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
- DECEMBER 15, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
A poll published in the Sunday People newspaper found...
A poll published in the Sunday People newspaper found that four out of five Britons want child sex offenders jailed indefinitely
- DECEMBER 13, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
New powers to investigate and detain foreign terrorist...
New powers to investigate and detain foreign terrorist suspects were approved by Parliament
- DECEMBER 12, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The United States refused to rule out executing terror...
The United States refused to rule out executing terror warlord Osama bin Laden if he is captured alive
- DECEMBER 11, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
A Sheffield legal team began frantic attempt to halt...
A Sheffield legal team began frantic attempt to halt a deportation order against an illegal immigrant who claims he could face execution in his African homeland
- DECEMBER 9, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Osama bin Laden would be handed to the Americans if...
Osama bin Laden would be handed to the Americans if he was captured alive in Afghanistan, Downing Street revealed
- DECEMBER 7, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Nine men who lived in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan...
Nine men who lived in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan have been convicted at the Old Bailey [London's main criminal court] of hijacking a jet and flying it to Stansted airport
- DECEMBER 6, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Indian suspect Mohammed Afroz, 28, revealed that Al-Qaeda...
Indian suspect Mohammed Afroz, 28, revealed that Al-Qaeda [Osama Bin Laden's organisation] terrorists were planning to crash hijacked jets into the UK Parliament and Tower Bridge
- DECEMBER 4, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Walter Schwimmer, Secretary-General of the Council...
Walter Schwimmer, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, on initiatives to enhance police and judicial co-operation in the fight against terrorism:"The attacks of September 11 made the fight against terrorism a fundamental political priority for gove
- NOVEMBER 19, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
David Blunkett, the UK home secretary, came under fire...
David Blunkett, the UK home secretary, came under fire from backbench MPs who voiced opposition to his controversial anti-terrorist legislation, which proposes to detain terrorist suspects without trial
- NOVEMBER 16, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
If Osama bin Laden was held in Britain he would not...
If Osama bin Laden was held in Britain he would not be extradited to any country where he could face the death penalty, the government confirmed
- NOVEMBER 11, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
Home Secretary, David Blunkett brushed aside criticism...
Home Secretary, David Blunkett brushed aside criticism from "airy-fairy" civil rights groups as he prepared to seek approval for unprecedented new powers to allow the internment without trial of suspected terrorists
- NOVEMBER 5, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
A man who tortured a hotel worker to death in Cornwall...
A man who tortured a hotel worker to death in Cornwall was jailed for life