January 2007 in the United Kingdom

Events from January of the year 2007 in the United Kingdom. For a list of all events in the UK in 2007, please go to the 2007 in the United Kingdom article.

News events in January 2007

* January 1 - Central Trains hold the second day of a two day industrial action, affecting many parts of England, especially the East and West Midlands [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6221899.stm Train strike runs into second day, BBC News] ]
* January 3 -
** Celebrity Big Brother 5 launched on Channel 4, with celebrities such as Jermaine Jackson, Dirk Benedict and Leo Sayer. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6230555.stm Big Brother launch watched by 7m, BBC News] ]
** 2007 National Express coach crash: A National Express coach from London Heathrow Airport to Aberdeen, Scotland crashes on a slip road between the M4 and the M25, killing two people and injuring thirty-six others. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6229719.stm Two dead after M-way coach crash, BBC News] ]
* January 4 - In response to the above, National Express withdraw all 12 of their double-decker coaches as a precaution [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6232673.stm Coach crash firm withdraw buses, BBC News] ]
*January 5 - Umran Javed, a British Muslim, is found guilty at the Old Bailey, London, of inciting racial hatred at a London rally back in February 2006 protesting against the publication of a cartoon in a Danish newspaper depicting Muhammad (see Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy) [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6235279.stm Cartoons protester found guilty, BBC News] ]
* January 7 -
** Bristol International Airport closes its runway due to concerns by various airlines (including easyJet and BA Connect) over the safety of landing in wet weather. This follows two days of nine airlines refusing to use the runway [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6238311.stm Bristol runway shut in safety row, BBC News] ]
**Laura Pearce becomes the first contestant on Channel 4 show Deal or No Deal to win the top prize of £250,000 since the start of the show on October 31 2005. It took until the 351st attempt for the top prize to be won [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6240443.stm First Deal or No Deal jackpot won, BBC News] ] .
* January 9 - New rules outlawing businesses from discriminating against homosexuals are upheld in the House of Lords, after a challenge by Lord Morrow of the Democratic Unionist Party [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6243323.stm Gay rights laws challenge fails, BBC News] ]
* January 10 - Two military helicopters collide in mid-air near Market Drayton, Shropshire, killing one person and injuring three others [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/6249259.stm One dead as helicopters collide, BBC News] ] .
* January 11 - In an unexpected move, the Bank of England raises interest rates to 5.25%, an increase of 0.25%. This is the third rise in five months, after a year of stability [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6251963.stm Shock as UK rates rise to 5.25%, BBC News] ] .
* January 16 - At the 64th Golden Globe Awards, Helen Mirren wins an award for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in "The Queen" and Sacha Baron Cohen for his role in "". Other British winners were Hugh Laurie in "House" and Jeremy Irons in "Elizabeth I". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6264625.stm Dame Helen is Queen of the Globes, BBC News] ]
* January 17 - It is announced that methamphetamine - otherwise known as crystal meth - is to be reclassified to a Class A drug, to avert widespread use of the drug [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6273215.stm Crystal meth made class A drug, BBC News] ]
* January 18 - The UK is hit by torrential rain and gale force winds, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people and causing havoc to public transport and power supplies [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6272193.stm Nine dead as UK struck by storms, BBC News] ]

