The UK is a multiparty democracy. The monarch holds no real power.
Main Political Issues
Europe
The question of whether the UK should pursue the goal of a Federal Europe has split the ruling CUP. The anti-EU faction is concerned that the EU is undemocratic and wasteful. The pro-EU faction believes that the UK has no choice but to follow the majority of European states who want federation, if it is to influence the nature of the UK's most important market.
The economy
There is now a broad consensus between the major parties on economic policy. The LP no longer believes in renationalizing privatized industries, and the CUP has toned down the pro-market rhetoric of the Thatcher years. However, the ruling CUP has been blamed for the recession and for raising taxes in 1994. Opinion polls suggest that both factors have led to a rise in support for the LP.
Health
The creation of an internal market in the National Health Service (NHS) has been opposed by doctors and voters. Many fear that the CUP may have plans to privatize the service. Most voters remain attached to the idea of an NHS that is free to all at point of use.
Northern Ireland (Ulster)
The most recent manifestation of sectarian conflict between Northern Ireland's Protestant and Catholic communities began in 1969. The Catholic community backs unification with the Irish Republic. The majority Protestant community wishes to remain part of the UK. Terrorism in the province by Catholic and Protestant groups has been widespread and the Catholic Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) took its campaign of terror to the Britain mainland. In 1994, both factions declared a ceasefire, pending negotiations with both the UK and Irish governments.This was greeted as a tentative, though positive step, although all four parties acknowledge that reaching a power-sharing agreement would be a long and painful process.
Profile
Margaret Thatcher's 1979 election victory ushered in 15 years of CUP rule, and monetarist and privatization policies. The opposition LP lost four elections in a row, but moved to the political center, abandoning policies of high taxation and renationalization.
In 1990, Margaret Thatcher was forced from office and replaced by John Major, who won the elections of 1992. Neil Kinnock resigned as LP leader and was replaced by John Smith.
However, by 1994, Major's popularity had plummeted and the CUP lost heavily in local elections in May. LP leader John Smith died suddenly following a heart attack.
