6 February - the Court of Appeal rules that Mrs Diane Blood of Leeds can be inseminated with her dead husband's sperm. Mrs Blood had been challenging for the right to use the sperm of her husband Stephen since just after his death two years ago.[5]
14 February- Jurors at the inquest into the death of Stephen Lawrence rule that the black teenager was unlawfully killed "in a completely unprovoked racist attack by five white youths".[6]
21 February - Three men who have spent 18 years in prison after being convicted of murdering 13-year-old Carl Bridgewater in 1978 have their convictions overturned by the Court of Appeal.[8]
19 May - the new Labour government announces that it will ban tobacco sponsorship of sporting events.[13]
June - Ford enters the growing compact coupe market with its Puma, which uses the same chassis as the Ka and Fiesta.
2 June- The Halifax Building Society floats on the London Stock Exchange. Over 7.5 million customers of the Society become shareholders of the new bank, the largest extension of shareholders in UK history.
29 July - Tracie Andrews is found guilty of murdering her fiancee Lee Harvey, who was stabbed to death on a Worcestershire country lane nearly eight months ago in what she claimed was a road rage attack. Andrews, 28, is sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended minimum of 14 years.
French investigators reveal that Princess Dianna's driver, Henri Paul, was over the drink-driving limit and had been travelling at over 100mph before the crash that killer her. Lawyers for Mohamed Al-Fayed, father of Dodi Al-Fayed, lay the blame on the paparazzi who were pursuing the Princess's vehicle.[20]
5 September - The Queen makes a nationwide broadcast in tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, following widespread criticism of the Royal Family's response to her death.
11 September - Referendum in Scotland on the creation of a national Parliament with devolved powers takes place. Voters back the plans for a national Parliament with limited tax raising powers.[23]
31 October - au pair Louise Woodward found guilty of the second degree murder of an eight-month-old child in her care. She is jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years.[26]
10 November - Louise Woodward's second degree murder conviction is reduced to manslaughter on appeal, and her life sentence is replaced by one of 279 days - the amount of time she had already spent in custody on remand.
1997 in the United Kingdom: 
England | 
Scotland
