1986 in the United Kingdom

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Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1986 in the United Kingdom: Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Other years
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Sport and Music
British and Irish current events
1986 English cricket season
Football Image:Flag of England.svg England \| Image:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
1986 in British music

Events from the year 1986 in the United Kingdom.

1 Incumbents
2 Events
- 2.1 Undated
3 Births
4 Deaths
5 References

[edit] Incumbents

Monarch - HM Queen Elizabeth II
Prime Minister - Margaret Thatcher, Conservative

[edit] Events

January 4 - Phil Lynott, the former lead singer of rock band Thin Lizzy, dies in Salisbury Hospital at the age of 34. He had been admitted on Boxing Day after collapsing at his home in Kew. Lynott's condition had deteriorated over the last few days, and he finally died as a result of Multiple organ failure - the consequence of heavy drinking and drug abuse.^[1]
January 9 - Michael Heseltine resigns as Defence Secretary over the Westland affair.^[2]
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.^[3]
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.^[4]
March 31
- A fire devastates Hampton Court Palace in Surrey.
- Greater London Council abolished.^[5]
April 7 - Clive Sinclair sells rights to ZX Spectrum and other inventions to Amstrad.^[6]
April 17
- Journalist John McCarthy kidnapped in Beirut (released in August 1991) - three others are found dead, Revolutionary Cells (RZ) claims responsibility in retaliation for the US bombing of Libya.
- Treaty signed, ending Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly.
April 29 - Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor, is buried at Frogmore. She died earlier this month, aged 89, after a long struggle against ill health.^[7]
June 10 - Patrick Joseph Magee found guilty of Brighton hotel bombing and sentenced to life imprisonment.^[8]
June 12 - Derek Hatton, leader of Liverpool council, expelled from the Labour Party for belonging to the Militant Tendency faction.^[9]
June 24 - Ian Paisley's Ulster Unionist Party stage protest at dissolution of Northern Ireland Assembly.^[10]
June 29 - Richard Branson beats Atlantics speed record but is denied Blue Riband award.^[11]^[12]
July - Nissan begins production of the Bluebird at its landmark factory near Sunderland.
July 10 - Austin Rover launches its new Honda-based Rover 800 executive car, which replaces the decade-old Rover SD1.
July 12 - Rioting breaks out in Portadown in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Catholics.^[13]
July 23 - In London, Prince Andrew, Duke of York marries Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey.^[14]
July 24–August 2 - 1986 Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh.
July 30 - Estate agent Suzy Lamplugh vanishes after a meeting in London.^[15]
August 22 - John Stalker, deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester police, cleared of misconduct over allegations of associating with criminals.^[16]
August 29 - Britain's oldest twins, May and Marjorie Chavasse, celebrate their 100th birthday.^[17]
September 8 - Margaret Thatcher officially opens the first phase of the Nissan car factory at Sunderland, which has been in use for two months. It is the first car factory to be built in Europe by a Japanese carmaker.
September 19 - Two people killed and 100 injured at the Colwich rail crash.^[18]
October 7 - first edition of The Independent published.
October 12 - Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visit the People's Republic of China
October 24 - UK breaks off diplomatic relations with Syria over links to Hindawi Affair.^[19]
October 26
- Bus deregulation in the United Kingdom, except Greater London and Northern Ireland.
- Jeffrey Archer resigns as Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party over allegations concerning prostitutes.^[20]
October 28 - Jeremy Bamber is found guilty of the murder of his parents, sister and twin nephews and is sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended minimum of 25 years, which is likely to keep him behind bars until at least 2011.^[21]
November - Vauxhall launches its second generation Carlton executive saloon, giving the British division of General Motors a fresh rival for the Ford Granada and Rover 800.
November 6 - Forty seven oil workers killed when a Chinook helicopter carrying them from the Brent oilfield crashed.^[22]
November 18 - Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, who are both still behind bars some 20 years after their Moors Murders convictions, confess to the murders of two missing children. They admit their responsibility for the deaths of Pauline Reade, who vanished in July 1963 at the age of 16, and Keith Bennett, who was last seen in June 1964 at the age of 12.
November 20 - Police begin their search for the two newly identified Moors Murders victims.^[23]
December 1 - Government launches inquiry into financial irregularities at Guinness.^[24]
December 22 - Liberal party MP David Penhaligon, 42, is killed in a car crash near Truro in Cornwall.
December 29 - Former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan dies aged 92.^[25]