2015 in United Kingdom politics and government

none 2015 in politics and government 2015 in the United Kingdom 2010s in political history May 2026 2015 the United Kingdom United Kingdom politics and government January 3 January – St Helens North MP David Watts announces his retirement at the 2015 election.3 January 2015 Dave Watts to stand down as St Helens North MP https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/11700684.dave-watts-to-stand-down-as-st-helens-north-mp/ 2023-03-07 St Helens Star en 12 January – Faversham and Mid Kent MP Andy Love announces his retirement at the 2015 election.12 January 2015 Edmonton MP Andy Love to step down before election https://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/11718590.edmonton-mp-andy-love-to-step-down-before-the-general-election-in-may/ 2023-03-07 Enfield Independent en 14 January – Edmonton MP Hugh Robertson announces his retirement at the 2015 election.2015-01-15 Sir Hugh Robertson set to stand down https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/sir-hugh-robertson-set-to-30169/ 2023-03-07 Kent Online en 23 January – Fareham MP Mark Hoban announces his retirement at the 2015 election.2015-01-23 Fareham MP Mark Hoban to stand down from Parliament https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-30951507 2023-03-06 BBC News en-GB 24 January – Midlothian MP David Hamilton announces his retirement at the 2015 election.2015-01-24 Midlothian Labour MP David Hamilton to stand down https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-30968473 2023-03-05 BBC News en-GB 30 January – Torfaen MP Paul Murphy announces his retirement at the 2015 election.2015-01-30 Torfaen MP Paul Murphy to stand down at general election https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-31066978 2023-03-07 BBC News en-GB 31 January – Stephen Dorrell says health reform is the governments biggest failure.Helm Toby 2015-01-31 Health reform is our biggest mistake in this parliament, says Tory ex-minister https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/31/health-reform-tories-biggest-mistake-parliament-nhs-stephen-dorrell-mp 2026-05-10 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 February 1 February – Horsham MP Francis Maude announces his retirement at the 2015 election.2015-02-01 Minister Francis Maude to stand down as Horsham MP https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-31082819 2023-03-06 BBC News en-GB 12 February – Halifax MP Linda Riordan announces her retirement at the 2015 election.Lavigueur Nick 2015-02-12 Shock as Halifax MP Linda Riordan stands down suddenly due to ill health http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/shock-halifax-mp-linda-riordan-8632596 2023-03-07 YorkshireLive en 22 February – Jack Straw loses the Labour whip.2015-02-23 Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Jack Straw have whip withdrawn over 'sting' https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-31589202 2026-05-10 BBC News en-GB 23 February – Malcolm Rifkind loses the Conservative whip.2015-02-23 Conservative Party suspends whip from Rifkind following 'cash for access' claims https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13202920.conservative-party-suspends-whip-rifkind-following-cash-access-claims/ 2026-05-10 The Herald en 24 February – Kensington MP Malcolm Rifkind announces his retirement at the 2015 election.Watt Nicholas Mason Rowena Perraudin Frances Mason Nicholas Watt Rowena 2015-02-24 Malcolm Rifkind resigns as ISC chairman and will step down as MP https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/feb/24/sir-malcolm-rifkind-resigns-isc-chairman-step-down-mp 2023-03-07 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 March 9 March – Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien announces his retirement at the 2015 election.2015-03-09 Conservative MP Stephen O'Brien gets top UN role https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-31805012 2023-03-06 BBC News en-GB 18 March – The March 2015 United Kingdom budget is given by George Osborne.16 May 2015 George Osborne plans stability budget https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32761566 18 May 2015 BBC April 3 April – Dundee West MP Jim McGovern announces his retirement at the 2015 election.2015-04-03 Election 2015: Jim McGovern will not seek re-election https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-scotland-32175022 2023-03-07 BBC News en-GB 22 April – 2015 Anguillian general election.Staff Caribbean Journal 2015-04-23 Anguilla Chooses New Government in Landslide Election https://www.caribjournal.com/2015/04/23/anguilla-chooses-new-government-in-landslide-election/ 