148-676: The Denby Eco-Link , dubbed the super lorry by the mainstream media, is a commercial vehicle designed and built by Denby Transport of the United Kingdom . The Eco-Link is a 60 tonne fully laden, 25.25m long, 8 axle B-Train (or B-Double) type of semi-trailer truck , in which a tractor unit pulls two semi-trailers , using fifth wheel couplings on both trailers. As one prototype of the UK Longer Heavier Vehicle (LHV) vehicle definition, which are longer and heavier than normal Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs, British English: lorries), it
296-541: A congestion charge scheme. Kelly set out proposals for a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow under new extensive plans. Gordon Brown admitted this was one of the biggest challenges which faced the UK Government over the coming years. In November 2007 it emerged that Kelly had misused part of her £10,000 communications allowance for party political material. The funds should have only been used for politically neutral material, and Kelly apologised for breaking
444-803: A fair trial . The English monarchs, through inheritance of substantial territories in France and claims to the French crown, were also heavily involved in conflicts in France, most notably the Hundred Years' War , while the Kings of Scots were in an alliance with the French during this period. Early modern Britain saw religious conflict resulting from the Reformation and the introduction of Protestant state churches in each country. The English Reformation ushered in political, constitutional, social and cultural change in
592-566: A slalom course consisting of cones spaced 12 m apart. In a May 2006 test drive, opposition Transport Minister Owen Paterson said of the Eco-Link that "The steering on the back is phenomenal. The real test was going round the bus. All this fussing about what's going to happen in the villages, well that's as tight as you're going to get!" In late 2009, having reached an impasse with the DfT and after taking legal advice, Dick Denby made it known that he
740-509: A subpolar oceanic climate . Higher elevations in Scotland experience a continental subarctic climate and the mountains experience a tundra climate . The prevailing wind is from the southwest and bears frequent spells of mild and wet weather from the Atlantic Ocean, although the eastern parts are mostly sheltered from this wind. Since the majority of the rain falls over the western regions,
888-587: A welfare state was established, and a comprehensive, publicly funded healthcare system, the National Health Service , was created. The rise of nationalism in the colonies coincided with Britain's much-diminished economic position, so that a policy of decolonisation was unavoidable. Independence was granted to India and Pakistan in 1947. Over the next three decades, most colonies of the British Empire gained their independence, and many became members of
1036-716: A 42-storey, 120-m tower in the New England Quarter development in Brighton , designed by Allies and Morrison and being planned by the Beetham Organization . She approved the building of new homes and businesses in Walker , Newcastle , in a bid to regenerate the area. Kelly was appointed to the position in Gordon Brown's new cabinet on 27 June in a government reshuffle, though it had been speculated she would be removed from
1184-552: A B-Double arrangement allows the separate delivery of either trailer by the tractor to a destination. If limited to the current UK weight limit of 44 tonnes, it is claimed by Denby that the Eco-Link would reduce carbon emissions by 16 per cent, and could still halve the number of trips needed for the same amount of cargo carried in conventional lorries. This is based on the fact that for light but bulky goods such as toilet paper , plastic bottles , cereals and aluminium cans , conventional lorries run out of cargo space before they reach
1332-409: A Minister within her department. On 9 January 2006, it came to light that Kelly's department had granted permission for a man who had been cautioned by police for viewing child pornography images and who was on a sex offenders register to be employed at a school, on the basis that he had not been convicted of an offence. He, and an unknown number of others on the sex offenders register, were not on
1480-534: A Roman Catholic primary school in Wapping , east London. However, on 8 January 2007, the Daily Mirror revealed that she had withdrawn her son from the voluntary aided school , and — following professional advice — sent him to a preparatory school that specialises in the education of boys aged 7–13 with dyslexia and/or developmental coordination disorder . Though the additional cost for specialist support outside
1628-456: A leading role in the movement to abolish slavery worldwide through the blockade of Africa and pressing other nations to end their trade with a series of treaties. In 1800 the parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland each passed an Act of Union, uniting the two kingdoms and creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801. After the defeat of France at the end of
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#17328553936241776-633: A member of the Privy Council ) with the position of Secretary of State for Education and Skills . She became the youngest woman ever to sit in the Cabinet. The Government's Extended Schools policy, which planned to open some schools from 8am to 6pm and provide child-care services for working parents, was dubbed by some as "Kelly hours" after Kelly, although the National Childcare Strategy with before and after-school care funded in most schools by
1924-728: A mother of four young children, she refused to work the long hours normally associated with such positions and refused to take a red box in the evening whilst at the Treasury. In a minor reshuffle, she was promoted to be Minister for the Cabinet Office on 9 September 2004, replacing Douglas Alexander . Kelly guided the Civil Contingencies Bill through its final stages in Parliament, which faced serious objections from some civil liberties campaigns. Kelly hardly ever voted against
2072-818: A policy of splendid isolation in Europe, and attempted to contain Russian influence in Afghanistan and Persia , in what came to be known as the Great Game . During this time, Canada , Australia and New Zealand were granted self-governing dominion status. At the turn of the century, Britain's industrial dominance became challenged by the German Empire and the United States . The Edwardian era saw social reform and home rule for Ireland become important domestic issues, while
2220-504: A result of a shortage of workers in the 1950s, the government encouraged immigration from Commonwealth countries . In the following decades, the UK became a more multi-ethnic society. Despite rising living standards in the late 1950s and 1960s, the UK's economic performance was less successful than many of its main competitors such as France, West Germany and Japan. The UK was the first democratic nation to lower its voting age to 18 in 1969. In
2368-502: A scholarship to the sixth-form of Westminster School . Kelly then enrolled at The Queen's College, Oxford , where she studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1986 (having originally won a place to study medicine), graduating in 1989. She then undertook postgraduate study at the London School of Economics , where she was awarded a MSc degree in economics in 1992. Kelly taught at University of Navarra , after she joined
2516-777: A series of connected wars (including the English Civil War ) which led to the temporary overthrow of the monarchy, with the execution of King Charles I , and the establishment of the short-lived unitary republic of the Commonwealth of England , Scotland and Ireland. Although the monarchy was restored , the Interregnum along with the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the subsequent Bill of Rights 1689 in England and Claim of Right Act 1689 in Scotland ensured that, unlike much of
2664-556: A seven-mile course using the A46 . Mr Denby had not driven a truck for 14 years, but updated his own license in order to be able to perform the drive without exposing one of his drivers to the risk of prosecution. On 1 December, The Eco-Link test was cut short 'barely 50 yards' from the Denby yard. The Police pulled Mr Denby over as it left the gates, in order to test it for its legality "to investigate any... offences which may be found". The Police said
