United Kingdom
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- constitutional monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- unwritten, partly common law, partly customs and statutes
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on common law traditions with some influences from the modern Roman and continental system, acts of Parliament are not reviewed by the judiciary
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, House of Commons and House of Lords
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- House of Lords (is the highest court of appeal) some Lords are appointed for life by the Queen
RELIGIONS
Christians 59.5%, Muslims 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, others 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7%
From the country
- JULY 4, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Although Britain was against the death penalty in principle...
Although Britain was against the death penalty in principle and had conveyed this to Iraq, it was not likely to intervene if the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, were to be executed after a proper trial by a sovereign Government
- JULY 2, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
British defence Secretary Geoff Hoon expressed doubts...
British defence Secretary Geoff Hoon expressed doubts about whether Saddam Hussein should face the death penalty after his trial in Baghdad
- JUNE 30, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that Britain accepted that Saddam Hussein...
It was reported that Britain accepted that Saddam Hussein was likely to be executed by the Iraqi government for war crimes
- JUNE 11, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Judges rejected the latest appeal by Kenny Richey,...
Judges rejected the latest appeal by Kenny Richey, the Scot on death row in America
- JUNE 11, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Judges rejected the latest appeal by Kenny Richey,...
Judges rejected the latest appeal by Kenny Richey, the Scot on death row in America
- JUNE 8, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The London-based Privy Council was expected to hand...
The London-based Privy Council was expected to hand down a ruling that would affect the imposition of the death penalty in several Caribbean countries, according to a statement issued by the Barbados government
- JUNE 7, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
International human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith...
International human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith appealed to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to help save the life of fellow Scot Kenny Richey who had spent 18 years on Death Row in the US state of Ohio
- JUNE 7, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
International human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith...
International human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith appealed to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to help save the life of fellow Scot Kenny Richey who had spent 18 years on Death Row in the US state of Ohio
- MAY 30, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Kenny Richey, the Scot who has spent more than 17 years...
Kenny Richey, the Scot who has spent more than 17 years on death row in the United States, said he would rather kill himself than spend any more time in prison
- MAY 28, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Britain wanted to push through an extradition request...
Britain wanted to push through an extradition request for Abu Hamza al-Masri, a radical Muslim cleric, as quickly as possible so he could stand trial in the United States on charges of aiding terrorists, the government said
- MAY 23, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that the British Foreign Office slipped...
It was reported that the British Foreign Office slipped out a warning that the UK would boycott the upcoming trial of Saddam Hussein if there was any risk of the former dictator being put to death
- MAY 11, 2004United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
"UK soldiers have opened fire and killed civilians...
"UK soldiers have opened fire and killed civilians in southern Iraq in circumstances where there was apparently no imminent threat of death or serious injury to themselves or others," Amnesty International said in a report