2021 in United Kingdom politics and government
(Redirected from 2021 in British politics)
| 2021 in United Kingdom politics and government |
| Other years |
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Constituent countries of the United Kingdom |
| England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales |
| Popular culture |
Football: England | Scotland | Wales |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| +... |
Events
editJanuary
edit- 8 January – Kwasi Kwarteng is appointed Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, replacing Alok Sharma who became the new President for COP26. Kwarteng is replaced as Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth by Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the former Secretary of State for International Development.[1] He also became the first black politician of any party to have been appointed Secretary of State.[2]
- 11 January – James Brokenshire takes a leave of absence as Minister for Security.[3]
- 11 January – Michelle Ballantyne becomes the Leader of Reform UK Scotland.[4]
- 21 January – Former Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament Robert Rowland dies in a diving accident.[5]
- 23 January – Paul Davies resigns as leader of the Welsh Conservatives following a possible breach of COVID-19 regulations.[6] Darren Miller also resigns from the Conservative front bench over the same issue.[7]
- 24 January – Andrew RT Davies is appointed leader of the Welsh Conservatives following a short discussion between Conservative Senedd members.[8]
February
edit- 3 February – Neale Hanvey is appointed as the Scottish National Party's Shadow Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment.[9]
- 6 February – Neale Hanvey is sacked from the Frontbench Team of Ian Blackford.[10]
- 26 February – A Supreme Court ruling agrees unanimously against a legal challenge made by Shamima Begum.[11][12]
- 27 February – Anas Sarwar defeats Monica Lennon in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election.[13]
March
edit- 2 March – The following ministerial appointments are made:[14] Suella Braveman is designated as a Minister on Leave, Michael Ellis replaces her as acting Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland. Lucy Frazer replaces Ellis as Solicitor General for England and Wales, and joins the Privy Council.
- 9 March – Metropolitan police officer Wayne Couzens is arrested for the murder of Sarah Everard. He was an officer within the Diplomatic Services unit. He had also previously worked in other government departments. He is later sentenced to life.[15]
- 10 March – Patrick Grady MP resigns as SNP Chief Whip.[16]
- 11 March – A by-election was held in the ward of Aird and Loch Ness to elect one candidate to win a seat on the Highland Council.[17]
- 16 March – Labour MP for Hartlepool Mike Hill resigns from the House of Commons due to his employment tribunal later in the year following allegations of sexual harassment and victimisation.[18]
- 18 March – A by-election was held in the ward of Helensburgh and Lomond South to elect one candidate to win a seat on Argyll and Bute Council.[19]
- 23 March – The Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints of the Scottish Parliament releases its final report.[20]
- 26 March – The public launch of the Alba Party, founded by former Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond.[21]
- 27 March – A number of defections to the Alba Party from the Scottish National Party; sitting MPs Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey. Former MP Corri Wilson also defects.[22]
- 27 March – A number of parliamentarians have sanctions placed on them by China; MPs Iain Duncan Smith, Nusrat Ghani, Tim Loughton, Tom Tugendhat, Neil O'Brien and peers Baroness Kennedy and Lord Alton, who are all members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.[23]
April
edit- 13 to 15 April – 2021 Lord Speaker election
- 20 April – Conservative MP Johnny Mercer is sacked as Minister for Veterans by Boris Johnson.[24]
May
edit- 1 May – John McFall, Baron McFall of Alcluith becomes the Lord Speaker
- 5 May – French fishermen protest off Jersey as part of the Jersey fishing licences dispute.[25]
- 6 May:
- A series of elections took place for local councils and directly elected mayors in England, as well as police and crime commissioners in England and Wales
- Welsh Parliament election
- Scottish Parliament election
- London Assembly election
- London mayoral election
- 2021 Hartlepool by-election
- The National Assembly for Wales officially changes its name to Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament.[26]
- 8 May – Steve Aiken resigns as the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.[27]
- 9 May – 2021 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle
- 11 May – 2021 State Opening of Parliament
- 13 May –
- 14 May – May 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election
- 28 May – Edwin Poots becomes Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.[28]
June
edit- 11 to 13 June: 47th G7 summit is held at Carbis Bay, Cornwall.[29]
- 17 June – Edwin Poots resigns as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, having only been in position for 21 days, triggering a new leadership contest: see June 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election. Paul Givan becomes First Minister of Northern Ireland.
- 17 June – 2021 Chesham and Amersham by-election.
