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The career of Charles Clarke, politician from the British Labor party, is examined in detail.

John Major is seeking re-election as leader of the UK Conservative Party, and argues that he will not undertake a vendetta against opponents on the political right if he wins. Major also argues that he does not seek to suppress the voice of opponents of a single European currency. John Redwood has argued that he does not oppose bringing in open homosexuals to his cabinet, though he would discuss the extent to which they might be embarrassed by their sexual orientation.

John Major, UK prime minister, is seeking re-election as head of the Conservative Party. Major has not stated whether he would continue to be prime minister if he gained only a narrow victory. Major faces a party which is divided on the issue of relations between the UK and the European Union. He has stated that he is in favor of abolishing capital gains tax over the long term, and ensuring that most UK citizens do not pay inheritance tax.

John Major, UK prime minister, is standing for re-election as leader of the Conservative Party and his opponent is expected to be John Redwood, Welsh secretary. A previous UK chancellor, Norman Lamont, may stand if John Redwood does not oppose Major. All UK senior ministers have made a statement backing major, except Redwood. The 1922 committee is divided as to whether it will support Major, and an initial gesture of support was opposed by those who said they were not present at the meeting which decided to back Major.

Issues relating to donations to the British Labor party are examined in detail.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was in defiant mood as he met with UK prime minister Tony Blair on Dec 11 1997 in what was the first visit by a Sinn Fein leader to Downing Street since 1921. The meeting is expected to have a great impact in northern Ireland's republican strongholds such as west Belfast. The Sinn Fein delegates included hardline members such as Siobhan O'Hanlon and Martin Ferris, both former convicted terrorists. Adams increased the meeting's potential for embarrassing Blair by praising a convicted IRA killer for escaping from the Maze prison.

The result of the 1997 referendum on devolution for Wales Has revealed a division between eastern and western Wales. Areas bordering on England tended to vote against devolution, as did areas where a high proportion of the population was born in England. All the western areas voted in favor of devolution except for Pembrokeshire, a coastal county. The government will face problems when introducing an assembly for regions which had strong opposition to devolution, such as Monmouthshire.

Scotland has voted for its own parliament and power to changes taxes. This is part of a wider project of change by the ruling United Kingdom Labor party. A referendum in Wales will follow, as well as a new authority for London, England, and regional assemblies in England. The leader of the Conservative party, William Hague, opposed the idea of a Scottish parliament, but it was backed by the Liberal Democrats and Scottish Nationalists.

The United Kingdom minister without portfolio, Peter Mandelson, manages the government's general strategy and presentation. He is seen as a manipulator of the media but denies specific charges relating to planting stories to avoid a focus on the government's problems. He needs to find a power base and could take on the role of heritage secretary, but would more probably be appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He is also likely to be elected to the Labor party's National Executive Committee.

The United Kingdom civil service is undergoing changes with a number of permanent secretaries planning to retire. There has been little respect for the civil service's role under the previous government, and some changes are inevitable after 18 years rule by one party. Press officers have been especially criticised and have been asked to take on a more active role in presenting information to journalists. The civil service has been given a mission statement set out in modern terms, and some younger members welcome the changes.

The United Kingdom government denies having been influenced by the US experience of Bill Clinton's initial period in office, but has studied Clinton's performance. Clinton set out a program of pledges which could be assessed against the government's actions. The UK government has suffered setbacks, as occurred in the US, but has not changed its direction in the way that Clinton was forced to do. Changes in the UK include independence for the Bank of England on interest rate policy.

The UK government's plans for a Scottish parliament with powers to legislate and to change the basic rate of income tax have wider implications for the whole of the UK. The new Scottish parliament will have control over areas including law and order, education, local government and health. However, in the longer-term, the new parliament could seek wider powers; a clause in the white paper talks of provisions for transferring further policy areas. Some believe that the devolution process will lead to power slipping away from Westminster incrementally.

Scotland will have a fully functional parliament by the start of the 21st century, according to a white paper unveiled by the UK government on Jul 24 1997. The white paper says that the new Scottish parliament will be responsible for areas including education, health, housing, transport, most areas of civil and criminal law, agriculture and the environment. The UK government in Westminster will retain powers relating to areas including national security, foreign policy, monetary and fiscal policy, the UK constitution and employment laws.

The restoration of a ceasefire in Northern Ireland by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) has put pressure on the Ulster Unionists leader, David Trimble. Trimble risks opposition from unionists if he agrees to terms for talks, and wider criticism if he does not and thus appears to be the main obstacle for peace. The United Kingdom prime minister, Tony Blair, also risks accusations of having been too eager to answer Sinn Fein's concerns. There is less euphoria at the ceasefire in 1997 compared with the 1994 ceasefire.

The United Kingdom Labor party leader, Tony Blair, will increase control of the party through a new system for selecting candidates which is likely to be introduced in Jul 1997. The National Executive Committee is likely to discuss the plan on Jul 30 1997. The proportion of candidates from the political left has fallen and candidates have been trained to deal with the media. Meanwhile an election is to be held in Uxbridge on Jul 31 following the death of a Conservative politician.