2812-473: A standard 16.5 m long articulated lorry, and turns it into a B Double by adding a special trailer in the middle, which has a fifth wheel coupling mounted above the trailer bogey, extending the overall length, and hence cargo carrying volume. All in, the Denby Eco-Link has a maximum gross weight (vehicle and cargo) of 60 tonnes. It has a total vehicle length (tractor and two trailers) of 25.25 m, with
2960-516: A statement confirming their confidence in Kelly and denying rumours that she was to be replaced. There was further controversy when it transpired that another teacher had been cleared to work at a school, despite the fact that he had been convicted in 1980 for indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl and had been previously removed from three schools. A letter from the Department for Education that suggested
3108-494: A strong record in helping children with a wide range of learning needs to succeed." Ian Gibson , Labour MP for Norwich North, called the decision "a slap in the face for the teachers and pupils in the school the child has been taken out of". However, Conservative Party leader David Cameron , whose own disabled son Ivan attended a state special needs school, defended her decision, saying "People should recognise that politicians like everyone else are parents first and will act in
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#17328553936243256-503: A total of 8 axles (three on the tractor, two on the middle trailer, three on the rear trailer). The short extra trailer in the B-Train is known as the A-Trailer. On the Denby Eco-Link, the A-Trailer contains a computer controlled active steering system linked to the main tractor, which counter-steers the wheels of this middle trailer with respect to the tractor (i.e. if the tractor turns left,
3404-539: A turnover of between 9 and 10 million pounds. Its trucks operate in a red livery , with DENBY prominently displayed on trucks and trailers in white lettering. The Eco-Link uses DENBY EXTRA lettering. Denby began work on the Eco-Link project in around 2002. The 60-tonne Eco-Link made its debut at the British Transport Advisory Committee (BTAC) annual vehicle evaluation and fuel trials in June 2004, where it
3552-477: Is a political judgement. But her Catholicism should not be a criterion in forming that judgement." The Observer newspaper reported on 15 October 2006 that Kelly had joined the Prime Minister in seeking to exempt churches from new equality laws which would require Christian churches to treat homosexuality with equal validity to heterosexuality , which Kelly felt went against Catholic teaching. Lorely Burt ,
3700-696: Is also a member of the group. Previously, uncertainty existed over Kelly's membership; she declined to say whether or not she was a member, saying only that she had received 'spiritual support' from the organisation. Kelly is Vice President of the Catholic Union of Great Britain . In the 1997 general election , Kelly gained the seat of Bolton West from the Conservatives while heavily pregnant, and gave birth to her first son eleven days later. She gained her place in parliament as Tony Blair became Prime Minister with Labour's landslide election victory. She served on
3848-537: Is breaking the spirit of the law, if not the law itself, and ignoring public opinion." The Campaign for Better Transport were apprehensive of the implications of a public trial of the Eco-Link. Mr Denby had given the Police prior warning of the timing and route of the test drive, and had outlined their position in writing to the Eastern Traffic Area Office. Denby intended to take it for a half-hour test run on
3996-446: Is not approved for UK use, the Dutch trailer manufacturer Jumbo began production of the Eco-Link under license from Denby, with active steering employed on both trailers on their version, which uses 7 axles. It was reported on 17 November 2009 that Denby intended to risk legal action by conducting a road test of the Eco-Link on the public highway using an existing legal loophole and limiting
4144-400: Is not currently permitted to be used in the UK. As of 2009, the largest ordinary lorries in the UK have 6 axles and a maximum laden weight of 44 tonnes, and can be 16.5m long as single trailer semi-trailer trucks (British English: articulated lorries), or 18.75m as drawbar lorries. Denby Transport, a Lincoln based haulage company owned by the Denby family, have been developing and testing
4292-441: Is now abandoned, but if the tests provide us with some clarification on the issue, this could be a step forward...This is not a challenge to the authorities, we are simply seeking clarification of the legislation" Dick Denby said "If the law decides they are illegal we'll pull it off the roads. If the law decides they are quite legal, everyone who wants one can have one" As a result of the inspection, VOSA were thought likely to issue
4440-481: Is only the one specific nominal term 'Great Britain' which invariably excludes Northern Ireland". The BBC historically preferred to use "Britain" as shorthand only for Great Britain, though the present style guide does not take a position except that "Great Britain" excludes Northern Ireland. The adjective "British" is commonly used to refer to matters relating to the United Kingdom and is used in law to refer to United Kingdom citizenship and nationality . People of
4588-643: Is perpetrated by cowards, attacking the weak to avoid confronting the strong." Kelly announced a major increase of railway capacity by providing extra trains across the country by 2010 which drew criticism for her London bias as most of the funding would be spent there. She gave the go-ahead in 2007 for billions of pounds of public money to be spent on the Crossrail project in London, which caused outrage amongst MPs in other cities, especially Manchester , who had been told that no public transport funding would be given without
Denby Eco-Link - Misplaced Pages Continue
4736-525: Is ranked 2nd out of 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index . A law has been passed that UK greenhouse gas emissions will be net zero by 2050. England accounts for 53 per cent of the UK, covering 50,350 square miles (130,395 km ). Most of the country consists of lowland terrain, with upland and mountainous terrain northwest of the Tees–Exe line which roughly divides
4884-592: Is sometimes used as a loose synonym for the United Kingdom as a whole. The word England is occasionally used incorrectly to refer to the United Kingdom as a whole, a mistake principally made by people from outside the UK. The term "Britain" is used as a synonym for Great Britain , but also sometimes for the United Kingdom. Usage is mixed: the UK Government prefers to use the term "UK" rather than "Britain" or "British" on its website (except when referring to embassies), while acknowledging that both terms refer to
5032-565: Is the Isle of Wight . Scotland accounts for 32 per cent of the UK, covering 30,410 square miles (78,772 km ). This includes nearly 800 islands , notably the Hebrides , Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands. Scotland is the most mountainous constituent country of the UK, the Highlands to the north and west are the more rugged region containing the majority of Scotland's mountainous land, including
5180-569: Is the highest peak in Wales. Wales has over 1,680 miles (2,704 kilometres) of coastline including the Pembrokeshire Coast . Several islands lie off the Welsh mainland, the largest of which is Anglesey ( Ynys Môn ). Ruth Kelly Ruth Maria Kelly (born 9 May 1968) is the chair of Water UK, the trade association representing all of the water and wastewater companies of the United Kingdom. She
5328-517: The 1884 Reform Act championed by William Gladstone granting suffrage to a majority of males for the first time. The British population increased at a dramatic rate, accompanied by rapid urbanisation , causing significant social and economic stresses. By the late 19th century, the Conservatives under Benjamin Disraeli and Lord Salisbury initiated a period of imperial expansion in Africa , maintained