- 22 June – Jeffrey Donaldson is elected unopposed in the June 2021 Democratic Unionist Party leadership election.[30]
- 26 June – Matt Hancock resigns as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.[31]
July
edit- 1 July – 2021 Batley and Spen by-election.[32]
- 2 July – Angela Merkel makes a visit to the UK, her last as Chancellor of Germany.[33]
- 5 July – Jonathan Bartley stands down as leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.[34]
- 7 July – James Brokenshire tenders his resignation as Minister for Security to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, stating his recovery from lung cancer was "taking longer than expected"[35]
August
edit- 13 August – Damian Hinds returned to government as Minister of State for Security following the resignation of James Brokenshire on health grounds.[36]
- 18 August – Parliament was recalled due to the situation in Afghanistan.[37]
- 19 August – 2021 Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner by-election
- 31 August – The Scottish National Party and the Scottish Greens sign a power sharing agreement.[38]
September
edit- 2 September – The 2021 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election begins.
- 15 September – Boris Johnson carries out his second major cabinet reshuffle,[39] same day, AUKUS is announced
- 17 September – Liberal Democrats annual conference opens in Canary Wharf.[40]
- 23 September – 2021 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election ends.
- 25 September – The 2021 Labour Party Conference opens in Brighton, East Sussex.[41]
- 27 September – Andy McDonald resigns from the Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer.[42]
October
edit- 1 October – It is announced that Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay won the 2021 Green Party of England and Wales leadership election.[43]
- 1 October – Reform UK conference opened in Manchester.[44]
- 3 October – The 2021 Conservative Party Conference opens in Manchester.[45]
- 7 October – Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup James Brokenshire dies from lung cancer at the age of 53.[46][47]
- 13 October – Labour MP for Leicester East Claudia Webbe found guilty of harassment. The Labour Party called on her to resign from parliament.[48]
- 15 October – Conservative MP for Southend West David Amess is murdered after being stabbed at a constituency surgery at a Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea.[49][50] Police are investigating it as a terror attack.[51]
- 27 October – October 2021 United Kingdom budget was unveiled by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.[52]
- 31 October – 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) begins in Glasgow.
November
edit- 4 November – Owen Paterson, Conservative MP for North Shropshire announces his resignation from parliament.[53]
- 4 November – Claudia Webbe MP for Leicester East expelled from the Labour Party following sentencing.[54]
- 24 November – November 2021 English Channel disaster
- 25 November – 2021 North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner by-election[55]
- 27 November – Boris Johnson announces new measures for England in response to the new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
December
edit- 2 December – Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election[56]
- 16 December – 2021 North Shropshire by-election
Events in the year
editDeaths
edit- 4 January – Kay Ullrich, Scottish politician (b. 1943)
- 8 January – Michael Shaw, Baron Shaw of Northstead, English politician (b. 1920)
- 23 January – Robert Rowland, English politician (b. 1966)[57]
- 24 January – Bobby McKee, Northern Irish politician (b. 1941)
- 2 February – Maureen Colquhoun, English politician; first openly lesbian British MP (b. 1928)[58]
- 6 February – Andrew Fraser, Baron Fraser of Corriegarth, Scottish politician and peer (b. 1946)
- 4 April – Dame Cheryl Gillan, politician, MP (since 1992), Secretary of State for Wales (2010–2012) (b. 1952).[59]
- 6 April – Peter Ainsworth, politician, MP (1992–2010) (b. 1956)[60]
- 9 April – Ian Gibson, politician, MP (1997–2009) (b. 1938)[61]
- 12 April – Shirley Williams, politician, MP (1964–1979, 1981–1983), Secretary of State for Education and Paymaster General (1976–1979) (b. 1930)[62]
- 17 April – Frank Judd, Baron Judd, politician, MP (1966–1979) (b. 1935).[63]
- 24 April – Trevor Smith, Baron Smith of Clifton, politician and life peer (b. 1937)
- 15 May – George Little, Scottish-Canadian politician (b. 1937)[64]
- 18 June – Andrew Welsh, Scottish politician, MP (1974–1979, 1987–2001), MSP (1999–2011) (b. 1944).[65]
- 20 June – Gordon Dunne, politician, MLA (2011–2021) (b. 1959).[66]
- 24 June – Dick Leonard, journalist and politician, MP (1970–1974) (b. 1930).[67]
- 7 July – Elystan Morgan, Baron Elystan-Morgan, Welsh politician, MP (1966–1974) and member of the House of Lords (1981–2020) (b. 1932).[68]
- 2 August – Peter Smith, Baron Smith of Leigh, politician and life peer, member of the House of Lords (since 1999) (born 1945).[69][70]
- 18 August – Austin Mitchell, politician, MP (1977–2015) (b. 1934).[71]
- 27 August – Noel Cringle, Manx politician, President of Tynwald (2000–2011) (b. 1937).[72]
- 9 September – Bruce McFee, Scottish politician, MSP (2003–2007), complications from a stroke (b. 1961).[73]
- 24 September – Grey Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie, Irish-born politician, businessman, and arts administrator, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1984–1985) (b. 1939).[74]
- 1 October – Sir Dennis Walters, politician, MP (1964–1992) (b. 1928).[75]
- 7 October – James Brokenshire, politician, MP (since 2005), secretary of state for Northern Ireland (2016–2018) and housing, communities and local government (2018–2019), lung cancer (b. 1968).[76]
- 15 October – Sir David Amess, politician, MP (since 1983), stabbed (b. 1952).[77]
- 17 October – Ernie Ross, politician, MP (1979–2005) (b. 1942).[78]
- 26 October – Isabel Turner, Scottish-born Canadian politician, mayor of Kingston, Ontario (2000–2003), pneumonia (b. 1936).[79]
- 31 October – Sir Jim Lester, politician, MP (1974–1997) (b. 1932).[80]
- 7 November – Sir John Butterfill, politician, MP (1983–2010) (b. 1941).[81]
- 1 December – Bertram Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham, politician, member of the House of Lords (1949–2021) and captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (1979–1991) (b. 1927).[82]
- 2 December – Bill McKenzie, Baron McKenzie of Luton, politician and life peer, member of the House of Lords (since 2004) (b. 1946).[83]
See also
edit
- General politics timelines by year
- Other UK timelines by year
- Decade articles
- Other country timelines
- Draft articles:
Specific situations and issues
editReferences
edit- ^ "Government announcement of mini-reshuffle (8 Jan 21)". Gov.uk.
