[picappgallerysingle id="8532754"] The first ever Leadership debates in the British election have turned into a game changer that no one expected and the final debate will be held tonight - and it could end up deciding the entire election. So, if you're in the USA - where can you watch the … [Read more...]
Where To Watch the British Election Leadership Debate in the USA
April 22, 2010 By 5 Comments
[picappgallerysingle id="8533228"] It's an exciting time for Anglophiles and British Expats interested in following the British Election. Last week the first history making debate changed the course of the election and upended everything. It's British Political Drama at it's best. Last … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: British Election Campaign Week 1 – Lib Dem Clegg wins first TV debate
April 16, 2010 By 1 Comment
I wouldn't say there was election fever in Britain; most of the election campaign's first week has been uninspiring, dull stuff without real controversy or passion. That may be because the two big parties both have such visible weaknesses (Gordon Brown, for Labour; most things except David Cameron, … [Read more...]
Life in London: It’s election time! Guide to the UK Election for Americans
April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It's election time! The UK is hot with election fever - kissing babies, making babies, the party leaders are going all out to win voter support. British democracy is a funny thing. For starters it's not quite a democracy… there's that whole royal family thing hanging about in various … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: Could Darling’s dullness and Tory wobbles give Britain a hung Parliament?
April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Last week's budget wasn't much to write abroad about - very few of us here expected it would be. In truth Alistair Darling had very little room for manoeuvre, Britain's budget deficit being so high at just under ï¿¡170 billion. Some government backbenchers might have wanted to bribe the electors … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: Brown’s plan for May 6th; the BA strike; and England’s Achilles heel
March 19, 2010 By 1 Comment
So now we're sure the general election will be held on May 6th. Not officially. Firm knowledge on the day Gordon Brown decides (and it is his personal decision) to take the short car ride to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament. Which she certainly will, according to … [Read more...]
UK Immigration: Big Changes Ahead for the UK Points Based System – Good Changes
March 18, 2010 By 3 Comments
One of the hardest things about being an Anglophile is that it's extraordinarily hard to move there and make a living. There are many visa options out there - the most popular being the Tier 1 and Tier 2 Visa. The Tier 1 visa is a highly skilled visa that people can get if they meet the requirements … [Read more...]
BA Strike Latest: Prime Minister Gordon Brown Steps into the British Airways Strike
March 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
First it was Transport Secretary Lord Adonis yesterday on Andrew Marr and now Gordon Brown has done something quite unprecedented and weighed in on the impending British Airways Strike. Gordon Brown said this about the strike: "(The Strike is) unjustified and deplorable and comes at the wrong … [Read more...]
House of Lords to be Abolished and Replaced Under Government Plans
March 14, 2010 By 3 Comments
This is pretty big news in British Politics and could fundmentally change the way government works in Great Britain. The current Labour Government has always pushed for reforming the House of Lords - currently a mixture of life appointed peers and hereditary Lords. Now, with an election looming, … [Read more...]
Britain Unveils Future High Speed Rail Network Plans
March 12, 2010 By 1 Comment
The British government outlined new plans yesterday for a high speed rail network to connect Britain's major cities. The plan has long been in the works and was put together by the state owned 'High Speed 2 Company.' Britain currently only has one high speed rail (200+mph) and that's the Eurostar … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: Michael Foot, 1913-2010; writer, minister, leader
March 5, 2010 By 1 Comment
I know I usually write about the political controversies and manoeuverings of the day: matters such as the taxes of Lord Ashcroft and the return of Labour in the polls do matter. But some things matter more, and I want to devote my words on this occasion entirely to the life and ideas of Michael … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: MPs in the dock, a journalist questioned – and Gordon’s brown sugar
February 18, 2010 By 2 Comments
The huge scandal about MPs' expenses that began last summer simply rolls on and on, and it's becoming more confusing, not less, as audit upon audit comes together with reform upon reform. First Sir Thomas Legg audited the past expense claims of MPs, and ordered sums to be repaid - all the party … [Read more...]
Doctor Who VS Margaret Thatcher from BBC Newsnight
February 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
This is rather amusing - anyone that is familiar with the 80's iterations of Doctor Who will know that there were many plots that mirrored Thatcher's Britain eerily, usually with the Thatcherism portrayed negativity. Well, as it turns out, it was all very intentional on the part of the writers of … [Read more...]
UK Immigration: British Government to Crackdown on Student Visas
February 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
This is some rather surprising move - seeing the inherent failures in the current student visa policies, Alan Johnson, the British Home Secretary, announced that the number of student visas would be cut by the tens of thousands and introduce new English language requirements. The general problem … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: Growth at last for Gordon; England’s captain John Terry with his shorts down
February 4, 2010 By 1 Comment
It's always good to discover a new pub so good it becomes an instant favourite - and I was lucky to have that experience this week at the Old Mitre, tucked away in a little alley off Hatton Garden, just outside the boundary of the City. Superlatives come easily when discussing this pub. It's … [Read more...]
Are British Politicians Bought and Sold by Special Interests Like in the US?