5476-524: The Atlantic slave trade , mainly between 1662 and 1807 when British or British-colonial slave ships transported nearly 3.3 million slaves from Africa. The slaves were taken to work on plantations , principally in the Caribbean but also North America . However, with pressure from the abolitionism movement , Parliament banned the trade in 1807, banned slavery in the British Empire in 1833, and Britain took
5624-624: The Battle of Culloden in 1746, after which the Scottish Highlanders were forcibly assimilated into Scotland by revoking the feudal independence of clan chiefs . The British colonies in North America that broke away in the American War of Independence became the United States . British imperial ambition turned towards Asia, particularly to India . British merchants played a leading part in
5772-645: The Cairngorms , Loch Lomond and The Trossachs and Ben Nevis which at 1,345 metres (4,413 ft) is the highest point in the British Isles. Wales accounts for less than 9 per cent of the UK, covering 8,020 square miles (20,779 km ). Wales is mostly mountainous, though South Wales is less mountainous than North and mid Wales . The highest mountains in Wales are in Snowdonia and include Snowdon ( Welsh : Yr Wyddfa ) which, at 1,085 metres (3,560 ft),
5920-512: The Commonwealth of Nations . The UK was the third country to develop a nuclear weapons arsenal (with its first atomic bomb test, Operation Hurricane , in 1952), but the post-war limits of Britain's international role were illustrated by the Suez Crisis of 1956. The international spread of the English language ensured the continuing international influence of its literature and culture . As
6068-693: The Connaught Rangers and served in France during the First World War . After the war, he returned to County Tyrone and took up a post of School Master in Altishane. His first wife died leaving a young family of six. He remarried Mary Agnes and had another six children. One of them James (Seamus) was Ruth's father. Kelly is a practising Roman Catholic , a member of the Opus Dei , and a regular attender at their meetings and events. Her brother, Ronan Kelly,
Denby Eco-Link - Misplaced Pages Continue
6216-554: The Department for Education and Skills was Alan Johnson . On 16 October 2006, she announced that her new role would involve cutting down on extremists within communities. Kelly's staunchly Catholic beliefs and social positions clashed with her Cabinet position as a member of Tony Blair's government, which was pushing for a number of progressive reforms and equality for gay and bisexual people . Criticism intensified when Kelly later became Minister for Women and Equality , and criticism
6364-408: The Department for Transport (DfT) to trial their LHV prototypes on the public road. In June 2008, after a two-year desk study into LHV's, the DfT ruled out approval of trials of most designs LHV considered, including the Eco-Link. After taking legal advice, by the end of 2009 Denby Transport owner Dick Denby had concluded that, due to its manoeuvrability, and if kept to a maximum weight of 44 tonnes,
6512-517: The DfES prohibited list, " List 99 ". On 13 January, Kim Howells , a Minister of State at the DfES, admitted that it was he who had actually made the decision, in accordance with advice given to him by civil servants that the "person did not represent an ongoing threat to children but that he should be given a grave warning". In response to the critical media coverage surrounding the issue, Downing Street issued
6660-680: The English local elections in May 2006, Kelly was appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government , a position created when these functions were split off from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister . The department also took over the Home Office 's responsibilities for active communities and civic renewal. She was also given the post of Minister for Women and Equality . Kelly's successor at
6808-731: The European Convention on Human Rights . The UK remained a great power with global diplomatic and military influence and a leading role in the United Nations and NATO . The UK broadly supported the United States' approach to the " war on terror " in the early 21st century. British troops fought in the War in Afghanistan , but controversy surrounded Britain's military deployment in Iraq , which saw
6956-568: The European Union (EU) in 1992, the UK was one of the 12 founding member states. From the late 1960s, Northern Ireland suffered communal and paramilitary violence (sometimes affecting other parts of the UK) conventionally known as the Troubles . It is usually considered to have ended with the 1998 Belfast "Good Friday" Agreement . Following a period of widespread economic slowdown and industrial strife in
7104-428: The Falkland Islands , leading to the 10-week Falklands War in which Argentine forces were defeated. The inhabitants of the islands are predominantly descendants of British settlers, and strongly favour British sovereignty, expressed in a 2013 referendum . From 1984, the UK economy was helped by the inflow of substantial North Sea oil revenues. Another British overseas territory, Gibraltar , ceded to Great Britain in
7252-404: The French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars (1792–1815), the United Kingdom emerged as the principal naval and imperial power (with London the largest city in the world from about 1830). Unchallenged at sea , British dominance was later described as Pax Britannica ("British Peace"), a period of relative peace among the great powers (1815–1914) during which the British Empire became
7400-428: The Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921). In 1922 he was interned by the Government of Northern Ireland . Murphy's detention file refers to him as 'quartermaster of the West Fermanagh IRA Battalion'. He went on hunger strike to protest at his detention. He was released unconditionally in June 1924, when internment ended. Her paternal grandfather Francis (Frank) Kelly joined
7548-463: The Labour Party emerged from an alliance of trade unions and small socialist groups in 1900, and suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. Britain was one of the principal Allies that defeated the Central Powers in the First World War (1914–1918). Alongside their French, Russian and (after 1917) American counterparts, British armed forces were engaged across much of the British Empire and in several regions of Europe, particularly on
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#17328553936247696-525: The Liberal Democrat Equalities spokesperson, who opposed allowing churches to preach against homosexuality in schools, called for Kelly to be removed from the Cabinet. It was reported in January 2007 that Kelly supported an exemption for Catholic adoption agencies from new laws that would allow them to refuse service to gay couples. Kelly demonstrated some opposition to the development of skyscrapers from her first months as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government . In November 2006, she stopped
7844-405: The Representation of the People Act 1918 . After the war, Britain became a permanent member of the Executive Council of the League of Nations and received a mandate over a number of former German and Ottoman colonies. Under the leadership of David Lloyd George , the British Empire reached its greatest extent, covering a fifth of the world's land surface and a quarter of its population. By
7992-410: The Roman departure was followed by Anglo-Saxon settlement . In 1066, the Normans conquered England . With the end of the Wars of the Roses the English state stabilised and began to grow in power, resulting by the 16th century in the annexation of Wales , the domination of Scotland , and the establishment of the British Empire . Over the course of the 17th century, the role of the British monarchy
8140-412: The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 created the present United Kingdom. The UK became the first industrialised country and was the world's foremost power for the majority of the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly during the " Pax Britannica " between 1815 and 1914. At its height in the 1920s, the British Empire encompassed almost a quarter of the world's landmass and population, and
