Paul Majendie
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/ 1 May 2008

Gordon Brown faces first electoral test

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, his popularity plunging and his reputation for economic competence under fire, faced his first electoral test on Thursday since taking over from Tony Blair in June. The local council seats up for grabs in England and Wales, alongside a high-profile clash to pick the next mayor of London, were last contested in 2004.

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/ 6 March 2008

Tippling ministers sometimes trip on UK budget day

To deliver the longest British budget speech of all time, William Gladstone imbibed a throat-soothing mixture of sherry and beaten egg to help him through a marathon that lasted four hours and 45 minutes. enjamin Disraeli reached for brandy and water to deliver the shortest budget — he took just 45 minutes to plot the path for the nation’s finances.

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/ 27 February 2008

Quake shakes Britain, no deaths reported

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5,2 shook parts of Britain on Wednesday but officials said there were no reports of anyone being killed or serious damage. The quake struck about an hour after midnight and many people in the capital London and other areas said they had been woken up by the tremors.

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/ 11 February 2008

Daniel Day-Lewis scoops best actor Bafta

Daniel Day-Lewis gave his Oscar chances a welcome boost on Sunday by landing a best actor Bafta at the British Academy Film Awards for his searing portrayal of a driven oil prospector in There Will be Blood. French actress Marion Cotillard sprung the surprise of the night by scooping the best actress award for her role as singer Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose.

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/ 11 December 2007

George Bush gets pipped to Foot in Mouth award

Former England soccer manager Steve McClaren fought off tough competition from United States President George Bush to win a dreaded Foot in Mouth award on Tuesday from the Plain English campaign. He was hailed for a supreme example of gobbledegook in talking about star player Wayne Rooney: ”He is inexperienced but he’s experienced in terms of what he’s been through.”