United Kingdom

Analysis and Comment (6)

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Under leader Nigel Farage, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) were the success story of the recent UK local council elections: but who exactly are they? EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga

Explainer: UK Independence Party

By Natalie Mast, University of Western Australia

In the recent United Kingdom local council elections, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) won 147 seats, an increase of 139 seats, garnering more than one million votes (around 23%) across 35 local governments…
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The Falkland Island may be cold, windswept and remote, but they retain major geo—political importance and this weekend’s referendum on sovereignty will define the relationship between the UK and Argentina for years to come. Felipe Trueba/EPA

Falklands referendum will change little

By Aaron Donaghy, University College Dublin

History is about to be made on the Falkland Islands, which holds its first official sovereignty referendum this weekend. Some 1,600 Islanders will be asked whether they wish to retain their current political…
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Opposition leader Tony Abbott is looking to the politics of the United Kingdom for policy inspiration. AAP Image/Alan Porritt

The influence of ‘Big Society’: Abbott borrows from UK conservatives

By James Whelan, University of Technology, Sydney

Earlier this month, opposition leader Tony Abbott presented the second instalment of the Liberal and National parties’ “Plan for Stronger Communities”, having already outlined elements of the plan at the…
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A strong health system can balance public and private care – just look at Australia. AAP

Private sector reforms don’t spell the end of the NHS

By Peter Sivey, University of Melbourne and Terence Cheng, University of Melbourne

After a long, painful political and legislative process, the United Kingdom’s Conservative/Liberal Democrat Coalition government has finally been given the green light to proceed with its National Health…
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The UK and Australia have both looked at reforming their counter-terrorism laws, but which country has been more rigorous? Flickr/neeravbhatt

Who’s watching counter-terrorism laws in Australia?

By Jessie Blackbourn

Within a couple of weeks of each other, the independent monitors of counter-terrorism laws in both the UK and Australia have delivered their reports assessing the operation of national security legislation…
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Argentinian President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is part of a renewed push to reclaim the Falkland Islands. EPA/Leo La Valle

Bald men and combs: the Cameron-Kirchner Falklands showdown

By Binoy Kampmark, RMIT University

Argentinean wordsmith Jorge Luis Borges could be cryptic. But his powers of perception were always daunting. Borges came up with an excellent description of the 10 week conflict in 1982 that took place…

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