8288-463: The Soviet Union formed in 1941, leading the Allies against the Axis powers . There were eventual hard-fought victories in the Battle of the Atlantic , the North Africa campaign and the Italian campaign . British forces played important roles in the Normandy landings of 1944 and the liberation of Europe . The British Army led the Burma campaign against Japan, and the British Pacific Fleet fought Japan at sea. British scientists contributed to
8436-436: The Treasury Select Committee ; she was also appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Agriculture Minister , Nick Brown , from 1998. Kelly was a member of a commission set up by the Institute for Public Policy Research into the Private Finance Initiative , which expressed some scepticism about the operation of the policy. After Labour won the 2001 general election , Kelly was appointed as Economic Secretary to
8584-449: The Western Front . The high fatalities of trench warfare caused the loss of much of a generation of men, with lasting social effects in the nation and a great disruption in the social order. Britain had suffered 2.5 million casualties and finished the war with a huge national debt. The consequences of the war persuaded the government to expand the right to vote in national and local elections to all adult men and most adult women with
8732-408: The coastline paradox . It is connected to continental Europe by the Channel Tunnel , which at 31 miles (50 km) (24 miles (38 km) underwater) is the longest underwater tunnel in the world. The UK contains four terrestrial ecoregions: Celtic broadleaf forests , English Lowlands beech forests , North Atlantic moist mixed forests , and Caledonian conifer forests . The area of woodland in
8880-436: The largest protest in British history in opposition to the government led by Tony Blair . The Great Recession severely affected the UK economy. The Cameron–Clegg coalition government of 2010 introduced austerity measures intended to tackle the substantial public deficits. Studies have suggested that policy led to significant social disruption and suffering. A referendum on Scottish independence in 2014 resulted in
9028-512: The 16th century and established the Church of England . Moreover, it defined a national identity for England and slowly, but profoundly, changed people's religious beliefs. Wales was fully incorporated into the Kingdom of England , and Ireland was constituted as a kingdom in personal union with the English crown. In what was to become Northern Ireland, the lands of the independent Catholic Gaelic nobility were confiscated and given to Protestant settlers from England and Scotland. In 1603,
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#17328553936249176-401: The 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, is a key military base . A referendum in 2002 on shared sovereignty with Spain was rejected by 98.97% of voters in the territory. Around the end of the 20th century, there were major changes to the governance of the UK with the establishment of devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The statutory incorporation followed acceptance of
9324-406: The 1970s, the Conservative government of the 1980s led by Margaret Thatcher initiated a radical policy of monetarism , deregulation, particularly of the financial sector (for example, the Big Bang in 1986) and labour markets, the sale of state-owned companies (privatisation), and the withdrawal of subsidies to others. In 1982, Argentina invaded the British territories of South Georgia and
9472-476: The 5th century) united with the Picts to create the Kingdom of Scotland in the 9th century. In 1066, the Normans invaded England from northern France. After conquering England , they seized large parts of Wales , conquered much of Ireland and were invited to settle in Scotland, bringing to each country feudalism on the Northern French model and Norman-French culture. The Anglo-Norman ruling class greatly influenced, but eventually assimilated with,
9620-456: The A-Trailer steers right, and vice versa), minimising the trailer cut-in at corners or roundabouts . Denby had previously been a project partner in an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded research project undertaken by the University of Cambridge , which developed an active steer system for a B-double vehicle, which could overcome the problems encountered by such vehicles on UK roads. Two cameras linked to monitors in
9768-565: The Blair government surrounding the political issues of homosexuality, Kelly had only attended two. LGBT rights activist Peter Tatchell attacked Kelly for her views on homosexuality, claiming: "Tony Blair would never appoint someone to a race equality post who had a lukewarm record of opposing racism". In a letter published in The Times on 11 May 2006, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster claimed that attacks on Kelly were anti-Catholic . Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor wrote "Ms Kelly may well be scrutinised for her fitness in office. That
9916-464: The Brittonic area mainly to what was to become Wales , Cornwall and, until the latter stages of the Anglo-Saxon settlement, the Hen Ogledd (northern England and parts of southern Scotland). Most of the region settled by the Anglo-Saxons became unified as the Kingdom of England in the 10th century. Meanwhile, Gaelic speakers in north-west Britain (with connections to the north-east of Ireland and traditionally supposed to have migrated from there in
10064-450: The Brunswick Quay proposal, which represented over £100 million worth of investment into Liverpool , from going ahead. The final report of the planners who carried out the public inquiry had recommended approval for the project. In December 2006, she called a public inquiry into the 20 Fenchurch Street tower in London's financial district , on the basis that a tall building would be "unsuitable for this site". In May 2007, she blocked
10212-456: The Eco-Link continued, with the Conservative opposition Transport ministers Owen Paterson from the Commons and Earl Attlee from the Lords both driving the Denby vehicle at demonstration events during 2006. On 4 June 2008, based on the desk study's conclusions, Transport Minister Ruth Kelly postponed indefinitely the approval of trials of nearly all LHV designs, except the option of longer normal semi-trailers. In October 2009, even though it
10360-431: The Eco-Link on private proving grounds since 2002. Denby believes that the Eco-Link offers several environmental and productivity benefits over normal lorries, without any decrease in safety, and that an active steering system used on the middle trailer gives the Eco-Link a manoeuvrability and turning circle equivalent to shorter legal LGVs. In 2004 Denby, among other UK hauliers, unsuccessfully applied for permission from
10508-491: The Eco-Link would be legal under a loophole in the 1986 Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations . Having reached an impasse with the DfT, who still regarded the EcoLink as an illegal LHV but conceded that only the courts could rule on the matter, on 1 December Mr Denby took the Eco-Link for a road test on the A46 . Having already informed the police, Mr Denby was stopped outside the depot by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) who prohibited further tests. Prior to
10656-606: The Labour Party in 1990, becoming a member of the party's Bethnal Green and Stepney constituency party . She was an economics writer for The Guardian from 1990, before becoming deputy head of the Inflation Report Division of the Bank of England in 1994. She married Derek John Gadd, a local government officer, in 1996, and they have four children. Kelly's maternal grandfather, Philip Murphy, served as an officer in
10804-789: The Manhattan Project whose task was to build an atomic weapon. Once built, it was decided, with British consent, to use the weapon against Japan. The UK was one of the Big Three powers (along with the US and the Soviet Union) who met to plan the post-war world ; it drafted the Declaration by United Nations with the United States and became one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council . It worked closely with
