 |
| National government consists of two ‘Houses’
or chambers, the House of Lords, which is a curious mix of
hereditary peers, lords, bishops and so on, and the House of
Commons. Whichever political party wins the most votes in the
House of Commons becomes the national government at election
time. The leading political figure, the Prime Minister, is not
voted for directly as in the United States, but attains that
position by virtue of the fact they are the head of the
winning political party. |
| Voting |
| Elections are held every 5 years; the exact
timing is at the discretion of the Prime Minister. Citizens
are eligible to vote after the age of 18 years. Voting is not
compulsory. |
| Legal System |
| The law in the UK is a mix of common law
(inherited precedent or past judgments) and statute (that is,
acts of parliament). Early Roman and modern continental
influences are evident. The UK has judicial review of Acts of
Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998 and accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, albeit with reservations. Above
all, the UK legal system operates on the concept of the rule
of law and strives to provide justice, equality and procedural
fairness to all. |
| Language |
| Although English is the official language of
the United Kingdom, a large percentage of the country's
population speaks another language at home. |
| Culture |
| The population is predominantly Anglo-Saxon,
therefore its culture aspects are often characterized in terms
of the habits of this section of the population. Hence, what
may be seen today as representative of UK culture is a mix of
the following: they enjoy a pint or two of beer at the local
pub, have an ironic sense of humour, are often soccer-mad and
have a curious obsession with class: a Briton is almost always
aware of what socio-economic class he or she belongs to (lower
or working class, middle, upper or aristocracy). |
| Multiculturalism |
Of its 60 million inhabitants, approximately
15% were born outside the country. This figure represents a
large increase when compared to previous generations, who were
far more likely to have been born in the UK. The changing face
of the UK has had far-reaching consequences for the make-up of
the population and gradually changing cultural habits,
particularly since the influx of large numbers of Pakistanis,
Indians and West Indians began in the late 20th century.
The multicultural mix of the population looks set to
increase in the 21st century as the UK begins to depend even
more on immigration to boost the level of skilled workers in
the labour force due to an ageing population and emigration of
its existing population to other countries such as the USA,
Canada and Australia. |
| Religion |
| While the United Kingdom is predominantly a
Christian country, all religions are represented and respected
in our multicultural society. Churches, mosques, temples and
synagogues are located in most major cities. |
| Health System |
| The public health care system in the UK is
known as the National Health Service or NHS. It provides
low-cost health care to UK citizens and residents, and also
those from countries with reciprocal health care agreements.
If you are registered with the NHS, you are eligible to
receive free or low-cost health care treatment from dentists,
doctors and optometrists. |
| There are many private health care
alternatives as well. These will cost a good deal more than
NHS, however, signify reduced waiting periods and access to
private doctors and hospitals |
| Banking |
| If you are intending on working or immigrating
to the UK, it will be a good idea to set up your own bank
account. This is relatively easy to do provided you have the
correct identification (passports, birth certificate, other
credit cards etc.) |
| Once you have opened your own account, you my
access most Automatic Teller Machines (ATM’s) around the UK,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even if you have not opened a
bank account there, most ATM’s around the UK accept Visa,
MasterCard, Diners and other internationally recognized names.
|
| Currency |
| The Pound Sterling - coins (five, 10, 20, and
50 cent, and one and two pound denominations); notes (five,
10, 20, 50, pound denominations). |
| Transport & Getting
Around |
| Getting around the UK is easy, relatively
inexpensive and not too time consuming – the UK is after all
essentially a small island kingdom! One of the best ways to
get around the UK is by train. The trip from London in the
south to Edinburgh, Scotland, in the north takes just a few
hours on a fast train. |
| Alternatively, you can hire a car or take a
bus. The trip over to Northern Ireland is usually by boat. It
is not really worth flying around the UK since distances are
so short. |
| UK Economy and Jobs |
| The UK economy’s performance in recent years
has been impressive: London remains the economic heartbeat of
Western Europe and one of the great trading and finance
capitals of the world. The currency (pound) rates very well
against the US dollar and unemployment rates remain low.
|
| The UK economy is one of the strongest in
Europe and the world; inflation, interest rates, and
unemployment rates are low compared to those on the continent.
