Britain 2005 CE

What is happening in Britain in 2005CE

In the 60’s and 70’s Britain let go most of her remaining overseas territories. These years also saw Britain become a cultural trend-setter to the world, symbolised by the emergence of the Beatles as a global phenomenon. However, constant strikes and economic underperformance continued to drag Britain’s prosperity down. Long-lasting troubles in Northern Ireland completed a rather dismal picture. Britain joining the EU in 1973 seemed to make little difference to the malaise.

In 1979 a new government led by Margaret Thatcher set about tackling a range of long-term issues to make Britain a more competitive place for business. She also famously sent a task force to retake the Falklands Islands in a short, sharp war against Argentina (1982). Her government liberalized the London Stock Exchange (1986), which led to London again becoming one of the world’s leading financial centres. The government of Tony Blair, her Labour successor, devolved much more power to Scotland and Wales, and presided over a peace agreement in Northern Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland joined the EU in 1973 and, unlike Britain, joined the Euro in 2002. This has sparked an economic boom.