10952-530: The Name of Great Britain". The term "United Kingdom" has occasionally been used as a description for the former Kingdom of Great Britain , although its official name from 1707 to 1800 was simply "Great Britain". The Acts of Union 1800 formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . Following the partition of Ireland and the independence of the Irish Free State in 1922, which left Northern Ireland as
11100-540: The New Opportunities Fund pre-dated extended schools (and Kelly's ministerial tenure) by several years. The extended schools initiative was predicated on wider use of and access to schools as community resources, not just for parents and children. Her proposals in the 2005 white paper to reduce the number and influence of parent governors in trust schools were seen as a partial reversal of this earlier stance. Kelly attracted considerable criticism by rejecting
11248-701: The Scottish electorate voting by 55.3 to 44.7% to remain part of the United Kingdom. In 2016, 51.9 per cent of voters in the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union . The UK left the EU in 2020. On 1 May 2021, the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force. The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the UK's economy , caused major disruptions to education and had far-reaching impacts on society and politics in 2020 and 2021. The United Kingdom
11396-475: The Secretary of State had considered his case and found that although his past actions had been unwise and unacceptable, he had undertaken teaching work to good effect since. A controversy in Kelly's time at the DfES was the proposed introduction of trust schools . The Trusts were intended to be non-profit making and to have charitable status, although they could be formed by commercial enterprises. In fact, one of
11544-574: The Treasury . Her role focused on competition policy and small businesses. After a year she was promoted to be Financial Secretary to the Treasury , giving her responsibility for regulation of the financial services industry. In both positions her principal task was in the thorough revision of the Financial Services regulation system which was introduced by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 . Kelly brought in new regulations to tackle
11692-492: The UK has the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal gross domestic product (GDP). It is a nuclear state , and is ranked fifth globally in military expenditure . The UK has been a permanent member of the UN Security Council since its first session in 1946. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations , Council of Europe , G7 , OECD , NATO , Five Eyes , AUKUS and CPTPP . British influence can be observed in
11840-484: The UK in 2023 is estimated to be 3.25 million hectares, which represents 13% of the total land area in the UK. Most of the United Kingdom has a temperate climate, with generally cool temperatures and plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons seldom dropping below 0 °C (32 °F ) or rising above 30 °C (86 °F). Some parts, away from the coast, of upland England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most of Scotland, experience
11988-908: The UK into lowland and upland areas. Lowland areas include Cornwall , the New Forest , the South Downs and the Norfolk Broads . Upland areas include the Lake District , the Pennines , the Yorkshire Dales , Exmoor , and Dartmoor . The main rivers and estuaries are the Thames , Severn , and the Humber . England's highest mountain is Scafell Pike , at 978 metres (3,209 ft) in the Lake District; its largest island
12136-460: The UK" ...We support Denby Transport's initiative to clarify the law and "Ruth Kelly's decision was unsatisfactory and her 310-page report was not allowed to be debated". James Hookham of the FTA said "The law is currently ambiguous, which has made the legality of LHVs unclear in the UK" Opposition to the trial came from the rail freight lobby group Freight on Rail, whose Philippa Edmunds said "Denby Transport
12284-402: The United Kingdom and that elsewhere "British government" is used at least as frequently as "United Kingdom government". The UK Permanent Committee on Geographical Names recognises "United Kingdom", "UK" and "U.K." as shortened and abbreviated geopolitical terms for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in its toponymic guidelines; it does not list "Britain" but notes that "it
12432-559: The United Kingdom is London , whose wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe , with a population of 14.9 million. The cities of Edinburgh , Cardiff , and Belfast are the national capitals of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, respectively. The lands of the UK have been inhabited continuously since the Neolithic . In AD 43 the Roman conquest of Britain began;
12580-411: The United Kingdom is 1339.7 hours, which is just under 30% of the maximum possible. The hours of sunshine vary from 1200 to about 1580 hours per year, and since 1996 the UK has been and still is receiving above the 1981 to 2010 average hours of sunshine. Climate change has a serious impact on the country. A third of food price rise in 2023 is attributed to climate change. As of 2022, the United Kingdom
12728-436: The United Kingdom use several different terms to describe their national identity and may identify themselves as being British , English , Scottish , Welsh , Northern Irish , or Irish ; or as having a combination of different national identities. Settlement by Cro-Magnons of what was to become the United Kingdom occurred in waves beginning by about 30,000 years ago. The island has been continuously inhabited only since
12876-663: The United Kingdom. The 1928 Equal Franchise Act gave women electoral equality with men in national elections. Strikes in the mid-1920s culminated in the General Strike of 1926 . Britain had still not recovered from the effects of the First World War when the Great Depression (1929–1932) led to considerable unemployment and hardship in the old industrial areas, as well as political and social unrest with rising membership in communist and socialist parties. A coalition government
13024-626: The United States to establish the IMF , World Bank and NATO . The war left the UK severely weakened and financially dependent on the Marshall Plan , but it was spared the total war that devastated eastern Europe. In the immediate post-war years, the Labour government under Clement Attlee initiated a radical programme of reforms, which significantly impacted British society in the following decades . Major industries and public utilities were nationalised ,
13172-607: The acquisition and settlement of overseas colonies , particularly in North America and the Caribbean. Though previous attempts at uniting the two kingdoms within Great Britain in 1606, 1667, and 1689 had proved unsuccessful, the attempt initiated in 1705 led to the Treaty of Union of 1706 being agreed and ratified by both parliaments. On 1 May 1707, the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed,
13320-527: The addition of a sunset clause in part 2 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 . In a free parliamentary vote on 20 May 2008, Kelly voted for cutting the upper limit for abortions from 24 to 12 weeks, along with two other Catholic cabinet ministers Des Browne and Paul Murphy . In the reshuffle following the resignation of David Blunkett on 15 December 2004, Kelly entered the Cabinet (also becoming
13468-399: The best exam results in the borough of Tower Hamlets and among the best in the UK, with 96% of children reaching the expected standard for English, and 100% for Maths and Science. The area's education authority also runs six special needs schools within reach of Kelly's home and responded to the controversy saying, "We are proud of the quality of education we offer to all children. We have
13616-641: The best interests of their children". Kelly made a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission about the Mirror' s reporting of the story, but the complaint was rejected, with the PCC ruling that the story was "a matter of considerable public interest ", given that she is "a Cabinet minister – who had previously been Secretary of State for Education and Skills", and "even if government policy included an acceptance of private schooling for those with special needs,
