2008 in the United Kingdom

2008 in the United Kingdom
Other years
2006 | 2007 | 2008 (2008) | 2009 | 2010
Constituent countries of the United Kingdom
England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Popular culture

Events from the year 2008 in the United Kingdom.

Incumbents

Events

January

February
  • 18 February – Mohammed Al Fayed told the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales that she and his son Dodi Fayed were both murdered in a conspiracy arranged by the Royal Family, Tony Blair, MI5, MI6 and the British ambassador to France. He claimed that Diana knew that The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Edinburgh were "trying to get rid of her".[5]
  • 19 February
    • Shannon Matthews, a 9-year-old, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was reported missing.
    • The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales heard from Dodi Fayed's former assistant Melissa Henning that Diana, Princess of Wales voiced fears shortly before her death that someone was going to make an attempt on her and Fayed's life in a conspiracy that would be made to look like an accident.[6]
  • 21 February – A jury at Ipswich Crown Court found Steve Wright, 49, guilty of murdering five prostitutes during late 2006.[7]
  • 22 February
    • Northern Rock was nationalised by the British government.[4]
    • Steve Wright was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he should never be released.[8]
    • Mark Dixie, 37, was found guilty of the September 2005 murder of Surrey model Sally Anne Bowman (18). He was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey, where the trial judge recommends that he serves at least 34 years before parole can be considered.[9]
  • 26 February
    • Levi Bellfield, 38, was found guilty of murdering two women in London in sexually motivated attacks; the first in 2001, the second in 2004. He received a life sentence with a recommendation that he should never be released.
    • The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales found that MI6 did not keep files on Diana or Dodi Fayed, contradicting claims in conspiracy theories that the deaths were the result of an MI6 conspiracy.[10]
  • 27 February – An earthquake with an epicentre in Lincolnshire was felt across most of Britain, with several buildings suffering substantial damage.

March

April
  • 2 April – An embryo that was a cross between a human and a cow survived a third straight day after being fertilised at Newcastle University. A director for embryonic stem cell laboratories at the Australian Stem Cell Centre said that the "99 per cent human" embryo could improve research within the field of human diseases. The Catholic Church of England and Wales however said that the creation was "monstrous" and says that the later destruction of it is unethical.[15]
  • 6 April – The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 came into force.[16]
  • 7 April – The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales recorded a verdict of accidental death, caused by the heavy drinking, drug abuse and speeding of her chauffeur Henri Paul, who died in the crash along with Diana and Dodi Fayed.[17]
  • 8 April – Karen Matthews, the mother of the kidnapped 9-year-old girl, Shannon Matthews, was arrested for organising her daughter's kidnap.

May

June
  • 4 June – Gretna F.C., just relegated from the Scottish Premier League, went out of business with debts of £4 million.[24]
  • 12 June – Halifax Town, who were in the Blue Square Premier League until their recent expulsion due to financial problems, went out of business after 97 years. They were members of the Football League for most of their history until 2002.[25]
  • 13 June – Shadow Home Secretary David Davis resigns as an MP over the government's plans to detain terror suspects for up to 42 days.[26]

July
  • 11 July – Former Shadow Home Secretary David Davis wins the Haltemprice and Howden by-election triggered by his resignation last month.[27]
  • 18 July – The surge in Conservative support continued as the latest MORI poll put them 20 points ahead of Labour on 47%. With an election due within the next two years and possibly next year, David Cameron was well on course to become the next prime minister of the United Kingdom. With an economic crisis beginning and fears of a recession and mass unemployment rising, it was widely expected that his popularity would continue to grow.[28] Further bad news for the economy shows that it contracted by 0.1% in the second quarter of this year – ending 16 years of unbroken economic growth.[29]
  • 22 July – The London Motor Show was held, a highlight being Vauxhall's launch of its new Insignia that replaced the Vectra and was due on sale later in the year.[30]

August
  • 1 August – Barry George was acquitted of the murder of Jill Dando.[4]
  • 3 August – British motorcyclist Craig Jones was involved in a serious accident during the 2008 Supersport World Championship at Brands Hatch; he died of his injuries the following day.
  • 8–24 August – Great Britain competed at the Olympics in Beijing. The team won 19 gold, 13 silver and 15 bronze medals and finished fourth in the medal table, the best performance for the Great Britain team in a century.[31]
  • 17 August – A light aircraft approaching Coventry collided with a microlight, all five people on board the two aircraft were killed.
  • 19 August – Following legal suppositions at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Frank Chapman ruled that Anthony Hall, charged with the 1961 murder of Jacqueline Thomas should not stand trial for the crime, and that the charge should be stayed because it was "just too long ago", and Hall would not receive a fair and balanced trial.[32]
  • 21 August – Home Office announcement that an investigation is being launched after a consultancy firm lost the data of 84,000 prisoners and 43,000 criminals.

