February 9, 2012

Brit Movies: The Iron Lady Review from an American Perspective

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Making a biopic about Margaret Thatcher is not an easy thing to do. She’s not a sparkling conversationalist, she’s not overly witty, and she’s not electric in personality. However she is one of the most significant women of the last century and remains England’s first and only female Prime … [Read more...]

First Full Trailer for The Iron Lady Release – Meryl Streep as Thatcher

The first official trailer for The Iron Lady has been released. Ironically it was first released on The Daily Mail's website. Whether or not you care for Thatcher as a person it looks like it will be an interesting historial exploration of 1980's Britain and her impact, good or bad. The Iron … [Read more...]

ROYAL SUCCESSION: Gender discrimination rules to change

British Prime Minister David Cameron announces that the 16 Commonwealth heads of government have agreed to end gender discrimination in succession to the UK throne. Report by Adam Sich. … [Read more...]

British Government Launches Britain is GREAT Campaign to Generate Interest in UK

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The British Government is seeking to boost Britain's reputation abroad by launching a new multi-million pound advertising campaign to highlight what makes Britain great. From a release from the UK Government: A new drive to promote Britain abroad, as a place to visit and do business, was … [Read more...]

British Twilight and Eastenders Star Judi Shekoni Bites The Ballot

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Judi Shekoni rose to fame with her portrayal of Precious in the UK’s number one soap ‘Eastenders’. An abundance of exciting roles followed including; King of Queens, NCIS, All of Us, Damages, Brothers and Sisters, Garfield 2 to name but a few. Now Judi has a role she can really sink her … [Read more...]

UK State Visit: Photo Highlights From President Obama’s Second Day in Britain

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Here are a selection of pictures that highlight the key events that took place today during President Obama's second day in Britain on his state visit to England. The First Lady Michelle Obama gets a tour of Casa De Cameron in Number 11 Downing St (Number 10 is not large enough for his family … [Read more...]

President Obama to visit the United Kingdom This Week – Itinerary Highlights Inside

President Obama is making a State Visit to the United Kingdom this week and his schedule is looking pretty interesting for us Anglophiles and watchers of the Anglo-American relationship. Here's a peek at his itinerary and schedule for the week. On Monday, Obama will visit Ireland briefly and … [Read more...]

Churchill Statue Unveiling This Friday in Missouri at the National Churchill Museum

Did you know that there was a National Churchill Museum in the USA? I didn't either until yesterday and normally I'm pretty on top of these things. The National Churchill Museum on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, MO is the only North American institution fully devoted to immortalizing … [Read more...]

Reports: Royal Line of Succession Reforms Being Discussed

The British government has begun a consultation on reforming the Royal Line of Succession -- a complicated issue that will take years to resolve. According to current law relating to the succession of the monarchy first born sons take preference over any first born daughters. Many say this is … [Read more...]

The British Government Wants to Make More Daylight

You know it's a slow news day when the big news in Britain is the government announcing that it wants to make the day longer. According to various sources, in order to boost tourism, the British Government would like to add an hour to the day in the summer and two hours outside of the summer. The … [Read more...]

Downing Street Gets a New Chief Mouser: Larry the Cat

It was a slow news day yesterday so this was pretty much the top story everywhere in the British news outlets. Downing Street has a rodent problem and they've called in backup to help solve it. This video below explains it: … [Read more...]

A Pint of Bitter: Child benefit cuts and Labour’s new leader

Conservative Party | CreativeCommons

Politics is back for the autumn, and I'm back too, having taken a break since August. I went to Cornwall for a week - more of which later. While I've been away there have been two big political stories here: Labour's leadership, and the government's cuts. Cuts first. Everyone knows the UK has a … [Read more...]

Watch David Cameron’s First Prime Minister’s Question Time – PMQ’s June 2nd 2010

Thankfully for us international audiences - ITN news has posted the entire PMQ's from yesterday. It was David Cameron's First Prime Minister's questions and it's very exciting to watch. It's such a change from the last 13 years! Prime Minister's Question Time - June 2nd 2010 - David Cameron vs … [Read more...]

A Pint of Bitter: UK Coalition government, and how men’s relationships matter

David Laws | Liberal Democrats | Alex Folkes | fishnik.com | CreativeCommons

In one way, Britain's new government - the coalition, as we're beginning to call it - resembles the  administration it replaced, rather than representing a break from it. Just as Labour government since 1997 was dominated by the relationship between two men, so this government is clearly based on … [Read more...]

Watch the Queen’s Speech in Full Here – State Opening of Parliament

If you missed the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament today, ITN news has posted a video of the whole there. Here is the entire Queen's Speech: If you'd like to see the entire pomp and circumstance behind the State Opening of Parliament, CSPAN has the whole thing for view on … [Read more...]

Where to Watch the State Opening of Parliament in the USA

The recent British Election drama doesn't officially end until tomorrow when the Queen makes her way from Buckingham Palace, dons the Crown of State and delivers her government's speech to the House of Lords. The House of Commons then votes on whether or not to accept the speech - and when they do … [Read more...]

A Pint of Bitter: a hung Parliament, and a new kind of government

Prime Minister's Office | CreativeCommons

This has been a truly unusual, historic week in British politics. As I delivered Labour's final leaflet in my London constituency, I felt Labour was coming back slightly. Not enough to win, perhaps, but enough to stave off disaster. Election night itself was reasonably dramatic - we spent hours … [Read more...]

Dispatches From the South – The Election

Even as you read this I may be exercising my civic duty as a UK citizen by voting in my first General Election. Then again, I may not be; I may have already voted by now, so I'm probably down at the pub discussing the weather or the economy, or, just perhaps, the election. This is a significant … [Read more...]

Where To Watch the British Election Results in the USA on May 6th

Good news for Brits in the USA and Anglophiles interested in the outcome of tomorrow historic British Election, there are several places you'll be able to watch the live coverage of the results coming in. So, while it won't be on the major networks (probably no more than a blurb on the headlines) … [Read more...]

A Pint of Bitter: The final British Eelction debate, “bigotgate” – and the least predictable election for decades

Adam Tinworth | CreativeCommons

Last time I wrote, we'd just had the first election debate and it looked as though Nick Clegg's strong performance promised a breakthrough for his party. It did: Cleggmania swept the country and the Liberal Democrats leapt in the polls, ahead of Labour, making this the most unusual general election … [Read more...]

Where To Watch the 3rd and Final British Leadership Debate in the USA

[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

[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

Sarah Teather and Vince Cable with Brent activists | Liberal Democrats

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

PM Gordon Brown, rocking the pink tie

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?

The Seven Stars

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

Downing Street | CreativeCommons

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...]

A Pint of Bitter: MPs in the dock, a journalist questioned – and Gordon’s brown sugar

The Star, St. John's Wood

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...]

A Pint of Bitter: Growth at last for Gordon; England’s captain John Terry with his shorts down

The Old Mitre

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?

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...]

A Pint of Bitter: Choudary banned, Blair and Iraq (again) – and UK joblessness down

The bar at the Royal Festival Hall

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...]

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