January 28, 2010 By 1 Comment
It was with great dismay last week that I read the headlines regarding the US Supreme Court's decision to strike down campaign finance laws that block corporations from directly funding elections. It felt like a betrayal. It's absurd to give the same rights to a corporation as you do a … [Read more...]
The Queen is to address the UN General Assembly This Summer in July
January 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The Queen will be addressing the United Nations this summer - which is strange since she's not really one to make grand speeches like this and General Assembly speeches are generally reserved for executive heads of state. The BBC Reports: She will make her speech on 6 July, following a royal … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: Choudary banned, Blair and Iraq (again) – and UK joblessness down
January 22, 2010 By 1 Comment
Last time, I wrote about Anjem Choudary and his Islamist gang, Islam4UK. Well I doubt I'll be writing about them again, because since then they've managed to get themselves banned. The government has power to "proscribe" organisations under Britain's terrorist legislation, and Home Secretary Alan … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: Gordon Brown survives brief blizzard Coup Attempt, Islam in the UK and Much More!
January 7, 2010 By 1 Comment
Happy New Year! Snow is on the ground again in London. It's not like much of the rest of the country: my parents are actually snowed in, up North. There's no infrastructural breakdown here, apart from the predictable tube delays. But cold, it certainly is. Ideal weather for settling down with a … [Read more...]
Could London Mayor Boris Johnson Be Mayor and an MP at the Same Time?
January 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment
[picappgallerysingle id="6964663"] It's a deep philosophical question that has Brits wondering. Though we generally stay out of British politics here at Anglotopia (unless a British person is writing about it) and are not supportive of any particular party, we quite admire of London's colorful … [Read more...]
Breaking News: Prime Minister Gordon Brown Faces Fresh Leadership Challenge
January 6, 2010 By 1 Comment
[picappgallerysingle id="7454080"] This is quite an interesting development - with a mandated general election looming, several former cabinet ministers are calling for a fresh referendum on Gordon Brown's leadership to ensure the Labour party is really quite sure they want him around to fight … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: Taxing, Cutting and Measuring – The State of Britain’s Finances
December 10, 2009 By 2 Comments
Would he bash the bankers? And how hard? That was the question everyone was asking here this week in advance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's "Pre-Budget Report", which Alistair Darling gave in the House of Commons on Wednesday. By the wonders of the interwebs, you can see his statement or read … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: Queen and Crown, Baroness and Brown
November 24, 2009 By 2 Comments
I was delighted to discover a new drinking establishment very near me last week - it's new to me, anyway - the Crown Hotel in Cricklewood. There are two bars, the busy front one and the pleasanter hotel bar at the side, with comfy sofas and real beer - which is why it appeals to me. It has speakers … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: Eurotreason and plot!
November 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment
I celebrated Halloween at one of my local cinemas, the excellent Lexi in Kensal Rise (where they also occasionally broadcast opera live from the New York Met; I had to miss Turandot last Saturday, unfortunately). The film was Dracula - Prince of Darkness, an outstanding piece of vintage schlock … [Read more...]
Dispatches from the North: The BNP on Question Time
November 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment
When I lived in the States I had a hard time even choosing between two major political parties. I even found people would insist on telling me how they classified my political affiliations because the idea that I have none was downright sacrilegious to them. In truth, I am the elusive "swing voter" … [Read more...]
A Pint of Bitter: London, England
October 27, 2009 By 1 Comment
I promised you London; and London it is. One sure-fire way of winding up the English is to call London "London, England" as though any one is likely to confuse it with London, West Virginia or London, Arkansas. Yes, yes, yes, okay - there's a London in Canada, a London in Australia and quite a few … [Read more...]
American Right Trashes the NHS – The Brits Stand Up in it’s Defense
August 13, 2009 By 10 Comments
I will make a rare foray into American politics to highlight something that has suddenly involved Britain. As most people in America are aware, we're fighting to reform our health care system, which is a mess. I won't get into the politics of it here as this is not a place for it (if you want my … [Read more...]
Humor: What Puts the Great in Great Britain
July 14, 2009 By 2 Comments
I thought this was pretty funny and worth sharing. The major difference between American and the United Kingdom can be seen on it's money. It will be a cold day in hell before Charles Darwin ends up on US currency! … [Read more...]
Dispatches from the North: A View on Politics
June 17, 2009 By 4 Comments
I don't like politics and I don't like talking about them and to be honest I don't follow them enough to write an informed post about politics. However, politicians are a completely different ball of wax and in this day and age are every bit as much part of the tabloid and celebrity gossip scene so … [Read more...]
A Little Brit History: Britain – The Natives are Revolting!
June 1, 2009 By 5 Comments
The British Beehive' By George Cruickshank 1867. Us Brits don't get too excited by things, we are calm and reasonable. We certainly don't get too upset by things like religion or politics. In fact, if you visit Britain then don't even think of discussing politics in the Pub - remember the … [Read more...]
British Pound Exchange Rate
Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia was started to get us back to the UK for a trip and it did that in 2009. Now, the goal is for Anglotopia to make our dreams of traveling to the UK whenever we want a reality.
