Northern Ireland had its own Parliament and Prime Minister until it was suspended in 1972 due to the deteriorating security and political condition in the province, direct rule from London was established through a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Currently, the Peace Talks continue in the North for shared power between Britain and The Republic of Ireland. Geography Britain has a mild and variable climate. Monthly average temperatures rise to 60 F in summer and fall to 40 F in winter. Winters tend to be harsher in Scotland, Northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Rainfall occurs throughout the year.
London is five time zones ahead of Eastern Standard Time. The United Kingdom consists of a large island and many small islands, forming Great Britain. The Mainland consists of England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland is one-sixth of the island of Ireland.