Media summer work
2017/18 events and
context:
Politics:
After David Cameron resigned
Theresa May of the conservative party became prime minister. Recently, Boris
Johnson became prime minister after Theresa May resigned. The leader of the
Liberal Democrat party is Jo Swinson.
Theresa May was chosen as
leader of the conservative party in 2016.
Conservatives had 42.4% of
the vote in the 2017 general election, with Labour behind with 40% of the vote.
Royals:
The Queen celebrated her 90th
birthday on the weekend of 10-12 June 2016.
It was announced in November
2017 that Prince Harry would marry Meghan Markle.
Prince William and Kate
Middleton had their 3rd child; Louis, in April 2018.
Prince Harry and Meghan
Markle’s first baby was born in May 2019.
Terrorism:
Westminster bridge – in March 2017, a terrorist attack took place at
Westminster bridge, the terrorist driving a car onto the pavement, injuring
more than 50 people. He then got out of the car and stabbed an unarmed police
officer. He was then killed at the scene by an armed officer.
London Bridge attack – in June 2017 8 people were killed when three attackers
drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before a knife attack in Borough
market. All three men were shot dead by police when they arrived on the scene
in 8 minutes.
Finsbury Park Mosque – June 2017 – one death and nine injured after a van was
driven into pedestrians.
Manchester – suicide bomb attack in Manchester arena in May 2017.
23 people dies, 139 wounded, more than half of them children.
Jo Cox – British politician who was murdered in June 2016. She was
shot and stabbed multiple times by Thomas Mair, who held far right views. He was
sentenced to life imprisonment.
Cultural trends
(2017-2019):
Films – Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Wonder Woman, Guardians of
the Galaxy Vol 2, Spider-Man Homecoming, It, Thor: Ragnarok, Logan, La La Land.
2018 – Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Mission
Impossible Fallout, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Bohemian Rhapsody.
2019 – Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, Captain Marvel,
Aladdin, Toy Story 4, Spider-Man: Far From Home.
TV programmes – Game of Thrones, Rick and Morty, Blue Planet, Black
Mirror, Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why, Daredevil, Narcos.
Specific UK issues:
Brexit – 2016 referendum, majority voted leave. March 2017, the
Prime Minister triggered Article 50, beginning the 2 year countdown to the UK
leaving the EU. Originally, the date that the UK would leave was 29 March 2019,
but this was extended to the end of June. This was then further extended to
October.
Grenfell tower – in June 2017, there was a fire in the 24 storey
Grenfell Tower. It caused 72 deaths, more than 70 injured, and 223 managed to
escape. It highlighted the issues with the cladding in the tower and many other
residential towers in England. The government pledged £200 million to replace
this cladding in the other buildings.
Andy Murray – won Wimbledon in 2016 after beating Milos Raonic. He was
the first Brit to win multiple Wimbledon championships since Fred Perry in
1935. He won his first Wimbledon title in 2013, ending the 77 year wait for a British
male champion.
Great Britain Olympics 2016
– Great Britain ended the Olympics ranked
2nd with 67 medals total, 27 of them gold. These were the most
successful games for Britain since 1908, just beating their London 2012 total
of 65.