2026-05-10 Caribbean Journal en-us May 3 May – The EdStone is unveiled in a car park in Hastings and Rye.Reilly Nicholas 3 May 2015 Ed Miliband promises to install huge rock slab in Downing Street garden http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/03/ed-miliband-promises-to-install-huge-rock-slab-in-downing-street-garden-5178886/ The Metro 7 May – 2015 United Kingdom general election 2015 United Kingdom local elections 8 May – Nick Clegg resigns as Leader of the Liberal Democrats.2015-05-08 Election results: Nick Clegg resigns as Liberal Democrat leader https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/election-2015-32653735 2015-05-16 Bbc.co.uk Nigel Farage resigns as Leader of UKIP.2016-07-04 UKIP leader Nigel Farage stands down https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36702468 2026-05-10 BBC News en-GB Ed Miliband resigns as Leader of the Labour Party.Wintour Patrick Mason Rowena 2015-05-08 Ed Miliband resigns as Labour leader https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/08/ed-miliband-to-resign-as-labour-leader 2026-05-10 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 10 May – Liz Kendall announces her candidacy for labour leader.Liz Kendall confirms Labour leadership bid https://web.archive.org/web/20181004102150/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-32676664 4 October 2018, BBC News (10 May 2015). Tom Watson announces his candidacy for the 2015 Labour Party deputy leadership electionAnoosh Cakelian 10 May 2015 Tom Watson MP sets up crowdfunding site for his deputy Labour leadership bid http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/tom-watson-mp-sets-crowdfunding-site-his-deputy-labour-leadership-bid live https://web.archive.org/web/20150514014707/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/05/tom-watson-mp-sets-crowdfunding-site-his-deputy-labour-leadership-bid 14 May 2015 12 May 2015 New Statesman NS Media Group 13 May – Sadiq Khan launches his campaign for Mayor of London.Moodley, Kiran 13 May 2015 Sadiq Khan announces bid to become London Mayor https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/sadiq-khan-announces-bid-to-become-london-mayor-10246726.html subscription live https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/sadiq-khan-announces-bid-to-become-london-mayor-10246726.html 1 May 2022 14 July 2015 Independent Diane Abbott launches her campaign for Mayor of London.Crerar, Pippa 13 May 2015 Labour MP Diane Abbott announces her bid to run for Mayor of London https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/labour-mp-diane-abbott-announces-her-bid-to-run-for-mayor-of-london-10246138.html 14 July 2015 London Evening Standard Yvette Cooper announces her candidacy for labour leader.13 May 2015 Yvette Cooper is standing for Labour leadership, she tells Daily Mirror exclusively https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/yvette-cooper-standing-labour-leadership-5693661 live https://web.archive.org/web/20181211050924/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/yvette-cooper-standing-labour-leadership-5693661 11 December 2018 2015-05-13 Daily Mirror Andy Burnham launches his campaign for labour leader.Beattie Jason 13 May 2015 Andy Burnham announces he's standing for Labour leadership with video message vowing to 'rediscover beating heart of party' https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/andy-burnham-labour-leader-bid-5692649?ICID=FB_mirror_main live https://web.archive.org/web/20170819064521/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/andy-burnham-labour-leader-bid-5692649?ICID=FB_mirror_main 19 August 2017 2015-05-13 Daily Mirror 15 May – Gareth Thomas launches his campaign for Mayor of London.Stone, Jon 15 May 2015 Labour MP Gareth Thomas joins the race to be his party's London Mayor candidate https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-mp-gareth-thomas-joins-the-race-to-be-his-partys-london-mayor-candidate-10253760.html subscription live https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-mp-gareth-thomas-joins-the-race-to-be-his-partys-london-mayor-candidate-10253760.html 1 May 2022 14 July 2015 Independent Ben Bradshaw announces his candidacy for the 2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election.15 May 2015 Ben Bradshaw announces Labour party deputy leadership bid https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/15/ben-bradshaw-labour-party-deputy-leadership-bid-politics live https://web.archive.org/web/20150811152728/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/15/ben-bradshaw-labour-party-deputy-leadership-bid-politics 11 August 2015 15 May 2015 The Guardian Press Association 16 May – Jim Murphy resigns as leader of Scottish Labour.Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy to resign https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-32760196 16 May 2015 BBC News Stella Creasy announces her candidacy for the 2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election.Hayward Stephen 16 May 2015 Stella Creasy confirms she's running for Labour deputy leader: 'Party must return to fighting poverty, inequality and injustice' https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/stella-creasy-labour-deputy-leader-5709897 live https://web.archive.org/web/20180521104224/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/stella-creasy-labour-deputy-leader-5709897 21 May 2018 16 May 2015 Mirror Online MGN Caroline Flint announces her candidacy for the 2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election.16 May 2015 Bradshaw and Flint both announce deputy leadership campaigns http://labourlist.org/2015/05/bradshaw-and-flint-both-announce-deputy-leadership-campaigns/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20161221032142/http://labourlist.org/2015/05/bradshaw-and-flint-both-announce-deputy-leadership-campaigns/ 21 December 2016 27 September 2016 LabourList 17 May – Keir Starmer rules himself out of the Labour leadership contest.Caroline Davies 17 May 2015 Keir Starmer rules himself out of Labour leadership contest https://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/may/17/keir-starmer-rules-himself-out-labour-leadership-contest live https://web.archive.org/web/20150619020621/http://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/may/17/keir-starmer-rules-himself-out-labour-leadership-contest 19 June 2015 17 May 2015 The Guardian 18 May – Angela Eagle announces her candidacy for the 2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election.Liam Murphy 18 May 2015 Wallasey MP Angela Eagle joins race to be Labour's deputy leader http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/angela-eagle-labour-deputy-leader-9276731 live https://web.archive.org/web/20150724042526/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/angela-eagle-labour-deputy-leader-9276731 24 July 2015 18 May 2015 Liverpool Echo Reach 19 May – Tessa Jowell launches her campaign for Mayor of London.19 May 2015 Tessa Jowell bids to replace Boris Johnson as London mayor https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32791601 14 July 2015 BBC News 20 May – Simon Danczuk rules himself out from the 2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election.Todd Fitzgerald 20 May 2015 Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk rules out standing for Labour Party deputy leader http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/rochdale-mp-simon-danczuk-rules-9293523 live https://web.archive.org/web/20150613021649/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/rochdale-mp-simon-danczuk-rules-9293523 13 June 2015 24 May 2015 Manchester Evening News MEN Media June 3 June – Jeremy Corbyn launches his campaign for labour leader.3 June 2015 Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn enters race https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33000155 live https://web.archive.org/web/20150603214622/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33000155 3 June 2015 21 June 2018 BBC News 8 June – 2015 British Virgin Islands general election 11 June – John Healey withdraws from the 2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election.11 June 2015 John Healey withdraws from deputy leadership race http://labourlist.org/2015/06/john-healey-withdraws-from-deputy-leadership-race/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20150611155925/http://labourlist.org/2015/06/john-healey-withdraws-from-deputy-leadership-race/ 11 June 2015 11 June 2015 LabourList 13 June – London Labour announce a shortlist of six candidates for mayor.2015-06-13 London mayor race 2016: Labour announce shortlisted six https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33121383 BBC News Online 17 June – Rushanara Ali withdraws from the 2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election.Frances Perraudin 17 June 2015 Rushanara Ali pulls out of Labour deputy leadership contest https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/17/rushanara-ali-pulls-out-labour-deputy-leadership-contest 3 January 2020 The Guardian Guardian News and Media July 8 July – The July 2015 United Kingdom budget is given by George Osborne.8 July 2015 Budget 2015: Osborne offers country 'new contract' https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-33456160 15 July 2015 BBC News 16 July – 2015 Liberal Democrats leadership election ends with Tim