13764-685: The cabinet. Within a few days of entering her job, she faced tough work as she was responsible for securing the public's safety through transport after some attempted terrorist attacks. She came under fire for admitting along with other Labour Ministers that she had smoked cannabis as a teenager. Kelly's support for biofuels drew criticism from activists who felt that it impoverishes third world farmers to assuage first world environmental guilt. "If people starve because of biofuels, Ruth Kelly and her peers will have killed them," wrote environmentalist George Monbiot in The Guardian . "Like all such crimes, it
13912-697: The decades-long process of European integration , the UK was a founding member of the Western European Union , established with the London and Paris Conferences in 1954. In 1960 the UK was one of the seven founding members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), but in 1973 it left to join the European Communities (EC). In a 1975 referendum 67% voted to stay in it. When the EC became
14060-423: The defendant." The DfT believed the Denby super lorry, being an LHV, was still illegal. In consultation with Denby, the DfT admitted that ultimately, only the courts could decide the legality of running LHVs, and reportedly admitted that the issue of length came under "quite a fiddly bit of legislation". Denby Transport believed they had found a legal-loophole in the present UK law to allow the Eco-Link to be used on
14208-528: The driver's cab allow monitoring of the truck's blind-spots . In the final report of the BTAC trials in November 2004, the Eco-Link was given an "excellent" rating for its performance in manoeuvrability, productivity, safety and emissions tests, superseding ordinary lorries in many respects. Private trials had also reportedly shown the Denby vehicle had a 20 per cent shorter stopping distance than conventional lorries of
14356-399: The early DfES-hosted seminars on the establishment of Trusts included representatives from Microsoft and KPMG . However, it was their ability to set their own admission arrangements that generated the most criticism. A large number of Labour backbenchers, as well as numerous party luminaries like Neil Kinnock and former Education Secretary Estelle Morris , made known their opposition to
14504-477: The eastern parts are the driest. Atlantic currents, warmed by the Gulf Stream , bring mild winters, especially in the west where winters are wet and even more so over high ground. Summers are warmest in the southeast of England and coolest in the north. Heavy snowfall can occur in winter and early spring on high ground, and occasionally settles to great depth away from the hills. The average total annual sunshine in
14652-708: The face of increased resistance from its own supporters. When the Education and Inspections Bill 2006 was finally published on 28 February 2006, it contained much of what had been trailed, although most notable by its absence was any mention of " trust school ". Foundation and Voluntary Aided schools were left to pick up the mantle of trust schools. The effect of her religious viewpoint on her opinions regarding controversial scientific questions has been of concern to some scientists who have speculated that her religious views could have an effect on government policy regarding stem cell research . All four of Kelly's children started at
14800-438: The fact that the complainant did not feel that the current state system could meet her child's requirements raised questions about the nature of publicly-funded schooling and its ability to cater for children with special needs – including those whose families would not be able to pay for private schooling." Twice Kelly has been targeted by members of fathers' rights group Fathers 4 Justice in egg-throwing incidents. The first
14948-411: The first trailer was too long. Mr Denby asserted that an internal bulkhead, reducing the cargo space to 7m, meant the trailer was still legal under the 1986 regulations. Having returned to the yard, Mr Denby was formally notified by Police and VOSA that the lorry could not be used, but the matter was passed to VOSA by Police, who did not arrest Mr Denby. Denby managing director Peter Denby said "The trial
15096-575: The first year, Britain and its Empire continued the war against Germany. Churchill engaged industry, scientists and engineers to support the government and the military in the prosecution of the war effort. In 1940, the Royal Air Force defeated the German Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain . Urban areas suffered heavy bombing during the Blitz . The Grand Alliance of Britain, the United States and
15244-569: The formal control it exerted over its own colonies, British dominance of much of world trade meant that it effectively controlled the economies of regions such as East Asia and Latin America . Throughout the Victorian era , political attitudes favoured free trade and laissez-faire policies. Beginning with the Great Reform Act in 1832, Parliament gradually widened the voting franchise , with
15392-522: The funding of terrorism after September 2001 attacks . Kelly was assigned the task of dealing with Equitable Life after the Penrose Report into the life insurance company was published. She rejected calls for government compensation to Equitable policyholders, on the grounds that the losses arose from actions of the company rather than from any defect of regulation, and that it was still trading. Equitable policyholders continued to demand redress. As
15540-781: The global hegemon and adopted the role of global policeman. From 1853 to 1856, Britain took part in the Crimean War , allied with the Ottoman Empire against Tsarist Russia , participating in the naval battles of the Baltic Sea known as the Åland War in the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland , among others. Following the Indian Rebellion in 1857 , the British government led by Lord Palmerston assumed direct rule over India . Alongside
15688-403: The kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland were united in a personal union when James VI, King of Scots , inherited the crowns of England and Ireland and moved his court from Edinburgh to London; each country nevertheless remained a separate political entity and retained its separate political, legal, and religious institutions. In the mid-17th century, all three kingdoms were involved in
15836-408: The last retreat of the ice around 11,500 years ago. By the end of the region's prehistoric period , the population is thought to have belonged largely to a culture termed Insular Celtic , comprising Brittonic Britain and Gaelic Ireland . The Roman conquest , beginning in 43 AD, and the 400-year rule of southern Britain , was followed by an invasion by Germanic Anglo-Saxon settlers, reducing
15984-458: The legal and political systems of many of its former colonies , and British culture remains globally influential, particularly in language , literature , music and sport . English is the world's most widely spoken language and the third-most spoken native language . The Acts of Union 1707 declared that the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland were "United into One Kingdom by
16132-524: The local cultures. Subsequent medieval English kings completed the conquest of Wales and tried unsuccessfully to annex Scotland . Asserting its independence in the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath , Scotland maintained its independence thereafter, albeit in near-constant conflict with England . In 1215 the Magna Carta was the first document to state that no government was above the law, that citizens have rights protecting them and that they were entitled to
16280-456: The lorry with a prohibition order, with the DfT being prepared to go to court if the prohibition order was challenged. Denby expressed confidence that they would not be found guilty in any prosecution arising from their decision to trail the Eco-Trailer, stating that "we could say we did all we could to negotiate this with the DfT and they have acknowledged that only the courts can decide." After