- ^ Yorke, Harry (8 January 2021). "Kwasi Kwarteng becomes first black Conservative Secretary of State". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "James Brokenshire to leave ministerial job for cancer operation". BBC News. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ Reform UK Expansion Announcement, retrieved 11 January 2021
- ^ "Robert Rowland: Former Brexit MEP dies in Bahamas diving accident". BBC News. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Duffy, Elle (23 January 2021). "Welsh Tory leader quits after drinking with politicians despite lockdown booze ban". The Herald. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Tory Senedd leader Paul Davies quits over alcohol row". BBC News. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Andrew RT Davies returns as Welsh Conservatives leader". BBC News. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "'He was given the opportunity to apologise': SNP sack Neale Hanvey MP from front bench days after promoting him". www.scotsman.com. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ O'Donoghue, Daniel (6 February 2021). "SNP's Neale Hanvey sacked after backing campaign to sue Aberdeen MP Kirsty Blackman". The Courier. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Shamima Begum: 'IS bride' cannot return to UK, court rules". BBC News. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Begum (Respondent) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Appellant)". The Supreme Court. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Scottish Labour: Anas Sarwar becomes new leader – 10 weeks before Holyrood elections". Sky News. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Ministerial appointments: 2 March 2021". gov.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ Dodd, Vikram (2021-07-09). "Wayne Couzens pleads guilty to murdering Sarah Everard". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
- ^ "SNP chief whip steps aside following harassment complaint". BBC News. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Smart, Joanna. "Local Government by-elections". www.highland.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Mike Hill: Hartlepool MP quits 'with immediate effect'". BBC News. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Council, Argyll and Bute (16 October 2020). "Helensburgh and Lomond South By-Election". Argyll and Bute Council. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Nicola Sturgeon rejects claims over Alex Salmond inquiry evidence". BBC News. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Former SNP leader Alex Salmond launches new political party". BBC News. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "MP Kenny MacAskill quits SNP for new Alba Party". BBC News. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Uighurs: China bans UK MPs after abuse sanctions". BBC News. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Veterans minister Johnny Mercer sacked by Boris Johnson". CityAM. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "French fishers' protest over Jersey rights is over but the dispute will go on". The Guardian. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Welsh assembly renamed Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament". BBC News. May 6, 2020. Retrieved Jul 20, 2022.
- ^ "Steve Aiken resigns as Ulster Unionist leader". BBC News. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Edwin Poots to consult with the DUP over first minster". BBC News. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ Honebeek, TALYA (9 June 2021). "When the G7 summit 2021 is taking place and how long it will go on for". CornwallLive. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ McCambridge, Jonathan (22 June 2021). "Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to become next leader of the DUP". Belfast Telegraph. Press Association. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- ^ "Matt Hancock resigns as health secretary after admitting breaking COVID rules". Sky News. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Kim Leadbeater: New Batley and Spen MP takes Commons seat". BBC News. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "Angela Merkel to visit Boris Johnson in UK next week". BBC News. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Jonathan Bartley: Green Party co-leader to stand down". BBC News. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "James Brokenshire resigns as Home Office minister following 'longer than anticipated' recovery from lung cancer treatment". Sky News. 7 July 2021.
