April 2005 in Britain and Ireland

__NOTOC__ April 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December

Events in Britain and Ireland

"This page deals with current events in Great Britain and Ireland, of interest to and/or involving the British or the Irish."

April 25, 2005

* Former Labour MP Brian Sedgemore announces that he has defected to the Liberal Democrats. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4484043.stm (BBC)]

April 22, 2005

* At London's Old Bailey Saajid Badat, who had earlier pled guilty to being part of Richard Reid's shoe-bombing conspiracy, is sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4474307.stm (BBC)]

April 9, 2005

* Hedgehunter (7-1 favourite), ridden by Ruby Walsh, wins the Grand National at Aintree race course. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/4428315.stm (BBC)]
* Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker Bowles in a 20-minute ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, which is followed by a blessing at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4426993.stm (BBC)] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4428161.stm (BBC)]

April 7, 2005

*The last British-owned volume car maker, MG Rover is placed in receivership. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4422705.stm (BBC)]

April 5, 2005

*The Prime Minister, Tony Blair asks the Queen for a dissolution of Parliament for a general election on May 5. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4409935.stm (BBC)]
*Saturday's Grand National will be delayed by 25 minutes to avoid clashing with BBC television coverage of the Royal wedding. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/4413773.stm (BBC)]

April 4, 2005

*An Election Commissioner has found that there was massive postal vote fraud in two Birmingham wards in the council elections of 10 June 2004, and ordered six elections to be rerun. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4406575.stm (BBC)]
* The wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles, scheduled for April 8 2005, will be postponed one day to avoid a time conflict and allow Prince Charles to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4407347.stm (BBC)] .