September
  • 6 September – Eight people killed when storms hit the UK causing flash flooding in many areas.
  • 6–17 September – Great Britain competed at the Paralympics in Beijing.
  • 12 September – Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh is sacked from her role as an assistant government whip after publicly announcing that she had written to Labour's General Secretary calling for a leadership contest at the forthcoming party conference.
  • 14 September – Amid the financial crisis, rise in unemployment and threat of recession, the Labour government's popularity was reported to have fallen dramatically. As recently as January, they had enjoyed a lead of up to 10 points over the Conservatives in the opinion polls, but the latest Ipsos MORI poll put them 16 points behind the Conservative Party which had a 45% approval rating.[33]
  • 16 September – Minister of State for Scotland David Cairns resigns after writing to Prime Minister Gordon Brown requesting a leadership debate.
  • 24 September – Labour's Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly resigns stating the need to spend more time with her family.

October
  • October
  • 2 October – Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair announced his resignation with effect from 1 December 2008, citing a lack of support from Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
  • 3 October – Peter Mandelson returns to the Westminster cabinet as Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform as part of a reshuffle following Ruth Kelly's resignation.
  • 6 October – Footballer Luke McCormick, a former goalkeeper for Plymouth Argyle, was sentenced to seven years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving.[35]
  • 8 October – The government announced a bank rescue package worth some £500 billion as a response to the ongoing financial crisis.
  • 13 October – The House of Lords votes against a measure in the Counter-Terrorism Bill that would have enabled the government to detain suspects for up to 42 days without charge.
  • 14 October – The abolition of Key Stage Three National Curriculum Tests for 14-year-old school pupils known as SATS which were first introduced in 1991.
  • 18 October – An episode of The Russell Brand Show aired, featuring a series of prank phone calls to the actor Andrew Sachs by comedians Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, leading to a media row.[36]
  • 21 October – Nathaniel Rothschild accuses Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne of soliciting to party funds a donation from Russian Oligarch Oleg Deripaska when they were both guests of Mr Rothschild in Corfu in August 2008. The allegations appear in a letter written by Mr Rothschild to The Times newspaper and are denied by George Osborne.
  • 24 October – The Office for National Statistics revealed that Britain's economy shrunk by 0.5% in the quarter from July to September – the first quarterly detraction since 1992.[37]
  • 26 October
    • Severe storm in the Lake District causes extensive flooding while 2500 runners were taking part in a fell race, all participants were later accounted for.
    • A weak earthquake in Hereford and Worcestershire measuring 3.6 on the Richter Scale.
  • 27 October – Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) replaced new claims for Incapacity Benefit and Income Support on the basis of incapacity to work for most claimants.[38]

November
  • 2 November – Lewis Hamilton became the youngest ever Formula One World Champion.[39]
  • 6 November – Labour party won the Glenrothes by-election.[40]
  • 18 November – The names and contact details of more than 12,000 members of the far-right British National Party are published online, breaching data protection laws.
  • 27 November – Conservative Shadow Immigration Minister Damien Green is arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit mis-conduct in a public office. He was released on bail after questioning.

December
  • 4 December
    • Karen Matthews, 32, was convicted of the kidnapping her 9-year-old daughter, Shanon, who was kidnapped in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on 19 February 2008.
    • Lapland New Forest, a Christmas themed park in Dorset closed after scores of complaints about the poor quality of its attractions.[41]
  • 16 December – Sean Mercer, 18, was found guilty of murdering 11-year-old Rhys Jones who was shot dead in Croxteth, Liverpool, in August last year. Mercer was sentenced to life imprisonment at the trial judge recommended that he serve at least 22 years before parole can be considered. This is likely to keep Mercer in prison until at least 2030 and the age of 40.[42]
  • 18 December
    • Woolworths announced their 807 UK stores will close by 5 January 2009, putting some 27,000 people out of work.[43]
    • Robert Napper pleaded guilty to killing Rachel Nickell, who was stabbed to death on Wimbledon Common on 15 July 1992.[44]
  • 19 December – MFI ceases trading, closing all 111 of its stores and leaving its 1,400 workforce redundant. The furniture retailer had been in business since 1964, and had used the MFI name since 1971.[45]
  • 27 December – The first wave of Woolworths store closures sees 200 stores shut their doors, with the closure to be completed in the new year unless a buyer for the company is found in the next few days.[46]