The government is speeding up the improvement of transport,
education and health services. |
| Work Visas |
| The UK particularly needs skilled persons to
fill current and ongoing skill shortages. The UK’s Highly
Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) has some basic requirements
which must be fulfilled by candidates, pre-requisites which
include work experience, educational qualifications, levels of
income in the applicant’s home country and demonstrated
achievement in their chosen career path. |
| If granted, the work visa allows the holder to
work in their chosen profession in any capacity they choose;
as employee, self-employed person or consultant and so on. The
HSMP is flexible and successful candidates may bring their
spouse and families along with them to the UK to live (spouses
will also be permitted to work). |
| Initially, if successful in applying for the
HSMP, persons will receive a 12-month visa, which one-month
before expiration may be extended for another 3 years by the
British government. After this period of time (a total of 4
years), individuals under the HSMP may apply for permanent
residency and subsequently British citizenship. |
| Working Conditions |
| In the UK, the worker is well protected.
Legislation, national awards and collective agreements all act
to protect the rights of workers. If employers refuse to
implement these basic conditions, they can be prosecuted
and/or sued in the courts or face an industry tribunal
hearing. Minimum wage levels vary according to the industry
worked in and are most likely covered by national awards.
|
| Equal Opportunity Policy
|
| Racial and gender slurs and activities in the
workplace are also wholly unacceptable: under UK law, such
constitutes assault, and the person making the remark or doing
the act may be charged under criminal law as well as
prosecuted in civil law by the victim in order to receive
damages to compensate for injuries sustained. |
| Housing in the UK |
| Housing and living costs in the UK vary by
region. As housing is more expensive in the southern parts of
England (including London) and less expensive in northern
England and the Midlands, Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland. Prospective buyers should note that inner-city living
could be quite pricey in any big city throughout the UK. For
instance, a couple living and working in London will typically
devote the large part of one wage to the rent or mortgage
repayments, whilst the other might pay most of the living
expenses |
| The architecture is mostly European in design.
For those willing to live in outer-city regions, bigger and
more modern houses can be bought and they often have large
backyards. For the very rich, large ancestral estates dating
back many centuries can be purchased through private sale.
|
| Buying & Selling |
| People looking to buy a home in the United
Kingdom should look at advertisements placed by real estate
agencies in national newspapers, magazines or on the Internet.
|
| Houses can be bought and sold either through
private sale between two interested parties at an agreed upon
price (the most common method) or through auction, which is
when the property in question is open for public inspection.
All interested parties (or a representative) are required to
be present at the sale in order to bid. The auction begins
with a base bid amount and proceeds from there, with the
successful purchaser winning through placing the highest bid.