- ^ Mason, Rowena; Grierson, Jamie (13 August 2021). "Damian Hinds to be security minister after Johnson U-turn over Priti Patel". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan: Why is the UK Parliament being recalled?". BBC News. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ "SNP-Greens deal pledges indyref2 within five years". BBC News. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ "Cabinet reshuffle: Liz Truss replaces Dominic Raab as foreign secretary". BBC News. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "Lib Dem conference: Call to scrap Covid laws in pitch for Tory voters". BBC News. 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ "Labour conference 2021: Sir Keir Starmer looks to move on from internal party row with focus on economy and foreign policy". Sky News. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Labour conference: Frontbencher Andy McDonald quits in protest at Sir Keir Starmer". BBC News. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Green Party's new leadership team to focus on power not protests". BBC News. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ "Reform UK tones down culture war rhetoric and targets Tory voters". The Guardian. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ Vesty, Helena (2021-10-02). "Security ramps up as Conservative Party conference set to begin in Manchester". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ "Tributes paid to Tory MP and ex-Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire". BBC News. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ "Former Tory minister James Brokenshire dies aged 53". The Guardian. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ "Claudia Webbe: MP guilty of threatening and harassing woman". BBC News. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ "Sir David Amess: Conservative MP stabbed to death". BBC News. 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Conservative MP Sir David Amess stabbed multiple times in incident at constituency surgery". Sky News. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Sir David Amess killing was terrorism, police say". BBC News. 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
- ^ "Budget 2021: What is it and when will it happen?". BBC News. 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
- ^ "Owen Paterson quits as MP over lobbying row 'nightmare'". BBC News. 4 November 2021.
- ^ Mack, Tom (2021-11-04). "MP Claudia Webbe kicked out of Labour Party after sentencing". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ "North Yorkshire PFCC: Polls open in by-election". BBC News. 2021-11-25. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ "Old Bexley and Sidcup byelection: Tories retain true-blue seat". The Guardian. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ "Robert Rowland: Former Brexit MEP dies in Bahamas diving accident". BBC News. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Maureen Colquhoun, the UK's first openly lesbian MP, dies aged 92". The Guardian. 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Tory MP Dame Cheryl Gillan dies after long illness". BBC News. BBC. 5 April 2021.
- ^ "Peter Ainsworth: Boris Johnson leads tributes after death of former Tory MP". BBC News. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Former Norwich North MP Ian Gibson dies aged 82". BBC News. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ "Baroness Shirley Williams: Former cabinet minister dies aged 90". BBC News. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Frank Judd: Former Labour minister and peer dies aged 86". BBC News. BBC. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "George Little, former New Brunswick NDP leader, dead at 83". CBC News. 16 May 2021.
- ^ Learmonth, Andrew (18 June 2021). "Tributes paid to SNP 'giant' Andrew Welsh". Holyrood.
- ^ Preston, Allan (20 June 2021). "Tributes paid as veteran DUP MLA Gordon Dunne dies". The Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ "Association of Former Members of Parliament: Members of our Association who have died during 2021". Politics Home. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "Lord Elystan-Morgan, campaigner for Welsh devolution, dies". BBC News. BBC. 7 July 2021.
- ^ Mulligan, Simon (3 August 2021). "Tributes paid to former council leader Lord Peter Smith who has died". Leigh Journal.
- ^ "Deaths of Members". UK Parliament. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ "Former Great Grimsby MP and Calendar presenter Austin Mitchell dies aged 86". ITV News. ITV. 18 August 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Former President of Tynwald Noel Cringle OBE dies age 83". Manx Radio. 28 August 2021.
- ^ Brawn, Stephanie (10 September 2021). "Tributes flood in for former councillor and MSP Bruce McFee who has died aged 60". Daily Record.
- ^ Bates, Stephen (24 September 2021). "Lord Gowrie obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ Walters, Nicholas (4 October 2021). "Walters". The Telegraph Announcements. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Tributes paid to Tory MP and ex-Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire". BBC News. BBC. 8 October 2021.
- ^ "Tory MP Sir David Amess dies after stabbing". BBC News. BBC. 15 October 2021.
- ^ "Tributes following death of former Labour MP Ernie Ross". BBC News. BBC. 18 October 2021.
- ^ Hutchins, Bill (27 October 2021). "Former Kingston mayor Isabel Turner dies after brief illness". Global News.
- ^ "Sir James Lester, well-liked Nottinghamshire MP and junior minister who was an archetypal one-nation Tory – obituary". The Telegraph. 2 November 2021. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. (subscription required)
- ^ Butterfill, Pamela (11 November 2021). "BUTTERFILL Sir John Valentine". The Telegraph Announcements. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Lord Denham, long-serving and effective Chief Whip in the Lords under Margaret Thatcher – obituary". The Telegraph. 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. (subscription required)
- ^ "Labour peer Lord Bill McKenzie dies, aged 74". BBC News. BBC. 2 December 2021.