1 January – Newly declassified records released by the
Scottish Government show the workings of the Scottish Executive's first full year of operation, covering major events throughout the year 2000; including
First MinisterDonald Dewar's death in office.[1]
9 January – Scotland's First Minister,
Nicola Sturgeon, announces that every household, business or charity in the country directly affected by flood water will receive a grant of £1,500.[3]
11 January
In the aftermath of Jeremy Corbyn's reshuffle of the Labour Party,
Shadow Attorney GeneralCatherine McKinnell resigns, citing party infighting, family reasons and the desire to speak in Parliament beyond her legal portfolio.[4]
19 January – The pro-Union
Better Together organisation is fined £2,000 by Electoral Commission over referendum spending.[7]
February
9 February – The
Welsh Assembly votes for legislation to protect the historic environment and make the maintenance of records mandatory; this makes Wales the first part of the UK, and one of the first countries in the world, to legislate for the protection of historic environment records.[8]
31 March – Prime Minister
David Cameron cuts short his spring break to return to the UK for an emergency meeting with ministers on the planned closure of the Tata Steel works.[15]
15 April – The
European Union membership referendum campaign gets underway in the UK as both sides prepare to persuade voters to decide whether they want to leave or remain in the EU when the referendum takes place in June.[18]
16 April – Thousands of people take part in a protest against austerity cuts in central
London, including the Shadow Chancellor,
John McDonnell.[19]
The UK government's planned new laws are set out by the Queen in her annual speech, which include a large overhaul on prison laws and support for a
spaceport and
driverless cars.[24]
Several
Labour Party shadow cabinet ministers quit, with many more expected, in protest at
Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and "lacklustre"
referendum campaign. Corbyn issues a statement in response, vowing to stand in any new leadership election and to reshape his shadow cabinet.[35]
27 June –
Chancellor of the ExchequerGeorge Osborne makes a statement to calm the markets in the aftermath of the referendum, claiming the UK is ready to face the future "from a position of strength" and indicating there won't be an immediate emergency Budget.[37]
6 July – The
Chilcot Inquiry report into the
Iraq War is released, more than seven years after the inquiry was first announced, showing that the UK went to war before peaceful options were exhausted, that military action was not the "last resort", ill-prepared troops were sent into battle with inadequate plans for the aftermath, and that the threat from
Saddam Hussein was overstated; ultimately rejecting former Prime Minister
Tony Blair's case for the
2003 invasion.[42]
14 July – Following
Theresa May's selection as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Welsh Secretary
Alun Cairns is one of only four ministers to retain their positions in the newly announced
Cabinet.[46]
The
Wales Bill 2016, which gives new powers and accountability for the Welsh Assembly, is passed by MPs in the House of Commons.[49]
A new Boundary Commission plan which would see Welsh Members of Parliament cut from 40 to 29, is published for consultation.[50]
15 September – The UK government approves the
Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, which will cost £18bn, and says it will introduce "new safeguards" to future projects.[51]
23 November – Chancellor Philip Hammond delivers the Autumn Statement to Parliament, announced to be the final such Statement, being replaced by a full Budget in 2017.[59][60][61]
1 January – Newly declassified records released by the
Scottish Government show the workings of the Scottish Executive's first full year of operation, covering major events throughout the year 2000; including
First MinisterDonald Dewar's death in office.[1]
9 January – Scotland's First Minister,
Nicola Sturgeon, announces that every household, business or charity in the country directly affected by flood water will receive a grant of £1,500.[3]
11 January
In the aftermath of Jeremy Corbyn's reshuffle of the Labour Party,
Shadow Attorney GeneralCatherine McKinnell resigns, citing party infighting, family reasons and the desire to speak in Parliament beyond her legal portfolio.[4]
19 January – The pro-Union
Better Together organisation is fined £2,000 by Electoral Commission over referendum spending.[7]
February
9 February – The
Welsh Assembly votes for legislation to protect the historic environment and make the maintenance of records mandatory; this makes Wales the first part of the UK, and one of the first countries in the world, to legislate for the protection of historic environment records.[8]
31 March – Prime Minister
David Cameron cuts short his spring break to return to the UK for an emergency meeting with ministers on the planned closure of the Tata Steel works.[15]
15 April – The
European Union membership referendum campaign gets underway in the UK as both sides prepare to persuade voters to decide whether they want to leave or remain in the EU when the referendum takes place in June.[18]
16 April – Thousands of people take part in a protest against austerity cuts in central
London, including the Shadow Chancellor,
John McDonnell.[19]
The UK government's planned new laws are set out by the Queen in her annual speech, which include a large overhaul on prison laws and support for a
spaceport and
driverless cars.[24]
Several
Labour Party shadow cabinet ministers quit, with many more expected, in protest at
Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and "lacklustre"
referendum campaign. Corbyn issues a statement in response, vowing to stand in any new leadership election and to reshape his shadow cabinet.[35]
27 June –
Chancellor of the ExchequerGeorge Osborne makes a statement to calm the markets in the aftermath of the referendum, claiming the UK is ready to face the future "from a position of strength" and indicating there won't be an immediate emergency Budget.[37]
6 July – The
Chilcot Inquiry report into the
Iraq War is released, more than seven years after the inquiry was first announced, showing that the UK went to war before peaceful options were exhausted, that military action was not the "last resort", ill-prepared troops were sent into battle with inadequate plans for the aftermath, and that the threat from
Saddam Hussein was overstated; ultimately rejecting former Prime Minister
Tony Blair's case for the
2003 invasion.[42]
14 July – Following
Theresa May's selection as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Welsh Secretary
Alun Cairns is one of only four ministers to retain their positions in the newly announced
Cabinet.[46]
The
Wales Bill 2016, which gives new powers and accountability for the Welsh Assembly, is passed by MPs in the House of Commons.[49]
A new Boundary Commission plan which would see Welsh Members of Parliament cut from 40 to 29, is published for consultation.[50]
15 September – The UK government approves the
Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, which will cost £18bn, and says it will introduce "new safeguards" to future projects.[51]
23 November – Chancellor Philip Hammond delivers the Autumn Statement to Parliament, announced to be the final such Statement, being replaced by a full Budget in 2017.[59][60][61]