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Events from the year 1986 in the United Kingdom.
[edit] Events
- January 9 - Michael Heseltine resigns as Defence Secretary over the Westland affair.
- January 20 - The United Kingdom and France announce plans to construct the Channel Tunnel.
- January 24 - Leon Brittan resigns as Trade and Industry Secretary over Westland affair.
- February 15 - In the Wapping dispute, fifty-eight people arrested by police at a demonstration.
- March 4 - Launch of the Today national tabloid newspaper in the United Kingdom that pioneered the use of computer photosetting and full-colour offset printing at a time when British national newspapers were still using Linotype machines and letterpress.
- March 31 - A fire devastates Hampton Court Palace in Surrey.
- March 31 - Greater London Council abolished.
- April 7 - Clive Sinclair sells rights to ZX Spectrum and other inventions to Amstrad.
- April 17 - Journalist John McCarthy kidnapped in Beirut (released in August 1991) - three others are found dead, Revolutionary Cells claims responsibility in retaliation for the US bombing of Libya.
- April 17 - Treaty signed, ending Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly.
- April 29 - funeral of Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor.
- June 10 - Patrick Joseph Magee found guilty of Brighton hotel bombing.
- June 12 - Derek Hatton, leader of Liverpool council, expelled from the Labour Party for belonging to the Militant Tendency faction.
- June 24 - Ian Paisley's Ulster Unionist Party stage protest at dissolution of Northern Ireland Assembly.
- June 29 - Richard Branson beats Atlantics speed record but is denied Blue Riband award.
- July 23 - In London, Prince Andrew, Duke of York marries Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey.
- July 30 - Estate agent Suzy Lamplugh vanishes after a meeting in London.
- August 22 - John Stalker, deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester police, cleared of misconduct over allegations of associating with criminals.
- September 19 - Two people killed and 100 injured at the Colwich rail crash.
- October 7 - first edition of The Independent published.
- October 24 - UK breaks off diplomatic relations with Syria over links to Hindawi Affair.
- October 26 - Bus deregulation in the United Kingdom, except Greater London and Northern Ireland.
- October 26 - Jeffrey Archer resigns at Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party over allegations concerning prostitutes.
- October 28 - Jeremy Bamber is found guilty of the murder of his parents, sister and twin nephews and is given five life sentences.
- November 6 - Forty seven oil workers killed when a Chinook helicopter carrying them from the Brent oilfield crashed.
- November 20 - Police search for further victims of the Moors murders.
- December 1 - Government launches inquiry into financial irregularities at Guinness.
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[edit] Deaths
[edit] References
