The last quarter of a century, from 1979 to 2007, has been eventful for
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The year 1979
brought major changes to the United Kingdom, in particular when the
political climate altered radically with the coming to power of the
Conservatives under Margaret Thatcher following the disastrous "Winter
of Discontent," which was characterized by economic woes and labor
unrest. In 1997, the political climate shifted once again when the New
Labour party won a landslide victory and the government was run by the
left-leaning centrist, Tony Blair. The period witnessed conflicts raging
both at home and abroad, it saw the premature death of a princess, and,
more positively, the reemergence of the UK economy. The Historical
Dictionary of Contemporary United Kingdom seeks to present the events,
people, and trends of the last 28 years and to help explain the current
state of the United Kingdom. Knowledge of this is vital to understanding
the society, politics, personalities, and actions that are shaping the
country right now. This is done through a chronology dating from 1979 to
the present, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 700
cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, places,
events, institutions, and organizations, as well as the political,
economic, social, cultural, and religious facets.