018.
  95. ^ "Pound dives after Brexit resignations". BBC News. 15 November 2018.
  96. ^ "Steve Barclay named new Brexit Secretary". BBC News. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  97. ^ "Rudd back in cabinet at work and pensions". BBC News. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  98. ^ "EU leaders agree Brexit deal". BBC News. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  99. ^ "EU leaders back Theresa May's Brexit deal in Brussels". The Guardian. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  100. ^ "Lloyd Russell-Moyle: MP announces in Commons he is HIV positive". BBC News. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  101. ^ "Brexit: Minister resigns over Theresa May's 'naive' deal". BBC News. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  102. ^ "Brexit: Full legal advice to be published after contempt vote". BBC News. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  103. ^ "Exiting the EU: Publication of Legal Advice". Gov.uk. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  104. ^ "Theresa May postpones Brexit deal vote". The Guardian. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  105. ^ "Theresa May survives confidence vote". BBC News. 12 December 2018.
  106. ^ Y cyn-AS Llafur ac SDP Ednyfed Hudson Davies wedi marw (in Welsh)
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  108. ^ Twomey, John (18 January 2018). "Lawyer to great and good dies at 89".
  109. ^ Lord Stewartby The Daily Telegraph.
  110. ^ "Obituary: Lord Crickhowell". BBC News. 19 March 2018.
  111. ^ "Former Labour Cabinet Minister Lord Richard dies aged 85". ITV. 19 March 2018.
  112. ^ "Former Labour peer Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton dies aged 77". 30 March 2018.
  113. ^ "Ex-Commons Speaker Michael Martin dies aged 72". BBC News. 29 April 2018.
  114. ^ "Former MP Peter Temple-Morris dies aged 80". BBC News. 2 May 2018.
  115. ^ "Dame Tessa Jowell dies aged 70". BBC News. 13 May 2018.
  116. ^ "Former Glasgow Council leader Pat Lally dies aged 92". STV News.
  117. ^ "Dr Thomas Stuttaford obituary". The Times. 12 June 2018.
  118. ^ "Former Lord Provost George Grubb dies". 11 June 2018.
  119. ^ "Lord Carrington, former foreign secretary, dies aged 99". BBC News. BBC. 10 July 2018.
  120. ^ "Tributes to flamboyant unionist peer Laird, dead at 74". Belfast Telegraph. 11 July 2018.
  121. ^ "Remembrance of departed colleagues". Politics Home. 20 August 2018.
  122. ^ "Former Holyrood presiding officer Sir Alex Fergusson dies". BBC News. BBC. 31 July 2018.
  123. ^ "Cox". The Daily Telegraph. 3 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  124. ^ "Tributes to former Nottingham MP Martin Brandon-Bravo who died aged 86". Nottingham Post. 16 August 2018.
  125. ^ "Sir Peter Tapsell obituary". The Guardian. 19 August 2018.
  126. ^ "Townend – Death Announcements". The Daily Telegraph.
  127. ^ "Obituary – Donald Sage Mackay, former Lord Advocate and judge of the Supreme Courts". Herald Scotland. 25 August 2018.
  128. ^ "Environmental campaigner Lord Melchett dies, aged 71". BBC News. BBC. 31 August 2018.
  129. ^ "Tributes as former MLA Robert Coulter passes away". Belfast Telegraph. 5 September 2018.
  130. ^ Perkins, Liz (11 October 2018). "Denzil Davies, long-serving former Llanelli MP, has died a day after his 80th birthday". WalesOnline.
  131. ^ Langdon, Julia (18 October 2018). "Lady Hollis of Heigham obituary". The Guardian.
  132. ^ "Toby Jessel, irrepressibly energetic Conservative MP for Twickenham – obituary". The Telegraph. 3 December 2018.
  133. ^ "Obituary: David Myles, farmer and Scottish Conservative MP". The Herald. 20 December 2018.
  134. ^ "Ex-Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown dies aged 77". BBC News. 22 December 2018.