16428-663: The major part of the British Isles archipelago and includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern one-sixth of the island of Ireland and some smaller surrounding islands. It lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea with the southeast coast coming within 22 miles (35 km) of the coast of northern France, from which it is separated by the English Channel . The Royal Greenwich Observatory in London
16576-669: The mid-1920s, most of the British population could listen to BBC radio programmes. Experimental television broadcasts began in 1929 and the first scheduled BBC Television Service commenced in 1936. The rise of Irish nationalism , and disputes within Ireland over the terms of Irish Home Rule , led eventually to the partition of the island in 1921. A period of conflict in what is now Northern Ireland occurred from June 1920 until June 1922. The Irish Free State became independent, initially with Dominion status in 1922, and unambiguously independent in 1931 . Northern Ireland remained part of
16724-800: The north-eastern part of the island of Ireland , and most of the smaller islands within the British Isles , making up a total area of 94,354 square miles (244,376 km ). Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland ; otherwise, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean , the North Sea , the English Channel , the Celtic Sea , and the Irish Sea . The United Kingdom had an estimated population of over 68.2 million people in 2023. The capital and largest city of both England and
16872-463: The only part of the island of Ireland within the United Kingdom, the name was changed in 1927 to the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". Although the United Kingdom is a sovereign country, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also widely referred to as countries . The UK Prime Minister's website has used the phrase "countries within a country" to describe the United Kingdom. Some statistical summaries, such as those for
17020-504: The position of her party and in the most divisive votes over Labour's term, she followed the party line. She voted for the Iraq War, and subsequently voted against an independent investigation into the run-up to the war. Kelly also voted for the introduction of tuition top-up fees , in a vote that saw a massive rebellion amongst Labour MPs. She also voted for the introduction of identity cards, voted for replacing Trident, and argued against
17168-460: The proposals and published an alternative white paper. Faced with such a rebellion, the government initially stressed that it would "press on" with the reforms. However, new Tory leader David Cameron unexpectedly announced that these reforms were in line with Tory policies and that he would support the bill if presented in the proposed form. The government were faced with the prospect of pushing through their reforms only with opposition support and in
17316-467: The proposals of the Tomlinson report on education reform for the 14–19 age group, which suggested replacing A-level exams with a four-tier diploma. After the 2005 election, it was rumoured that she was to be demoted back into her old post at the Treasury and although she kept her position at the DfES, she was said to have been "less than thrilled" by the appointment of Tony Blair's adviser Andrew Adonis as
17464-413: The public road. Mr Denby had stated before the drive that "I am confident this vehicle is legal and safe and I’m prepared to be arrested and taken into custody if that’s what it takes to prove it" Before attempting the test drive, Mr Denby's lawyer had said: "There appears to be a lacuna in the regulation. There is a general principle that if there is an ambiguity in the law it should be read in favour of
17612-409: The public roads. The relevant legislation concerned the 1986 Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations . The 1986 regulations state that "certain vehicles" may be permitted to draw more than one trailer and can be up to 25.9 m (85 ft) in length. The point of law reportedly hinged on the definition of a "towing implement", with Denby prepared to argue that the second trailer on the Eco-Link
17760-542: The regulations. The Denby Eco-Link is now road-legal in the Netherlands. United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , commonly known as the United Kingdom ( UK ) or Britain , is a country in Northwestern Europe , off the coast of the continental mainland . It comprises England , Scotland , Wales , and Northern Ireland . The UK includes the island of Great Britain ,
17908-497: The rest of Europe, royal absolutism would not prevail, and a professed Catholic could never accede to the throne. The British constitution would develop on the basis of constitutional monarchy and the parliamentary system . With the founding of the Royal Society in 1660, science was greatly encouraged. During this period, particularly in England, the development of naval power and the interest in voyages of discovery led to
18056-568: The result of the Acts of Union 1707 between the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland . In the 18th century, cabinet government developed under Robert Walpole , in practice the first prime minister (1721–1742). A series of Jacobite uprisings sought to remove the Protestant House of Hanover from the throne and restore the Catholic House of Stuart . The Jacobites were finally defeated at
18204-539: The road test, VOSA issued Denby Transport with a Direction Notice, prohibiting the Eco-link from the public roads. According to Dick Denby, this order was issued under Section 7 (1) of the 1986 regulations dealing with single trailers, whereas Denby were asserting that the vehicle was being run during the test under Section 7 (5), dealing with vehicles pulling two trailers, limiting them to 25.9 m (84.9 ft). On 7 December 2009, Dick Denby queried VOSA as to which section
18352-409: The rules. In September 2008, Kelly announced her intention to resign from the cabinet to spend more time with her family. This ended her time as Transport Secretary and cabinet minister after four years. She did not stand at the 2010 general election . Damian McBride , a former senior Labour Party strategist, was shifted from being Gordon Brown's political spokesman to Number 10, after criticism of
18500-451: The same weight, due to having extra axles. The active steer system means the Eco-Link has a turning circle of just 41 feet, the same as a conventional articulated lorry. This resolves a particular problem in the UK for LHV's, namely negotiating roundabouts . According to Roadway magazine, the Eco-Link could go anywhere a standard drawbar lorry could go, and in an RHA manoeuvrability trial it had passed turning circle tests and had negotiated
18648-431: The state sector sometimes is covered by the local authority, Kelly stated she has not and will not seek its help in meeting these costs. According to Ofsted inspection in 2002 "those with special educational needs , make particularly good progress" at English Martyrs Roman Catholic school, and that pupils generally meet "standards that are much better than those gained by pupils in similar schools". The school achieved
18796-460: The test, Mr Denby stated he would fight the expected prohibition of the vehicle through the courts if necessary. Denby Transport is a family owned haulage business based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire . As of 2009, 74-year-old Dick Denby was owner and chairman of the company, with his son Peter being managing director. Founded in 1926, as of 2009 it had 90 employees, operated 50 trucks, 145 trailers, and had
18944-436: The twelve NUTS 1 regions , refer to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as "regions". Northern Ireland is also referred to as a "province". With regard to Northern Ireland, the descriptive name used "can be controversial, with the choice often revealing one's political preferences". The term "Great Britain" conventionally refers to the island of Great Britain, or politically to England, Scotland and Wales in combination. It
19092-464: The vehicle over standard lorries. According to Denby Transport, the Eco-Link Trailer would "reduce road accidents and result in less road deaths", "reduce all emissions", and "needs no highway investment". Further, it asserts that two Eco-Links would replace three standard articulated lorries. In 2007 figures, the Eco-Link costs £85,000 to build. In logistics terms, unlike a drawbar lorry combination,