|
| In order to gain a home loan from a bank or
other lending institution in the UK, purchasers must have a
minimum deposit amount. This amount can be 10% of the sale
price or less, but can vary. |
| Renting |
| Most people who wish to rent property go
through a real estate agent, which should have lists of
available properties with monthly rental prices. It is also
worth browsing real estate Internet sites and daily newspapers
for listings. |
| If going through a real estate agent, the
application process is usually very thorough – you must supply
such personal details as personal referees – i.e. persons who
can vouch for your honesty and good character. If you are
successful in your rental application, you will be required to
pay at least one month’s rent up front, plus one month’s rent
in ‘bond’, which is returned at the end of the rental period
(usually 1 year) provided the property is kept in good
condition by the occupant. |
| Rental prices vary, but as a general rule,
inner-city housing is more expensive. If you do not mind
traveling and wish to have a bigger house or just more space,
then perhaps an outer-city property would suit. Renting houses
in the country or rural towns is almost always cheaper; check
local newspapers in the area you are looking to settle for
further details. The British Tourist Authority may also obtain
a list of rental agencies. |
| Building Your Own Home |
| Building their own home – or ‘self build’ – is
an increasingly popular concept in the UK since the housing
market remains uncertain and it appears the safest way to
guarantee against negative equity. It has the added bonus of
allowing purchasers to design their own homes with the help of
architects. The only real barrier to persons wishing to build
their own home is the lack of available building plots,
particularly in inner-city areas. |
| The process of building your own dream home
can take anywhere from just a few months to one year (or even
more if the property is very large). |
| Places to Visit |
| The UK is essentially an island kingdom rich
in history and colors. |
| England |
| London has been the seat of British kings and
queens for centuries. This fact is reflected in its wonderful
architecture and beautiful castles and buildings, such as
Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and extensive game
parks and estates (i.e. Richmond Park). London over the
centuries developed into one of the world’s great economic and
trading areas and is a pleasure for any tourist to visit:
there are thousands upon thousands of shops, over 300 museums
and galleries and countless theatres playing shows in the West
End every day. A recently built tourist attraction is the
British Airways London Eye, currently the world’s largest
ferries wheel. It stands 135 meters high on the bank of the
River Thames opposite such sites as the Houses of Parliament
and the Westminster Bridge. London is a great place to take
day trips to explore the south of England as well, to
Cornwall, the pretty thatched cottages in the Cotswold, and
beautiful cathedral city of Salisbury, close to Stonehenge.
|
| Northern England |
| The north of England is marked by the beauty
of its landscape, the lakes district, the moors, the
mountains, castles and dramatic coastlines. Too many tourists
ignore the north after visiting the southern parts of England,
but here is where much of the history of this great country
begins, the towns from where the British recruited and from
where they built their great armies and navies. It is also
here where traces of numerous historical battles between the
English and the Scots may be seen, and in times before them,
the battles between the ancient Romans and the Celts. A good
place to visit for history buffs is Hadrian’s Wall built by
the Romans in the 2nd century AD as the northernmost frontier
to their great Empire. Walking along it, visitors can view the
spectacular countryside and see the ruins of old forts and
visit the museums. |
| Wales |
| Wales, like Scotland, was once a separate
country with its own ruling monarchy. Today, the Welsh
maintain their separate traditions and Celtic language. The
scenery is breathtaking: Snowdonia’s mountains in the north
and the Brecon Becons in the south, the stunning coastline to
the west and tranquility of the lakes in the middle of Wales
are just some highlights. |
| Wales is draped in history and can be seen
just about everywhere. There are ancient forts, burial
chambers, castles and old Roman roads criss-crossing the
countryside. A visit to some of the numerous art galleries and
museums is definitely worth it; the traveler can expect to
come out far more enlightened about the history of Wales and
its misty Celtic past. |
| Scotland |
| The highlight of a visit to Edinburgh - the
capital of Scotland - is the walk up the Royal Mile to the
ancient castle up the top. On the way, visit some tourist
shops or local pubs – or go on a whisky tour! Edinburgh is a
great place to visit, it’s full of friendly people, and
accommodation is cheap compared to the south. It’s also a
great spot to join a tour out to the Highlands or other
country areas. |
| The Highlands |
| Perhaps one of the last wildernesses left in
Europe, the Highlands are full of lochs and ancient castles. A
ruggedly mountainous region steeped in the history of the old
Scottish clans, there are many historical sites to visit. A
stop-off for many tourists is Loch Ness, famed for the
supposed monster that lives in its depths. |
| Glasgow |
| Glasgow is renowned for its style and its art.
Here there are many museums, art galleries, castles and so on
for the visitor to enjoy. |
| Northern Ireland |
| Northern Ireland offers exhilarating scenery
all within easy reach of its major city Belfast. Not to be
missed is the Ulster Way, hundreds of miles across moors,
mountains and along coastline. Belfast itself has beautiful
architecture and there is - almost literally - a pub on every
corner. |
