1945 – The UK becomes a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
1949 – The UK is one of the founder members of Nato.
1952 – UK becomes world’s third country to develop an atomic bomb.
1956 – UK and France, secretly in conjunction with Israel, invade Egypt and occupy the Suez Canal Zone. They are forced to withdraw under US pressure.
1961 – UK application to join European Economic Community vetoed by French President Charles de Gaulle.
1960s – Decolonisation of former British-controlled territories gathers pace.
1969 – British troops are sent to help quell communal unrest in Northern Ireland, which marks the start of The Troubles, triggered by the disputed status of Northern Ireland within the UK and a rising sense of injustice among large sections of the Catholic population. More than 3,000 people are killed between 1969-98.
1973 – The UK joins the European Economic Community, which is endorsed in a referendum two years later.
1979 – Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher begins move towards deregulation of economy.
1982 – Argentina invades the Falklands Islands in the South Atlantic. The UK dispatches a task force, which re-takes them.
1984 – The IRA attempts to assassinate Mrs Thatcher in her hotel in Brighton. Several people are killed and injured by a bomb blast, but the prime minister escapes unhurt.
1997 – Referendums in Scotland and Wales back the creation of separate assemblies, which are inaugurated in 1999.
1998 – The Good Friday Agreement on a political settlement for Northern Ireland is approved by voters in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
2012 – Britain hosts the Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
2014 – Voters in Scotland reject independence in a referendum, with 55% opting to remain part of the UK and 45% favouring independence.
2016 – UK votes to leave the European Union.
2020 – UK formally leaves the European Union.
2022 – Queen Elizabeth II dies, Charles III becomes king.
Source link : https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18023389
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Publish date : 2024-07-09 07:00:00
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