19240-542: The vehicle was unlawful due to its length and Mr Denby was served with a notice by a Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) inspector to remove the vehicle from the road for inspection. Being too long to reverse into the yard, the police escorted Mr Denby in the vehicle for a mile along the A46 in order to be able to turn around at a roundabout and return to the depot. In the yard, the VOSA inspection revealed that at 7.82 m long,
19388-508: The way he handled Kelly's resignation. On 18 May 2009, Kelly became involved in the MPs' expenses scandal when the Daily Telegraph revealed she had claimed a total of £31,000 between 2004 and 2008 for rebuilding, refurbishing, and purchasing appliances for her second home. It was subsequently revealed on 21 May 2009 that some of this money was used to repair damage caused by a burst pipe. Kelly
19536-414: The weight limit. At 44 tonnes, the Eco-Link also exerts less weight per axle on the road compared to the standard 6 axle 44 tonne articulated combination. While the Denby Eco-Link is in the catch all category of a Longer Heavier Vehicle (LHV), in particular, it achieves this using a vehicle configuration known as a " B-Train " or "B-Double". The Denby design of B-Double takes the tractor and trailer of
19684-409: The weight to 44 tonnes, which it did so on 1 December. See #Public road test . Following the road test, VOSA issued a prohibition order which Dick Denby disputed with VOSA on 7 December. As of 21 January 2010, Denby were awaiting clarification from VOSA as to which regulation underpinned the prohibition order. The name Eco- Link refers to the environmental claims made by Denby over the advantages of
19832-446: Was aired on BBC Radio 5 Live and the front page of The Independent in 2006 over her stance on homosexuality. Blair's government repealed many laws that were perceived as being anti-gay , but Kelly consistently opted out of voting on her party's measures. Kelly opposed lowering the age of consent for homosexuality, as well as voting against outlawing discrimination against gay couples adopting children . Out of fourteen votes during
19980-404: Was being applied. As of 21 January, no reply had been received. Denby said "The position is we are waiting for VOSA to confirm that as the lorry was run under Section 7 (5) the imposition of a prohibition was an error...I believe we did not break the law but I would take advice from my lawyer before running another one". A VOSA spokeswoman said it would take a "very dim view" of any further breach of
20128-538: Was born in Limavady , County Londonderry , Northern Ireland . Her mother was a teacher and her father ran a pharmacy. Her maternal grandfather had been the teacher of a village school in Altishane , County Tyrone. She lived briefly in the Republic of Ireland before moving to England, where she was educated at a number of private schools. She initially attended Edgarley Hall, the preparatory school for Millfield School . She
20276-416: Was chosen as the defining point of the Prime Meridian at the International Meridian Conference in 1884. The United Kingdom lies between latitudes 49° and 61° N , and longitudes 9° W and 2° E . Northern Ireland shares a 224-mile (360 km) land boundary with the Republic of Ireland. The coastline of Great Britain is 11,073 miles (17,820 km) long, though measurements can vary greatly due to
20424-404: Was formed in 1931. Nonetheless, "Britain was a very wealthy country, formidable in arms, ruthless in pursuit of its interests and sitting at the heart of a global production system." After Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Britain entered the Second World War . Winston Churchill became prime minister and head of a coalition government in 1940. Despite the defeat of its European allies in
20572-399: Was in April 2005; protester Simon Wilmot-Coverdale was charged, and in February 2006 Kelly gave evidence at Salford Magistrates Court. As she left the court, she was again attacked, this time by Michael Downe; the egg smashed on the back of her head. Downes was fined and given an ASBO , which he proceeded to rip up outside the court, promising to continue to fight for fathers' rights. After
20720-452: Was insured for this damage but did not claim on that insurance after being advised by the fees office that a reasonable amount could be claimed under the allowances system. In May 2010, Kelly became the Global Head of Client Strategy at HSBC . In 2015, Kelly left HSBC and was appointed to become Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at St Mary's University , Twickenham . Kelly has since left St Mary's University and now works for
20868-403: Was one. The DfT were of the opinion that this refers to recovering a vehicle after an accident or breakdown, but the regulation does not explicitly state this. Both the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) were supportive of the Denby road test. Jack Semple of the RHA said debate on the use of LHV's "still very much alive in Europe and cannot be ignored in
21016-450: Was prepared to risk legal action by undertaking a public test drive of the Eco-Link without a permit, in order to clarify whether the vehicle was road legal or not, through the courts if necessary. Denby believed that, using a legal loophole in the existing UK law, that the Eco-Link, if kept under the current legal weight limit of 44 tonnes, and due to its ability to remain within the current limit of turning circle, would be legal to drive on
21164-430: Was previously a British Labour Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010 . Previously, she served as the Secretary of State for Transport , Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government , Minister for Women and Equality and Secretary of State for Education and Skills , serving under both Gordon Brown and Tony Blair . Kelly
21312-415: Was reduced, particularly as a result of the English Civil War . In 1707, the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland united under the Treaty of Union to create the Kingdom of Great Britain . The Acts of Union 1800 incorporated the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. Most of Ireland seceded from the UK in 1922 as the Irish Free State , and
21460-545: Was tested for turning circles, trailer cut-in, and fuel economy. In September 2005, Denby applied for permission from the Department of Transport to test the Eco-link on public roads. In March 2006, permission was refused by Transport minister Stephen Ladyman . The Department for Transport then initiated a desk study into various options for legalising Longer Heavier Vehicles (LHVs), encompassing options from small increases in weight and length of normal lorries, up to 11 axle 82 tonne 34m long road trains . Political interest in
21608-581: Was the largest empire in history . However, its involvement in the First World War and the Second World War damaged Britain's economic power and a global wave of decolonisation led to the independence of most British colonies. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy . The UK has three distinct jurisdictions: England and Wales , Scotland , and Northern Ireland . Since 1999, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own governments and parliaments which control various devolved matters. A developed country ,
21756-432: Was the first country in the world to use an approved COVID-19 vaccine , developing its own vaccine through a collaboration between Oxford University and AstraZeneca , which allowed the UK's vaccine rollout to be among the fastest in the world. The total area of the United Kingdom is approximately 94,354 square miles (244,376 km ), with a land area of 93,723 square miles (242,741 km ). The country occupies
21904-416: Was then educated at the independent Sutton High School , run by the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) After being moved up a year and sitting O-levels at Sutton High School at the age of 15, she decided to move back to Ireland to look after her ill grandmother. Her grandmother died after six weeks, but Kelly stayed for a year, living with her aunt and taking A-level French. She returned to England on winning
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