For many it is mainly symbolic politics, but for Prime Minister Boris Johnson it is a weighty matter. Next week he will announce according to British media indicates that the old Imperial Standard System is once again becoming the norm in the United Kingdom.
The British use a mix of their own measurement system, which the US also uses, and the metric system, which most of the world uses. They measure distance in feet and miles, and drink in pints. The metric system has meters, liters and grams.
Over the years, the British have voluntarily switched to the metric system for many things. Since 2000, it has also been mandatory in the UK for retailers to use metric units for goods sold by weight. Pounds in ounces became kilos and grams. It was not forbidden to include the British units of measurement, but the metric units became mandatory.
Platinum jubilee
The reason? Regulations of the European Union. And that has weighed heavily on the minds of Brexit-loving Brits for a long time. In 2019, Johnson already gave Brexit proponents new hope by promising that the imperial system would regain space. Measuring in pounds and ounces is an “old freedom” and a “new era of generosity and tolerance” would be dawning towards one’s own measuring system.
That era looks set to begin on Friday, and it coincides with Queen Elizabeth’s 70th anniversary celebrations (just like the rest of the world, the British measure time in years). Last February was the actual anniversary, but there are celebrations throughout the year. The highlight is from 2 to 5 June: an extra long party weekend.
Shopkeepers are again given complete freedom to sell someone ten pounds of grits and cheese, for example, instead of kilos. Weights may also continue to be indicated metrically. So the British can simply continue to measure with two standards.
–
