May 2007 in Britain and Ireland

2007 January February March April May June July August September October November December

This page deals with events in the English-speaking places of Europe. These are England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar.

Ongoing
2007 UK petrol contamination 2007 Bernard Matthews H5N1 outbreak Cash for Peerages scandal Litvinenko murder investigation Operation Telic (British military operations in Iraq) International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan 2012 Summer Olympic development
Recent deaths
Sport
2006-07 in English football 2006-07 in Scottish football 2006-07 Guinness Premiership
Related portals
United Kingdom Portal Ireland Portal

Wednesday 30 May 2007 A fire at a Magnox nuclear power station in Oldbury, South Gloucestershire, forces its indefinite closure. British Nuclear Group announces that the fire has not damaged the reactor and was in a "non-nuclear" area. (BBC) Monday 28 May 2007 The Foreign Office of the British Government submits a formal request to the Russian Government for the extradition of ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi to face charges over the murder of his former colleague Alexander Litvinenko in London. (BBC) Sunday 27 May 2007 The British Government proposes the introduction of potentially controversial "stop and question" powers for the police, as part of plans to modify anti-terrorism legislation. (BBC) A second farm in North Wales is suspected of harbouring the H7N2 strain of 'bird flu', and 11 farm workers are found to be showing flu-like symptoms. (BBC) Thursday 24 May 2007 Thirty chickens at a farm near Corwen in North Wales are slaughtered after being found to have Avian Influenza or 'bird flu'. They are found to have been the H7N2 low pathogenic variant, not the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain which has caused several human deaths worldwide. (DEFRA) Wednesday 23 May 2007 The British Government announce a carbon emissions trading scheme, the Carbon Reduction Commitment, that will apply to hotel chains, supermarkets, banks, and other large organisations. (DEFRA) Thursday 17 May 2007 Gordon Brown is confirmed as the next leader of the British Labour Party, taking effect on 24 June. Brown will succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom when he kisses hands with Queen Elizabeth II on 27 June. (BBC) Wednesday 16 May 2007 Alex Salmond is elected First Minister of Scotland in the Scottish Parliament, the first person from the Scottish National Party to hold the post. Supported by the Scottish Green Party, his party will form a minority administration. (BBC) The Ministry of Defence announces that HRH Prince Harry will not be deployed to Iraq as originally planned, due to the security risks to both himself and his regiment the Blues and Royals (BBC). Monday 14 May 2007 Portuguese police hunting for missing British 4-year old Madeleine McCann search a villa close to the apartment where she went missing in Praia da Luz on the Algarve. (BBC) Thursday 10 May 2007 Tony Blair has announced he will resign as Britain's Prime Minister on 27 June 2007. (The Times) Wednesday 9 May 2007 The Ministry of Justice comes into existence in the United Kingdom, reorganized from the Department for Constitutional Affairs and taking over some responsibilities from the Home Office. (BBC) In a landmark decision the Irish High Court allows a seventeen-year-old girl, "Miss D" to travel to England for an abortion.(Sky News) (RTÉ) Tuesday 8 May 2007 Devolved government returns to Northern Ireland after four and a half years' suspension. Power is restored to the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive, and Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness take up the roles of First and Deputy First Minister respectively. (BBC) (RTÉ) Friday 4 May 2007 The Scottish National Party, which supports Scottish independence has won an historic victory in Scotland, won by a single seat. In order to form a government in the Scottish Parliament, it must form a coalition.

British and Irish events by month

• 2007 in the United Kingdom: January February March April May June July
• 2006 in the United Kingdom: January February March April May June July August September October November December
• 2005 in the United Kingdom: January February March April May June July August September October November December
• 2004 in the United Kingdom: December

(For earlier events in Britain and Ireland, see November 2004 and preceding months)