Changes

Higher education has been a specialty for over 500 years at Oxbridge ([[Oxford University|Oxford]] and [[Cambridge University|Cambridge]]), with new "red brick" universities added in the 19th century and many others in the late 20th century. Universities contribute £33 billion a year to the economy.  Britain has a strong attraction for international students, with 342,000 attending in 2007 (compared to 672,000 in the U.S. and 183,000 in Australia). They spend £1.5 billion in tuition in Britain annually, plus another £0.4 billion off campus.

Higher education has been a specialty for over 500 years at Oxbridge ([[Oxford University|Oxford]] and [[Cambridge University|Cambridge]]), with new "red brick" universities added in the 19th century and many others in the late 20th century. Universities contribute £33 billion a year to the economy.  Britain has a strong attraction for international students, with 342,000 attending in 2007 (compared to 672,000 in the U.S. and 183,000 in Australia). They spend £1.5 billion in tuition in Britain annually, plus another £0.4 billion off campus.

According to an early-2017 report, universities in the UK have high levels of censorship and low levels of [[free speech]].<ref>Singman, Brooke (March 14, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/03/14/free-speech-under-attack-at-uk-colleges-report-says.html Free speech under attack at UK colleges, report says]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref> Additionally, many UK schools (about 120 in May 2017) adopted a program that promotes in indoctrinates students with the [[homosexual agenda]] in all areas of curriculum and in other ways such as unisex uniforms and the removal of terms such as "boy" and "girl" from school vocabulary.<ref>Hale, Virginia (May 17, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/17/120-uk-schools-lgbt-curriculum/ LGBT Curriculum Programme, Gender Neutral Uniforms Adopted By 120 UK Schools]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 17, 2017.</ref>

According to an early-2017 report, universities in the UK have high levels of censorship and low levels of [[free speech]].<ref>Singman, Brooke (March 14, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/03/14/free-speech-under-attack-at-uk-colleges-report-says.html Free speech under attack at UK colleges, report says]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 15, 2017.</ref> Additionally, many UK schools (about 120 in May 2017) adopted a program that promotes in indoctrinates students with the [[homosexual agenda]] in all areas of curriculum and in other ways such as unisex uniforms and the removal of terms such as "boy" and "girl" from school vocabulary.<ref>Hale, Virginia (May 17, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/17/120-uk-schools-lgbt-curriculum/ LGBT Curriculum Programme, Gender Neutral Uniforms Adopted By 120 UK Schools]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 17, 2017.</ref>

===Demographics===

===Demographics===

The [[Conservative Party|Conservative]] government of [[Edward Heath|Sir Edward Heath]] took the UK into the [[European Union]] in 1973. The [[Labour Party]] under [[Harold Wilson]] won the 1974 general elections and due to splits within the party, called the only national [[referendum]] asking the people if they wanted to stay in the Union. The "yes" vote won by a margin of approximately two to one. The Labour and Conservative parties have since had deep divisions over Union membership. Labour's 1983 manifesto promised to leave the Union, and whilst the Conservative party have never pledged to leave the Union, a growing band of "Eurosceptics" threatened to tear the party apart in the 1990s. The Labour, Conservative and  Scottish National parties wish to stay in the Union although disagree over the level of integration, but smaller parties such as the [[UK Independence Party]] and the Referendum Party campaigned on the single issue of sovereignty being lost to the Union.

The [[Conservative Party|Conservative]] government of [[Edward Heath|Sir Edward Heath]] took the UK into the [[European Union]] in 1973. The [[Labour Party]] under [[Harold Wilson]] won the 1974 general elections and due to splits within the party, called the only national [[referendum]] asking the people if they wanted to stay in the Union. The "yes" vote won by a margin of approximately two to one. The Labour and Conservative parties have since had deep divisions over Union membership. Labour's 1983 manifesto promised to leave the Union, and whilst the Conservative party have never pledged to leave the Union, a growing band of "Eurosceptics" threatened to tear the party apart in the 1990s. The Labour, Conservative and  Scottish National parties wish to stay in the Union although disagree over the level of integration, but smaller parties such as the [[UK Independence Party]] and the Referendum Party campaigned on the single issue of sovereignty being lost to the Union.

A referendum to [[Brexit|leave the EU]] was successfully held on June 23, 2016. In accordance with a [[Conservative Party]] manifesto commitment, the legal basis for a referendum was established by the passage of the European Union Referendum Act 2015 by the British Parliament. It was the third plebiscite held throughout the United Kingdom, and the second time the British electorate had been asked to vote on the issue of European Union membership: the first was held in 1975, when it was known as the EEC. Membership was approved in that referendum by 67% of voters – but the nature of the EU changed dramatically since then.<ref>Adrian Williamson, [http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/the-case-for-brexit-lessons-from-1960s-and-1970s The Case for Brexit: Lessons from the 1960s and 1970s], History and Policy (2015).</ref> The referendum result, to leave the European Union, was a historic victory for conservative eurosceptics, and the next day, liberal prime minister [[David Cameron]], who had supported EU membership despite its many flaws and no real benefits, resigned.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36615028 Brexit: David Cameron to quit after UK votes to leave EU]. ''BBC''. June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.</ref><ref>Gross, Jenny; Winning, Nicholas (June 24, 2016). [http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-s-brexit-vote-throws-political-scene-into-disarray-1466786724 Brexit Vote Throws U.K. Political Scene Into Disarray]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved December 15, 2016.</ref> Another winner was conservative Eurosceptic [[Nigel Farage]].

A referendum to [[Brexit|leave the EU]] was successfully held on June 23, 2016. In accordance with a [[Conservative Party]] manifesto commitment, the legal basis for a referendum was established by the passage of the European Union Referendum Act 2015 by the British Parliament. It was the third plebiscite held throughout the United Kingdom, and the second time the British electorate had been asked to vote on the issue of European Union membership: the first was held in 1975, when it was known as the EEC. Membership was approved in that referendum by 67% of voters – but the nature of the EU changed dramatically since then.<ref>Adrian Williamson, [http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/the-case-for-brexit-lessons-from-1960s-and-1970s The Case for Brexit: Lessons from the 1960s and 1970s], History and Policy (2015).</ref> The referendum result, to leave the European Union, was a historic victory for conservative eurosceptics, and the next day, liberal prime minister [[David Cameron]], who had supported EU membership despite its many flaws and no real benefits, resigned.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36615028 Brexit: David Cameron to quit after UK votes to leave EU]. ''BBC''. June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.</ref><ref>Gross, Jenny; Winning, Nicholas (June 24, 2016). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-s-brexit-vote-throws-political-scene-into-disarray-1466786724 Brexit Vote Throws U.K. Political Scene Into Disarray]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved December 15, 2016.</ref> Another winner was conservative Eurosceptic [[Nigel Farage]].

==Defense and Foreign Relations==

==Defense and Foreign Relations==