Mo Mowlam is the new Northern Ireland secretary, a role that is not popular with United Kingdom politicians. She is seen as having brought informality and candour to the post, and as having made mistakes. These include a decision to permit a march in a Roman Catholic area of Portadown, Northern Ireland, by the Protestant Orange Order. A promise to inform the residents of the estate beforehand was broken. She admits that errors were made, but has persuaded the Orange Order to modify its plans for further marches.

The UK Conservative party has accused the Labour government of contempt for democracy following moves to limit debate on referendums for Scottish and Welsh devolution. This comes after the government has already pushed through a number of significant changes, including independence for the Bank of England, with only very limited reference to the House of Commons. The Labour party has stated its determination not to be deflected from its long-term constitutional programme, which will include reform of the House of Lords.

The new UK government has begun work smoothly following the victory of the Labor party in elections in May 1997. The Labor party saw the previous government as lacking in leadership, with too much freedom for departments leading to interdepartmental rivalries. The top men in the new government have been too busy to fight each other. The new ministers have brought in new management techniques and civil servants have been given mission statements.

The UK prime minister, Tony Blair, has announced the names of key members of his cabinet. They include Gordon Brown who is to be chancellor and this role includes economic policy and industrial and employment strategy. Robin Cook becomes foreign secretary at a time of reform in the European Union. John Prescott is in charge of transportation and regional policy, and David Blunkett is in charge of employment and education. Jack Straw takes over the home office.

UK politician William Hague may have a relatively low profile but he is tipped as a likely successor to John Major as leader of the Tory party if the Conservatives lose the May 01 1997 general election. Hague, who is secretary of state for Wales, does not appear to be a man of strong emotions: he does not get cross about anything and does not seem to offend anyone. However, it is also hard to determine what he stands for, and his election speeches are vague on issues such as Europe. Hague is well liked in his constituency of Richmond, where he has a solid rural Tory electorate.

The UK defense secretary, Michael Portillo, is campaigning for the ruling Conservative party in the 1997 election. Portillo argues that he represents the views of the government and keeps his statements loyal to the party leader, John Major. There is likely to be a contest for the leadership of the Conservative party if it does not win the election. Portillo is concerned to secure support for the leadership contest and he can do this by helping candidates.

Robin Cook is a politician from the UK Labor party who could become a cabinet minister if the party wins the 1997 election. He has to defend fiscal pridence though in the past he has protested about insufficient funding for the National Health Service. He has to be wary of any public pronouncement that could damage the interests of his party and this can mean that politicians do not dare to make original or innovative statements.

The UK Labor and Conservative parties both hold early morning meetings with the heads of their campaigns and have teams of some 100 people including units for monitoring the media and giving press briefs. Peter Mandelson runs the Labor party team and the shadow chancellor, Gordon Brown, deals with press conferences. The Conservative party morning meetings include the chairman of the party, Brian Mawhinney, and the head of research, Danny Finkelstein.

The UK Labor party has withdrawn a candidate from Tatton, UK, in order to publicise the issue of political corruption in the UK. The seat is held by Neil Hamilton who has been the subject of allegations relating to cash payments. The Labor party is in favor of a candidate representing an anti-corruption campaign to oppose Hamilton. Senior members of the Conservative party have defended Hamilton, though they have not defended candidates accused of sexual impropriety.

Asian businessmen are not always enthusiastic about voting for the UK Conservative party, though it is often seen as the party of businessmen. The party is also seen as hostile to Asians, especially in view of calls for immigration control by a member of parliament for Wolverhampton, Nicholas Budgen. The Labor party is seen as having done little to attract Asian voters which critics say it has taken for granted since they have previously tended to vote Labor.

The UK Conservative party is likely to fight an election campaign in 1997 based on the personality of the prime minister, John Major. The government has delayed the announcement of an election date due to opinion polls which have shown the opposition to have stronger support. The Conservatives argue that the opposition Labor party does not have strong enough measures to tackle crime and wishes to reduce parental choice over schooling. Legislation still planned by the government which could become law includes measures to tackle crime, and an education bill.

The UK is scheduled to have a general election in 1997, and the leader of the UK Labor party has to sustain the interest of voters. Blair has decided against personal attacks on the leader of the ruling Conservative party, John Major. The main preoccupation of the government is the Labor party's ability to oppose legislation. The real election campain will last between three and four weeks, and the Labor party has to repackage its policies in order to gain media attention until then.

The UK election campaign of 1997 will focus on tax. The shadow chancellor, the opposition Labor party's Gordon Brown, plans a statement on fiscal policy by the end of Jan 1996. The ruling Conserative party is divided on relations between the UK and Europe and the budget does not appear to have been enthusiastically received. The Conservatives argue that their policies have been painful but effective, and that Labor represents danger, while the Conservatives represent opportunity. The Labor party has criticised handling of public finances.

The Ulster Unionist party supports a European Union fisheries agreement which the UK government has designed to protect employment in Northern Ireland. The UK government has more hope of lasting until May 1997 without holding an election if it has the backing of the Ulster Unionist party. Members of parliament from the Ulster Unionists abstained in a vote in the UK parliament on fishing, aiding the government to gain a victory. The leader of the Ulster Unionists, David Trimbleargues that the party will make decisions separately on each issue according to its merits.