The UK is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch as Head of State. The democracy is long-established and is sustained by free elections, freedom of speech and open and equal treatment before the law.

Multicultural Britain

Britain is a multicultural nation of over 60 million people from different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.

Human rights

Respect for people's human rights forms the basis of life in the UK.

International development

The Department for International Development (DFID) is the UK Government Department with lead responsibility for international development.

Political and legal system

The UK's Parliament is one of the oldest in the world.