Aug 25, 20203 min
Updated: Sep 29, 2020
It is important to know your local council and your MP (Member of Parliament) when you live in the UK.
當你住在英國的時候，認識你自己的地方政府，地方議會和你的國會議員是非常重要。
https://www.gov.uk/understand-how-your-council-works
In England – there are 2 tiers of local government 在英格蘭 -地方政府分為兩層
County Council 郡政府
District, borough and city council 區議會，自治市政府 和 市政府
In some part of the country only 1 tier of local government providing all the local services.
在某些地區 – 只有一個級別的地方政府提供所有本地服務。
The 3 main types are 共三種類型:
• Unitary authorities in shire areas 單一管理區 (通常城市是在郡的地區)
• London boroughs 倫敦市區
• Metropolitan boroughs 大都會自治市鎮區
In London and Metropolitan areas – some services including fire, police and public transport are provided through ‘joint authorities’ (e.g. in London by the Greater London Authority)
在倫敦市區和大都會自治市鎮區 - 消防，警察和公共交通在內的某些服務是通過“聯合當局”提供的 「例如， 大倫敦管理局 (Greater London Authority) 在倫敦提供的上述服務 」
• County Councils – Responsible for the services across the whole of county
郡政府 –負責全郡的服務
E.g. Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey
例如: 伯克郡，白金漢郡，赫福郡，肯特郡，薩里郡
• District, borough and city councils – cover a smaller area than county councils
區議會，自治市政府 和 市政府 - 負責郡內各較細的公共服務。
• Parish, community and town councils – operate at a level below district and borough councils and in some cases unitary authorities. They are elected through election.
教區和鎮政府 – 比區議會，自治市政府 ，市政府和單一管理區低一級。 這些管理單位都是通過選舉產生的。
• Council Tax – Contribute to all levels depend on where you live
地方議會/政府稅項 - 取決於您的住所的地方才可以決定需要給那個級別
• Find your local council 尋找你的地方議會/政府 –
https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
• Find your council tax band 尋找稅階 - https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands
Depends on your property and land you are living on which will determine your pay band
你的稅階取決於物業的位置及大小
https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/
MP is the representative of the people who live in its constituent. BNO passport holder is a British National so you are eligible to cast a vote in your constituent and select one candidate to be your MP.
Make sure you register yourself to vote!
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
國會議員代表居住其選區的居民。BNO護照持有人是英國國民，因此你有資格登記做選民，投票選出你選區的國會議員。
請記得登記投票做選民!
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
What do MPs do?
國會議員職責是什麼呢?
• Represent the UK public interests and concerns in the House of Commons
• 在下議院 (House of Commons) 代表英國國民的公共利益和關注的題目
What your MP can do for you?
你的國會議員可以為你做什麼?
Assist you and your constituent in a variety of ways
Making private enquiries on your behalf to raising matters publicly in the House of Commons
通過多種方式協助您和您的選區
包括代表你進行私人查詢，以致在下議院公開提出問題。
Raising matters in the House of Commons
在下議院提出問題
MPs can bring it to the attention of the press and public.
國會議員可以引起媒體和公眾的注意。
The party system
政黨制度
Nearly all MPs represent political parties
Members of the Lords – also organised on a party basis but some do not represent constituencies and many are not members of a political party
幾乎所有議員都是代表某一個政黨
上議院議員 - 也是按政黨組織的，但有些不代表任何選區，許多人也不是政黨成員
Find out who is your MP 尋找你的國會議員 - https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
Find your consistency 尋找你的選區 - https://members.parliament.uk/constituencies
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2019/results
Find out the party and MP of your constituent 尋找你選區的國會議員和政黨
Blue = Conservative (CON) 保守黨
Red = Labour (LAB) 工黨
Orange = Liberal Democrat (LD) 自由民主黨
Yellow = Scottish National Party (SNP)蘇格蘭民族黨
Purple Red = Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) 民主統一黨
Dark Green = Sinn Féin (SF) 新芬黨
Light Green = Plaid Cymru (PC) 威爾斯民族黨
Super Dark Green = Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 社會民主工黨
Green = Green (GRN) 綠黨
Gold = Alliance Party (APNI) 北愛爾蘭聯盟黨
By BNO Q&A Platform