May 8
MPs' Expenses Scandal
The Daily Telegraph published leaked details of MPs' expenses claims. Duck houses, moat cleaning, phantom mortgages — the scale of abuse was staggering. Ministers resigned. Trust in Parliament collapsed to historic lows.
🇬🇧United Kingdom · 00s
The Expenses Scandal
MPs claimed for duck houses and moat cleaning, the economy crashed, and Susan Boyle dreamed a dream.
What happened
5 milestones of 2009
Apr 1
G20 Protests and Death of Ian Tomlinson
During G20 protests in London, newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson was struck by a police officer and died. Mobile phone footage contradicted police accounts. The case exposed police violence and cover-up culture.
Death in police contact — present factually, acknowledge accountability failures
Jan
Recession — Worst Since the War
Britain entered its deepest recession since World War II. GDP fell 6%. Unemployment rose above 2.5 million. Banks were bailed out with £500 billion of taxpayers' money. Austerity was on the horizon.
Apr 11
Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent
Susan Boyle, a 47-year-old from Blackburn, West Lothian, sang 'I Dreamed a Dream' on Britain's Got Talent. The audience's scepticism turned to tears. The clip became the most-watched YouTube video of the year.
Apr
Swine Flu Pandemic
The H1N1 'swine flu' pandemic reached Britain. Schools closed. A national pandemic helpline was set up. 457 people died in the UK. It was a rehearsal for a much larger pandemic a decade later.
Pandemic — acknowledge victims
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle — British director, Mumbai setting. 8 Oscars. 'Jai Ho!'
An Education
Lone Scherfig — Carey Mulligan in 1960s London. Coming-of-age with dark edges.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
David Yates — The penultimate chapter. Dumbledore's fate.
In the Loop
Armando Iannucci — Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker. Iraq War satire. Savage.
Avatar
James Cameron — 3D revolution. Blue aliens. Highest-grossing film of all time.
What was on TV
Susan Boyle on BGT
Apr 2009 — 100 million YouTube views. The most viral moment in TV history.
The Inbetweeners
2008-2010 — Will, Simon, Jay, Neil. 'Bus wankers!' Teen comedy perfection.
Misfits
2009-2013 — E4 superhero drama. Robert Sheehan. Irreverent and brilliant.
Downton Abbey (prep)
2009 — Julian Fellowes' period drama in production — would launch 2010.
Michael Jackson Memorial
Jul 2009 — Jackson died June 25. The memorial service drew billions of viewers worldwide.
How much things cost
Currency: GBP
Pint of milk44p
Loaf of bread£1.01
Pint of bitter£2.75
Average house£157,623
Litre of petrol90p
Cinema ticket£6.00
Inflation: 2.2%
Recession devastated the economy. House prices fell. Unemployment rose. Quantitative easing began. The austerity era was approaching.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Pint of milkONS
2009 (GBP)
44p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Loaf of breadONS
2009 (GBP)
£1.01
→
Today's value (£)
--
Pint of bitterBBPA
2009 (GBP)
£2.75
→
Today's value (£)
--
Average houseONS
2009 (GBP)
£157,623
→
Today's value (£)
--
Litre of petrolAA
2009 (GBP)
90p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Cinema ticketBFI
2009 (GBP)
£6.00
→
Today's value (£)
--
Technology
Smartphones
iPhone and Android spreading — mobile internet becoming standard.
Twitter growth
Twitter went mainstream — real-time news and opinion.
Spotify
Music streaming service arrived in the UK — the end of downloads.
Bitcoin
Mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin — cryptocurrency was born.
Messaging app launched — would replace texting.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Festival fashion — wellies, headbands, floral printsHigh street and vintage mixing — charity shop chicLady Gaga's outrageous style influenced pop fashion
Slang
Epic— Impressively great
LOL— Laugh out loud (used in speech now)
Banter— Teasing humour (everywhere)
Behavior
- Expenses scandal destroyed trust in politicians
- Susan Boyle showed talent shows could still surprise
- Recession anxiety changed spending habits — austerity culture emerging
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