Undated

Publications

Births

Deaths

January
Jeremy Beadle

February
Tony Rolt
Mike Smith

March
Arthur C. Clarke
Paul Scofield

April
Cecilia Colledge
Humphrey Lyttelton

May
Mary Berry
Peter Rolfe Vaughan

June

July
Dave Pearson
Russell Johnston

August
Craig Jones
Geoffrey Perkins

September
Peter Glossop
Richard Wright

October
Pat Moss
F. W. Walbank

November
Reg Varney
Leonard Goodwin

December
Kathy Staff
Harold Pinter

See also

References
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  2. "Hain quits jobs 'to clear name'". BBC News. 24 January 2008. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
  3. "MPs suspend Conway from Commons". BBC News. 31 January 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  4. McGuinness, Ross (16 March 2009). "Metro". p. 30.
  5. BBC NEWS | UK | Diana murdered, Al Fayed claims
  6. BBC NEWS | UK | Diana 'feared royal murder plot'
  7. "Wright guilty of Suffolk murders". BBC News. 21 February 2008. Archived from the original on 15 December 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  8. "Suffolk killer will die in prison". BBC News. 22 February 2008. Archived from the original on 15 December 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  9. "Man gets life for model's murder". BBC News. 22 February 2008. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  10. BBC NEWS | UK | MI6 'did not keep files on Diana'
  11. BBC NEWS | UK | Diana inquest not to call Philip
  12. "British Airways reveals what went wrong with Terminal 5". Computer Weekly. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  13. "No Survivors After Jet Slams into Homes". Retrieved 30 March 2008.
  14. BBC NEWS | UK | Duke 'did not order Diana death'
  15. "Cow-human cross embryo lives three days". Archived from the original on 5 April 2008.
  16. "Understanding the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007" (PDF). Ministry of Justice. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2007.
  17. BBC NEWS | UK | Princess Di 'unlawfully killed'
  18. "London Elects". Archived from the original on 11 January 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  19. "Manchester United retain title". ITV. Archived from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  20. Halifax Town's expulsion from Football Conference set to be confirmed: Altrincham handed reprieve – Local – Halifax Courier
  21. "Joey Barton is jailed for assault". BBC News. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  22. "Man Utd earn dramatic Euro glory". BBC News. 22 May 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  23. "Olympic stadium work starts early". BBC News. 22 May 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  24. Murray, Ewan (4 June 2008). "Gretna finally go to the wall". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  25. "Halifax fail with demotion appeal". BBC News. 12 June 2008.
  26. "David Davis resigns from Commons". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  27. "Davis cruises to by-election win". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  28. "Poll tracker: Interactive guide to the opinion polls". BBC News. 29 September 2009. Archived from the original on 17 December 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  29. "UK recovery 'to take five years'". BBC News. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  30. "London show: Vauxhall Insignia". Autocar. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  31. "GB Olympians power to new heights". BBC Sport. 19 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  32. "Unsolved murder was 'too long ago' for killer to be tried". Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  33. "Ipsos MORI | Trend | Voting Intention in Great Britain: 1976–present". Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  34. Martin, Nicole (8 June 2006). "St Hilda's to end 113-year ban on male students". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  35. Britten, Nick (6 October 2008). "Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick jailed for killing boys in drunken crash". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  36. "Timeline: Russell Brand prank calls". BBC News. 3 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  37. "Recession fear as economy shrinks". BBC News. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  38. "Employment and Support Allowance". Department for Work and Pensions. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  39. Benson, Andrew (2 November 2008). "Last-gasp Hamilton takes F1 crown". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  40. "Labour victorious in Glenrothes". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 November 2008. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  41. "Controversial 'Lapland New Forest' Christmas attraction closes". The Daily Telegraph. London. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  42. Jenkins, Russell (16 December 2008). "Sean Mercer guilty of murdering Rhys Jones". The Times. London. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  43. "Woolworths to close in January". BBC News. 17 December 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  44. "Man admits Rachel Nickell killing". BBC News. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  45. "Furniture chain MFI closes down". BBC News. 19 December 2008. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  46. Woolworths Stores Begin To Close After Going Into Administration | Business | Sky News
  47. "Jimmy Stewart: Racing driver brother of Jackie". The Independent. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2015.

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