Americans: what do you know about current British politics?

[BrilliantPomegranate]

Leaders, parties, how the election runs etc?
And how do you know about it? Through American media, or do you see it on British media websites like BBC News and The Guardian?
Even if you know nothing, please say!

[susanmaried]

Almost nothing.

Most of us know the names of Blair and Brown and little else. : (

I do watch BBC, but the BBC seems to report more news about places beyond the British Isles.

[sociald]

Not as much as I would like to but I know some. I will look up issues when something catches my eye.
I would think most americans at least know who the PM is of the given time period. I would hope at least.
Personally I know the general party system and have the government is structured basically.
I havent really understood why people hold on to the monarchy there, I know they really dont have much to do with politics anymore but .. what are they for... ahh well. the USA has hollywood to keep the tabloids busy I guess there thats what the royalty is for hehe gotta have something.

[otto2294]

vroot blair resigned during his term so brown was elected leader of the labour party by the members. this is why there was no vote. you never vote who the leader is. that is a matter for the party to decide.

brits will get their say on him by 2010

also blair was not a conservative in the sense that he wasnt a member of the conservative party. however under him the labour party moved from the left into the centre

[Darwinall]

That it is more sane than ours. Mr. Brown is the PM. Tony Blair was the PM for quite a few years.

I understand the parliamentary system, that the majority party in the Parliament selects the PM and Cabinet, runs the government. Know that the majority calls the elections....at a time of their choosing, within limits.

I have been slipping; I'm not sure what party is in power.I attribute this to things being too well run over there. Otherwise we would have heard of a big messy political fight.

Well, Blair was a Conservative. So was Thatcher. So was Churchill, the two times he was PM, although he crossed the aisle twice.

When I see all the power and pomp and personality worship revolving around our President I long for a Monarch as Head of State.

Long live the Queen!

[LadyMoon]

Frankie Boyle (one of the UK's funniest comedians) said on this subject:

"Americans think Tony Blair rules Britain because he's the Queen's boyfriend"

And I think to a large extent that might sum it up, apart from the educated Americans who make a point of finding out about UK politics , of course . . .

EDIT: OH NO! Lol you Americans really don't know much about the UK do you.

OK, Wales - I'm Welsh, btw

Wales was "conquered" in the 13th century (ie over 700 years ago)!! Its part of the UK and its not "independent". We have a Welsh assembly which makes some local level decisions (ie smaller things like housing, education etc) but Wales is still part of the UK and under rule from Westminster. Scotland has a Scottish Parliament which had a little more power than thr Welsh Assembly, but, again, is still part of the UK and under rule from Westminster as regards all major law. Scotland, Wales and England along with Northern Ireland are three countries which make up the UK.

[Himpalapotamus]

Americans don't care what goes on in the rest of the world because the multinational corporations that control our media would rather keep us uninformed happy consumers, insulated by the truth of what is going on in the rest of the world.

I listen to the BBC in America but it's been dumbed down and sanitized for "the american consumer". I was in Indonesia last month and BBC shown in Indonesia is better than BBC shown in the USA. Even our own CNN is better in the rest of the world than it is in the USA for god's sake.

One thing that we all know however about british politics is that against the wishes of the population, you are involved in American misadventures because your politicians obey the American Republican Party when it comes to foreign policy even if it includes torture, and somehow, just like in America, the people let it happen. If you want to be a friend to America, stop Brown nosing Bush and get out of illegal foreign wars. We need someone to inspire us that it's possible that politicians can respond to the will of the people in the western world.

[icered]

I know that after you kicked out Tony Blair, your next Prime Minister was appointed, not voted in by the people. I don't know how that works, but I'll be interested in the process to see how you get your next Prime Minister.

- I realize Blair resigned, but it wasn't a happy departure and he was unpopular. Thanks for the rest of the info.
You guys are so difficult to converse with. I don't know why I even bothered to answer. Maybe I could kiss your feet or say you're better than the USA and not get thumbs down.

[Oh no!]

I know nothing really, When I watch BBC I only see shows and not news. I know when the London bombing happen the main news networks here Fox and CNN played it like 9/11.

Maybe you can answer my questions though, What power exactly does the Queen have? My history teacher told me that the Queen had no power and she was just there for ceremonial reason. But I was watching the news and they said that they had to get permission from the Queen for the prince to war in Afghanistan. So it seems she still has power, can you explain this?

Can Scotland really break away and is it true that some people want this happen?

How about Wales? I thought England conqured Wales but they still seem to be indepentant?