Events from the year 2014 in the United Kingdom.
Incumbents Monarch – Elizabeth II Prime Minister – David Cameron (Coalition)
Events January 3 January – Strong winds and high tides bring flooding to large parts of western England, Wales and Scotland. 7 January – Four people are killed when a United States Air Force Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, crashes at a nature reserve in Cley next the Sea, north Norfolk. 8 January – An inquest jury decides that Mark Duggan, whose death sparked the 2011 England riots was lawfully killed by police. 10 January – At the Old Bailey, police officer Keith Wallis pleads guilty to misconduct in a public office over an email he sent to his local MP concerning the Plebgate affair. 12 January – Vincent Nichols, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster is among 19 senior Catholic clergy who will be created Cardinals by Pope Francis on 22 February, it is announced. 13 January – The UK Treasury announces that if Scots vote to leave the UK in September's referendum, it will honour all UK government debt issued up to the date of Scottish independence. 15 January – Birmingham City Council says that it could be forced to sell off some of its assets to pay £1bn of legal claims over equality of pay. 16 January Sir Peter Fahy, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police will face prosecution over safety breaches after an unarmed man was shot dead in Cheshire in March 2012, the CPS announces. Chancellor George Osborne tells BBC News he wants to see a rise in the minimum wage above the rate of inflation. 18 January The Labour Party confirms that Del Singh, a candidate for the forthcoming European elections, was among two Britons killed during a suicide bombing at a restaurant in the Afghan capital, Kabul the previous day. 16-year-old Lewis Clarke of Bristol sets a new world record after becoming the youngest person to trek to the South Pole. 19 January – The UK Independence Party suspends an Oxfordshire councillor who blamed the floods that hit the country earlier in the month on the government's decision to legalise same-sex marriage "because it had angered God". 22 January – UK unemployment falls to 7.1%, surpassing economic forecasts and placing pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates. The bank, which said it would consider an increase once unemployment reached 7% says it has no immediate plans to introduce a raise. 24 January – Sedgemoor District Council in Somerset declares a "major incident" in flooded areas as forecasters warn of more rain. 25 January – Trees are uprooted and structural damage is caused to buildings by lightning as a heavy rainstorm hits the Midlands region. 27 January – Research published by the Centre for Cities think tank suggests a widening economic gap between London and the rest of the UK, with ten times more jobs being created in the capital than elsewhere. 28 January – Figures released by the Office for National Statistics indicate the UK economy grew by 1.9% in 2013, its highest since 2007, but growth for the final quarter of the year was 0.7%. 29 January – During a visit to Scotland, Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England says that in the event of Scottish independence, the country would need to give up some powers in return for a currency union with the United Kingdom. 30 January – Figures released by the Met Office indicate Southern England and parts of the Midlands have experienced their highest January rainfall since records began in 1910. The announcement comes as military personnel prepare to help residents in flooded areas of Somerset. 31 January – The European Union (Referendum) Bill 2013-14 is rejected by the House of Lords after peers vote not to allow more time for a debate, effectively killing off the proposed legislation.
February 1 February – Sally Morgan, the outgoing chair of Ofsted claims she is the victim of a "determined effort" by 10 Downing Street to appoint more Conservatives to key public sector positions. 5 February – Part of the South Devon Railway sea wall carrying the railway line linking London with the west of England is washed away by a powerful storm that has hit the UK overnight. Thousands of homes are also left without electricity. Prime Minister David Cameron announces that an extra £100 million will be spent on dealing with the aftermath of the floods that have hit the UK. 6 February PC Keith Wallis, who wrote to his MP falsely claiming to have witnessed the Plebgate incident in Downing Street is sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. The Ministry of Defence sends around 40 Royal Marines to the Somerset Levels to help with flood protection as more storms are expected. The government also provides an extra £30 million for repairs. 7–23 February – Great Britain competes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and wins 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. This is Great Britain's best performance at a winter games since 1924. 8 February Immigration minister Mark Harper resigns from the government after it was disclosed that his cleaner did not have permission to work in the UK. Rail links to South West England are cut off as fresh storms hit the area. 11 February – After visiting some of the country's flood hit areas, David Cameron says that "money is no object" as he announces measures to help those affected by the storms. He also warns that things may get worse before they get better. 1,600 troops are deployed to help in the relief effort, with more available if needed. 20 February – A 4.1 magnitude earthquake is recorded under the Bristol Channel. 22 February – Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, is created a cardinal at a ceremony in Vatican City. 25 February – A suspect in the 1982 IRA Hyde Park bombing will not face trial after a judge ruled he cannot be prosecuted because he was mistakenly given an official assurance that he would not face trial. Some 182 letters have been issued as part of the Northern Ireland peace process. 26 February – The two men convicted of the murder of Lee Rigby are sentenced to life imprisonment, Michael Adebolajo without the possibility of parole, and Michael Adebowale with the possibility of parole after 45 years. 27 February – Prime Minister David Cameron appoints a judge to review the crisis over letters sent to paramilitary suspects advising them they would not be prosecuted after First Minister of Northern Ireland Peter Robinson threatened to resign over the issue. The inquiry will present its findings by end of May. 28 February – Spree killer Joanne Dennehy is given a whole life sentence after pleading guilty to the three "Peterborough ditch murders" and two attempted murders committed in 2013.
