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. (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. (BBC)

April 9, 2005

• Hedgehunter (7-1 favourite), ridden by Ruby Walsh, wins the Grand National at Aintree race course. (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. (BBC) (BBC)

April 7, 2005

• The last British-owned volume car maker, MG Rover is placed in receivership. (BBC)

April 5, 2005

• The Prime Minister, Tony Blair asks the Queen for a dissolution of Parliament for a general election on May 5. (BBC)
• Saturday's Grand National will be delayed by 25 minutes to avoid clashing with BBC television coverage of the Royal wedding. (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. (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. (BBC).