Political Culture
-- UK is a mostly consensus based government, with voting and Parliamentary representation and so on, though it does need to use coercion from time to time to keep all its regions in one piece. (ie. Scotland and Northern Ireland)
--UK is a highly centralized government currently going through a period of devolution. The UK parliament has been giving increasingly more power to the Scottish and Northern Irish Parliaments.
--UK is mostly a Unitary State, with most of the power in the UK Parliament, yet has begun practicing Federalism to a certain extent, allowing its counties some jurisdiction over local issues (so missing manhole covers and potholes on roads won't be discussed in Parliament anymore) and allows a lot of autonomy for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, the former two which have Parliaments, and the latter which has an Assembly.
--UK is a highly centralized government currently going through a period of devolution. The UK parliament has been giving increasingly more power to the Scottish and Northern Irish Parliaments.
--UK is mostly a Unitary State, with most of the power in the UK Parliament, yet has begun practicing Federalism to a certain extent, allowing its counties some jurisdiction over local issues (so missing manhole covers and potholes on roads won't be discussed in Parliament anymore) and allows a lot of autonomy for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, the former two which have Parliaments, and the latter which has an Assembly.
Consensus vs. Coercion
Predevolved UK vs. Devolved UK
Centralized Powers vs. Devolved Powers
Useful Links:
https://www.gov.uk/devolution-of-powers-to-scotland-wales-and-northern-ireland
http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/main_issues/sections/facts/newsid_1220000/1220730.stm
http://www.economist.com/node/17363770
http://www.economist.com/node/9010897
http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2010/12/devolving_power_local_councils_and_communities
https://www.gov.uk/devolution-of-powers-to-scotland-wales-and-northern-ireland
http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/main_issues/sections/facts/newsid_1220000/1220730.stm
http://www.economist.com/node/17363770
http://www.economist.com/node/9010897
http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2010/12/devolving_power_local_councils_and_communities