March 5 March – Birmingham City Council puts the NEC Group up for sale because the authority is facing legal claims over equal pay totalling more than £1bn. 6 March Prince Harry launches the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style sporting championship for wounded soldiers. Home Secretary Theresa May announces a public inquiry into undercover policing after revelations that officers spied on members of Stephen Lawrence's family. 7–16 March – Great Britain finish 10th in the medal table of the 2014 Winter Paralympics, with six medals, the most successful Games since Innsbruck in 1984. Four of Britain's medals were won by visually impaired skier Jade Etherington, making her the greatest British Winter Paralympian of all time. 11 March – MPs vote 297–239 to allow the controversial Clause 119 element of the Care Bill that will allow ministers to close hospitals in an NHS trust if a neighbouring trust is in financial difficulty, even if the hospital concerned is performing well. 18 March – Scottish Labour's Devolution Commission publishes its long-awaited report setting out proposals for enhanced devolution that will be implemented if Scotland votes no in the referendum and Labour are elected in 2015. 19 March – 2014 budget: Chancellor George Osborne announces that a new £1 coin will be introduced from 2017. Current £1 coins are vulnerable to counterfeiting, but the new 12-sided two-metal coin, based on the threepenny bit will be more difficult to copy. 28 March – BBC research suggests that less than 6% of social housing tenants affected by the bedroom taxan aspect of the 2012 Welfare Reform Act that penalises tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit with spare bedroomshave moved house as a result of the controversial measure. 29 March – The first same-sex weddings take place in England and Wales following a change in the law in 2013 allowing same-sex marriage. 31 March – A jury is selected to hear a fresh inquest into the 96 deaths caused by the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
April 5 April – In horse racing, Pineau De Re, trained by Dr. Richard Newland and ridden by 37-year-old Leighton Aspell, who returned to racing after coming out of retirement, wins the 2014 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse with the odds of 25/1. 6 April Sheffield's Half Marathon is cancelled because there were not enough water supplies for runners on the route. The Boat Race 2014, contested between Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs, takes place; Oxford winning by 11 lengths (the biggest winning margin since 1973) after the Cambridge boat suffered damage to an oar early in the race. 9 April – Maria Miller resigns of Culture Secretary following a row over her expenses, describing her decision as "the right thing to do". Sajid Javid is appointed as her successor. 20 April – The Anglican Diocese of Leeds, created by merger of the Church of England's West Yorkshire dioceses of Ripon & Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield, comes into being. 22 April – David Moyes is dismissed as Manager of Manchester United ten months after succeeding Alex Ferguson. Ryan Giggs will take temporary charge of the team until a permanent successor is appointed. 24 April – Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announces that Cornish people will be granted minority status under Council of Europe rules governing the protection of national minorities. 25 April – The government launches an inquiry after the Liverpool Echo reports that Whitehall computers were used to post offensive remarks about the Hillsborough disaster on Wikipedia pages relating to the topic. 28 April A youth is detained by police after a female teacher is stabbed to death in front of students at a school in Leeds. Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court, publicist Max Clifford is convicted of eight indecent assaults on women and girls. On 2 May he is jailed for eight years. 3D Repo, a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform provider is founded. 29 April – Former Conservative MP Patrick Mercer resigns from his Newark seat after he was suspended from Parliament for 6 months for allegedly asking questions in the House of Commons in exchange for money.
May 1 May – Barrister and part-time judge Constance Briscoe is convicted of perverting the course of justice after a trial at the Old Bailey heard she lied to police investigating the case of former MP Chris Huhne's speeding points. She is sentenced to 16 months in prison the following day. 5 May – The World Snooker Championship concludes with Mark Selby defeating defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 18–14 in the final to win his first world title 7 May – Former Co-operative Bank chairman Paul Flowers is fined £400 after being convicted of possessing cocaine, methamphetamine and ketamine. Flowers stood down from his role at the bank in 2013 due to allegations concerning drug taking, inappropriate expense payments and use of rent boys. 8 May – Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announces a review of the British Armed Forces will be brought forward from 2018 to later this year. The review could allow women to serve in front line combat roles for the first time. 9 May – The Giro d'Italia cycle race starts in Belfast.