Farron beating Norman Lamb.16 July 2015 Tim Farron is new Lib Dem leader https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33545779 16 July 2015 BBC News Online 22 July – The Constitutional Convention Bill is introduced in the House of Commons by Graham Allen MP.Constitutional Convention (No. 2) Bill 2015-16 — UK Parliament http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/constitutionalconventionno2.html 2017-01-29 services.parliament.uk 27 July – The 2015 British National Party leadership election ends with Adam Walker being elected leader.BNP leadership election results are in https://web.archive.org/web/20150729224423/http://www.bnp.org.uk/news/national/bnp-leadership-election-results-are 2015-07-29 BBC News, 27 July 2015 August 4 August – Former prime minister Sir Edward Heath, who died in 2005, is investigated by police forces as part of their inquiries into allegations of historical child abuse.4 August 2015 Edward Heath abuse claims: Four forces investigating ex-PM https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33770021 4 August 2015 BBC September 10 September – Sadiq Khan wins the 2015 London Labour Party mayoral selection.2015-09-11 Sadiq Khan wins Labour London mayoral selection https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34218390 2026-05-10 BBC News en-GB 12 September – 2015 Labour Party leadership election, 2015 Labour Party deputy leadership election 22 September – The list of the 2015 Dissolution Honours is gazetted.61359 22 September 2015 17613 y October 2 October – Zac Goldsmith wins the 2015 London Conservative Party mayoral selection. 21 October – Labour MP Michael Meacher dies in office.21 October 2015 Labour MP Michael Meacher dies https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34592381 21 October 2015 BBC News November 15 November Colum Eastwood is elected in the 2015 Social Democratic and Labour Party leadership election. SDLP leadership: Colum Eastwood wins contest against Alasdair McDonnell https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34822651 live https://web.archive.org/web/20151114234835/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34822651 2015-11-14 2016-07-24 BBC News December 3 December – The 2015 Oldham West and Royton by-election is won by Jim McMahon.Pidd Helen Watt Nicholas 4 December 2015 Corbyn hails Oldham byelection as sign of Labour's deep-rooted support https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/04/corbyn-hails-oldham-byelection-as-sign-of-labours-deep-rooted-support 13 May 2017 The Guardian Deaths 21 January – Leon Brittan, 75, politician, Home Secretary (1983–85).Mason Rowena Syal Rajeev 2015-01-22 Leon Brittan, former home secretary, dies aged 75 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/22/leon-brittan-former-home-secretary-dies 2026-05-10 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 Frank Hooley, 91, politician, MP for Sheffield Heeley (1966–1970, 1974–1983).2015-12-27 The ex-MPs who died in 2015 - part two https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-35031740 2026-05-10 BBC News en-GB 1 February – Gordon Murray, 87, politician. Beryl Platt, Baroness Platt of Writtle, 91, engineer and politician. 10 February – Sir William Lawrence, 5th Baronet, 60, peer. 21 February – Christopher Price, 83, politician, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr (1966–1970) and Lewisham West (1974–1983).2015-02-24 Christopher Price: Energetic MP who despite his combative nature was https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/christopher-price-energetic-mp-who-despite-his-combative-nature-was-liked-and-admired-both-by-colleagues-and-opponents-10068086.html 2026-05-10 The Independent en 3 March – Denis Coe, 86, politician, MP for Middleton and Prestwich (1966–1970). 12 March – Sir Jerry Wiggin, 78, politician, MP for Weston-super-Mare (1969–1997). 21 March – Sir Hal Miller, 86, politician, Member of Parliament (1974–1992). Sir James Spicer, 89, politician, MP for West Dorset (1974–1997). 1 June – Charles Kennedy, 55, politician.Nelson Sara C. Demianyk Graeme 2 June 2015 Charles Kennedy Death Leaves Westminster In Shock As Former Liberal Democrat Passes Away At 55 http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/02/lib-dem-charles-kennedy-dies-at-55_n_7490044.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20150602153742/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/02/lib-dem-charles-kennedy-dies-at-55_n_7490044.html 2 June 2015 2 June 2015 The Huffington Post See also 2015 in the United Kingdom References 30em Category:2015 in British politics Category:Political timelines of the 2010s by year Category:Political timelines of the United Kingdom