Politics of the United Kingdom

Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, reacts to election results at a counting center in Glasgow, Scotland, on May 8, 2015.

‘This is possibly our last vote and we’re going out to vote SNP’

Global Politics

After weeks of polls predicting a dead heat between the major parties, the UK’s Conservative Party stayed in power in a surprise landslide. But it’s not going to be business as usual in Scotland, where the Scottish National Party destroyed Labour and became the country’s dominant party overnight.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron addresses locals whilst campaigning in England

Britain’s politicians are turning to DC for advice

Global Politics
Photoshopping Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband has become a meme. This photo shows him on the naked body of the music star Prince.

Ed Miliband is the UK’s would-be leader and … a sex god?

Global Politics
Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon display the SNP's election manifesto in Edinburgh, Scotland, on April 21, 2015.

The UK’s likely election kingmaker doesn’t even want to be part of the UK

Global Politics
An image of Westminster Cathedral, which a local branch of the UK Independence Party mistook for a mosque.

When is a mosque not really a mosque? Ask the UK Independence Party

Global Politics
Scottish supporters from the "No" campaign celebrate as they hold up a Union flag in the city of Edinburgh.

Alex Salmond’s resignation is a ‘sea change’ in Scottish politics

Global Politics

The atmosphere around Scotland’s independence vote was electric, and BBC radio host and Scottish native Rhod Sharp says he could feel it all the way from New England, where he watched the referendum and its historic aftermath unfold.

A supporter from the "Yes" Campaign cries into his knees as he sits in George Square in Glasgow, Scotland September 19, 2014. The "Yes" Campaign bid to win independence for Scotland, failed.

Scottish independence may have lost, but Britain may be changed forever

Global Politics

Many supporters of the “Yes” campaign were in tears after a decisive loss in Scotland’s independence vote. But London had to promise a raft of new local powers to keep Scotland in the UK, and those promises may change the nature of the British union for Northern Ireland, Wales and England, too.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley listens to speeches at the Conservative Party's annual conference in 2006.

Filmmaker Jon Ronson remembers the firebrand Northern Irish politician Ian Paisley

Global Politics

Controversial, belligerent and bigoted — those were some of the words used to describe the Reverend Ian Paisley, the Northern Irish political giant, after his death on Friday. Writer and filmmaker Jon Ronson spent a week making a documentary about Paisley and came away from it with respect for the man many hated.

The Scottish saltire flag

Scottish expats can’t vote in the independence referendum, but they will have their say

Global Politics

In a little over two weeks, Scots will decide whether Scotland should stay in the UK. Scottish expats won’t get to vote. As you might imagine, many expats are not happy about that.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron walks to Parliament after leaving Number 10 Downing Street in London on September 1, 2014. Cameron announced new laws on Monday to try to stop radicalized Britons returning from Syria and Iraq launching attacks on Br

Britain could strip citizenship from those who join Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria

Justice

The debate between security and civil liberties continues to heat up in the UK. More than 500 British citizens have reportedly gone to fight in Syria and Iraq, and the government wants to increase measures to make sure they don’t bring violence with them when they return home.