2 December 1999 — Under the Good Friday Agreement, the UK Parliament transferred legislative and executive powers to Northern Ireland.

3 December 1931 —  The UK Parliament passed the Statue of Westminster, under which the British Dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zeeland, South Africa and the Irish Free State and Newfoundland gained complete legislative independence.

4 December 1586 — Queen Elizabeth I conferred the death sentence on Mary Queen of Scots after discovering a plot to assassinate her.

5th December 2005 — The Civil Partnership Act came into effect in the UK. It gave same-sex couples rights and responsibilities identical to civil marriage.

6th December 1884 — The Representation of the People Act 1884 received Royal Assent. It allowed virtually all men, except domestic servants and those in receipt of poor relief, to vote in general elections.

7th December 1892 — The iconic Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company was decided. This case clarified that an advertisement can be considered a binding offer and that using the product as specified in the ad can constitute acceptance of that offer, forming a contract.

8th December 1965 — The new Race Relations Act came into force, making racial discrimination unlawful in public places.

9 December 1884 — R v Dudley and Stephens was decided. It established a precedent throughout the common law world that necessity is not a defence to a charge of murder.

10 December 1948 — The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It outlines 30 rights and freedoms that belong to all of us and that nobody can take away from us.

11 December 1936 — His Majesty’s Declaration of Abdication Act receives Royal Assent.  Due to popular opposition to his affair with Wallis Simpson, the King decided to abdicate the throne in December 1936.

12 December 1896 — Guglielmo Marconi made the first demonstration of his radio system in London. On the same day in 1901, he carried out the first transatlantic radio transmission.

13 December 1973 — The PM announced that a 3-day work week would be imposed on most of British industry starting the following January. This was due to a severe energy crisis.

14 December 1895 — Birthday of King George VI, who succeeded the throne when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated. See 11 December.

15 December 1974 — Motorways Traffic (Speed Limit) Regulations 1974 came into effect. It established new speed limits, 70mph on motorways, 60mph on dual carriageways and 50mph on all other roads.

16 December 1689 — Bill of Rights given Royal Assent. It placed limitations on the Monarch’s power, affirmed several rights for the subjects and emphasised the importance of free elections for Parliament members.

17 December 1903 — The Wright Brothers made the first successful sustained flight in an airplane. As a result, several years later, the Air Navigation Act 1920 was passed, which gave the British government the authority to control air navigation.

18 December 1998 — The Scotland Act 1998 came into effect. It established the Scottish Parliament, how Scotland was governed and represented a substantial devolution of powers from the UK Parliament.

19 December 1984 — Britain and China signed an agreement in Beijing, in which Britain agreed to transfer full sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

20 December 2018 — Civil Liablity Act 2018 came into effect. It made provisions about whiplash claims and the personal injury discount rate.

21 December 1880 — Isle of Man became the first to allow women to vote, provided they were widows or spinsters(unmarried) with a property rated annually at £4 or over. They voted the following April.

22 December 1942 — Hitler signed the order to develop the V2 rocket as a weapon. It was the world’s first, long-raged weapon and developed specifically to target London. Many law firms’ offices were destroyed by these rockets.

23 December 1920 — The Government of Ireland Act was Passed — It divided Ireland into 2 parts, each with its own parliament.

24 December 2020 — The UK and EU reached an agreement to govern future trading and security relationship from the end of the Brexit transition period.

25 December 1066 — William the Conqueror was Crowned at Westminster Abbey. He was the first Norman King of England.

26 December 1874 — Boxing Day is recognised as an official bank holiday in Britain under the Bank Holidays Act of 1871.

27 December 1831 — Charles Darwin began his voyage where he worked on the Theory of Evolution. A significant distortion of his biological theory was adopted by others, namely Social Darwinism, which influenced many laws.

28 December 2020 — Promotions on food and drinks high in fat, salt or sugar in retailers were restricted. The new rule was designed to support the nation to make healthier choices. It prevented retailers from offering multi-buy promotions such as buy 1 get 1 free / 3 for 2 offers on these products.

29 December 1970 — Equal Pay Act 1970 came into force, which was a significant step forward in the fight for gender equality. 5 years later, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 came into force and it sought to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sex or marital status.

30 December 2020 — The European Union (Future Relationship) Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament and received Royal Assent on the same day.

31 December 2023 — Today the UK government ends the special status of all retained EU law under the Brexit Freedoms Bill. It enables the government to crate regulations tailor-made to UK’s own needs.