porting events in the UK or involving Britons in January 2007

* January 1 - 13 times world champion Phil "The Power" Taylor loses to Raymond van Barneveld 7-6 in a sudden-death decider in the PDC World Darts Championship at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, Essex [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/darts/6221331.stm Barney stuns Taylor in epic final, BBC Sport] ]
* January 4 -
** Paul Le Guen resigns as manager of Rangers. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6231489.stm Le Guen and Rangers part company, BBC Sport] ]
** Tim Henman withdraws from the Australian Open, citing a knee injury. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6229665.stm Injured Henman out of Aussie Open, BBC Sport] ]
* January 5 - The England cricket team lost the 5th Ashes test in Sydney, Australia by 10 wickets, resulting in a 5-0 series whitewash, the first time this has occurred since the 1920-1921 Ashes Tour. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6231701.stm Australia complete series whitewash, BBC Sport] ]
* January 6 -
** The 3rd Round of the FA Cup produces some upsets, notable scalps include two Premiership teams being knocked out by lower-placed opposition: Sheffield United lose 3-0 at home to Swansea City [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6213977.stm] , and Nottingham Forest beat Charlton Athletic 2-0 at home [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6213933.stm] .
** Tennis player Andy Murray loses in straight sets (6-4 6-4) in the Qatar Open to Ivan Ljubičić. This is only Murray's second appearance in an ATP final. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6237325.stm Murray denied title by Ljubicic, BBC Sport] ]
** Defending BDO World Darts Champion, Jelle Klaasen, is knocked out in the first round by fellow Dutch player Co Stompe at the World Championships at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/darts/6237175.stm Champion Klaasen upset by Stompe, BBC News] ]
* January 8 -
** The FA Cup fourth round draw [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6239453.stm Forest to face Chelsea in FA Cup, BBC Sport] ] throws up some interesting ties: examples include Premiership champions Chelsea at home to ex-European champions Nottingham Forest, and Arsenal at home to Bolton Wanderers in a repeat of 2006's fourth round match, which Bolton Wanderers won 1-0 at the Reebok Stadium
** Andy Fordham is taken to hospital just half an hour before his first round match at the BDO World Darts Championship at the Lakeside Country Club, with breathing problems, ruling him out winning his second world title [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/darts/6245889.stm. Fordham targets Lakeside return, BBC Sport] ]
* January 9 - Liverpool are thrashed 6-3 by Arsenal in their delayed Carling Cup quarter final match at Anfield [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6236687.stm Liverpool 3-6 Arsenal, BBC Sport] ] .
* January 11 - David Beckham agrees to join the USA Major League Soccer team the Los Angeles Galaxy, leaving Real Madrid at the end of the current season in a five-year deal reportedly worth £128m [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6248835.stm Beckham agrees to LA Galaxy move, BBC Sport] ] .
* January 14 -
** Ding Junhui knocks in a maximum 147 break at The Masters in the first round against Anthony Hamilton on his way to a 6-3 win.
** Martin Adams wins the BDO World Darts Championship Final in the final set, after opponent Phil Nixon comes back from 6-0 behind at the break to finally lose 7-6. It took 14 attempts for Martin to lift the title [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/darts/6261589.stm Adams seals dramatic Lakeside win, BBC Sport] ]
* January 20 - Chelsea lose 2-0 against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premiership [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6258681.stm Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea, BBC Sport] ]
* January 21 -
** Manchester United fail to capitalise on Chelsea losing to Liverpool yesterday, going down to a last minute goal to lose 2-1 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6258777.stm Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd, BBC Sport] ]
** Ronnie O'Sullivan defeats Ding Junhui in the final of The Masters at Wembley Arena [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6285217.stm Superb Rocket beats Ding in final, BBC Sport] ] .
* January 22 - Andy Murray is the last Briton to be knocked out of the Australian Open, losing in five sets to Rafael Nadal [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6286767.stm Valiant Murray succumbs to Nadal, BBC Sport] ]
* Until January 28 - The Potters Holidays World Indoor Bowls Championships, Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
* January 27 - January 28 - The FA Cup fourth round - 16 scheduled matches (12 on Saturday, 4 on Sunday)

Deaths in January 2007

* January 3 - Sir Cecil Walker, 82, Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for North Belfast (1983–2001), heart attack. (b. 1924) [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6228809.stm Former MP Cecil Walker dies at 81, BBC News] ]
* January 4 - Grenfell (Gren) Jones, 72, newspaper cartoonist. (b. 1934) [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6230567.stm Iconic newspaper cartoonist dies, BBC News] ]
* January 7 - Magnus Magnusson, 77, journalist, broadcaster and host of BBC quiz show Mastermind from 1972 to 1997, pancreatic cancer. (b. 1929) [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6239745.stm Obituary: Magnus Magnusson, BBC News] ]
* January 8 -
**David Ervine, 53, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, heart attack leading to stroke and brain haemorrhage. (b. 1953). [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6242215.stm PUP's Ervine has died in hospital, BBC News] ]
**Francis Cockfield, Baron Cockfield, 90, politician and European Commissioner, cause of death unknown (b. 1916) [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,1987377,00.html Obituary in "The Guardian"] ]
* 27 January - Paul Channon, Baron Kelvedon, Member of Parliament, (b. 1935) [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2007/01/30/db3001.xml Lord Kelvedon's obituary in the Telegraph] ]

References