That's News to Me (8) Multiple Choice Quiz | 19th, 20th & 21st Centuries

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In June/July 2004 which person did Home Secretary David Blunkett eventually have suspended from his job?

Answer: Chief Constable of Humberside Police

In a battle that eventually went to the High Court, the Home Secretary forced the local police authority to suspend David Westwood and acted against their wishes. Humberside police were responsible for failing to alert relevant bodies when Ian Huntley applied for a job as a school caretaker at Soham, prior to the Soham murders.

Some observers felt that the system was so bad that Blunkett himself should also resign, but strangely that never happened. Britain is a country known for the leaking of information.

It seems difficult to believe how Humberside police believed that the Data Protection Act required them to destroy the appalling history of allegations against Huntley.

2. In July 2004 which person did the British media report as having considered resigning from office in June 2004?

Answer: Prime Minister

According to leaked reports, four cabinet ministers had to urge Mr Blair to carry on in office. This may say more about Gordon Brown (the supposed alternative P.M. in waiting) than Tony Blair.

3. Is it true that in July 2004 the Home Secretary nominated the Chief Constable of Humberside to take charge of security in the cabinet and stop the continual leaks from No 10 Downing Street?

Answer: No

Despite the possibilities this obvious solution was not considered. If it had been we would surely have had it leaked to us by the media. The Chief Constable of Humberside had been suspended from his work by the actions of the Home Secretary. He had used an absurd interpretation of the Data Protection Act, in not keeping a record of serious allegations against Ian Huntley for more than a month. Ian Huntley was thus able to take a job as a school caretaker where he committed two vile child murders.

The break down in the system was so bad that many felt that the Home Secretary should have resigned as well. The fault appeared to lie at government as well as at police level.

4. What happened at Brighton in June 2004 that attracted media attention?

Answer: Part of a pier fell into the sea.

Sections of the West Pier fell into the sea during storms. The pier had been subject to fires and previous storms and was closed in the 1970's. It was built in 1866. Fortunately another pier does remain so don't cancel your holiday yet.

5. In June 2004 what or who did a thirty-one mile trip around London before ending up at the Mall?

Answer: Olympic flame

The Olympic cauldron was lit at the Mall in SW1, after the flame had been carried by the great and the good around London. Tim Henman apparently carried it around the All England Tennis Club at Wimbledon and surprised many by keeping in his new type of event to the end.

6. In June 2004 which public service went on strike in London over pay and conditions?

Answer: Underground trains

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union called a one day strike and London (as always prepared!) was reduced to chaos.

7. In June 2004 the U.S. Federal Reserve made its first increase in interest rates in nearly four years.

Answer: True

The rate rose to 1.25%.

8. Who beat Tim Henman in the quarter finals of the 2004 Wimbledon Championships?

Answer: Mario Ancic

Henman was beaten by an unseeded player and continued his tradition of coming "so near, but so far" to the Wimbledon final.

9. In June 2004 a leaked draft manifesto policy document was alleged to say that the Labour Party were planning to ban which of these in public places?

Answer: Smoking

This is obviously a possible policy for a new Labour government.

10. In July 2004 Saddam Hussein appeared before an American Court in Iraq.

Answer: False

Despite appearances to the contrary we were told that this was an Iraqi court. This only goes to show that what you are allowed to witness in the media can prove to be deceptive.

11. Which legendary film actor died in July 2004?

Answer: Marlon Brando

Famed for many movies such as "The Godfather", he died at the age of 80 in a Los Angeles hospital. He was a sad loss.

12. Who won the singles events at Wimbledon in 2004?

Answer: Sharapova and Federer

Maria Sharapova beat Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 in the final to produce a massive upset. The 17 year old Russian became known as the "blonde bombshell". Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-4 to win the men's event.

13. In July 2004 two men were arrested for crashing their car into which gates?

Answer: Houses of Parliament

The police are investigating, but there must be a possibility that these were just two MPs, who had thought that they heard somebody shout "last orders please" at one of the bars inside.

14. In July 2004 who did the Democrat John Kerry pick as his U.S. presidential running mate?

Answer: John Edwards

John Edwards was a senator for North Carolina from 1999 to 2005.

15. In July 2004 the House of Lords changed the law to place a limit on parents doing what?

Answer: Smacking children

The House of Lords restricted the right of parents to smack their children, but did not go the whole way and forbid it. Thus lawyers will make a fortune arguing how and when a child can, or can't be smacked.

16. Prime Minister Blair indicated in July 2004 that the legal time for abortion could be re-examined in the light of new medical research.

Answer: True

New medical research pictures have shown a 12 week old baby walking. The current time limit for abortion is twenty four weeks and Mr Blair is indicating that medical research is the criteria, in his opinion, as to when abortion is permissible. Many think that surely if he were working on a moral conscience he would not want an abortion when life is, or might possibly be present? No doubt the parties with an interest in these matters will be saying a lot more.

17. Who announced in July 2004 that the jobs of over 100,000 civil servants would be axed?

Answer: Gordon Brown

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown announced these cuts in his spending review, prior to what is almost certainly a general election next summer. My prosposal would be to increase the size of an M.P's constituency by four and remove 75% of M.P's.

They only follow the party whip anyway, when it matters and their constuency work is largely done by support staff. A lot of salaries and overheads would be saved if that were done.

18. In early 2004 the UK government announced that it would abolish this position. In July 2004 the House of Lords did not approve and stopped its abolition. What position?

Answer: Lord Chancellor

In a surprise to the government the centrepiece of their legal reforms was blocked. It was done by 240 votes to 208. An ancient and old fashioned part of our constitution still staggers on (literally in some cases!).

19. In a BBC television documentary in July 2004 which political party suffered a devasting exposure of its internal activities?

Answer: B.N.P.

Well done if you watched the programme and had that one right. A number of racist motivated hate crimes are now being investigated by the police. We wait to see what they do with this information.

20. In July 2004 a United Nations report said that life expectancy in parts of Africa has fallen below 25 years because of the AIDS virus.

Answer: False

The report actually said that life expectancy in parts of Africa has fallen below 33 years of age.

Source: Author rialto88

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

That's News to Me (8) Trivia Quiz

Another quiz about current affairs as seen through the British media. Compiled in July 2004. Please have a go at it wherever you live on the planet, or beyond - if you happen to be a politician!

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