Should the UK Stay on Summer Time All Year? The Debate
Every few years there are calls to stop changing the clocks. Choosing one permanent time raises the question of which time to keep.
Option one: permanent summer time
Staying on UTC+1 all year would give lighter evenings in winter but later sunrises. In Edinburgh in December the sun would not rise until about 09:40.
Option two: permanent GMT
Staying on UTC+0 all year would keep winter mornings lighter but lose the long summer evenings that the UK enjoys today.
The 1968 to 1971 experiment
From October 1968 to October 1971 the UK kept British Standard Time, UTC+1, all year. The trial ended after three years, partly because of concerns over dark winter mornings, particularly in Scotland.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UK going to stop changing the clocks?
There are no current plans. Time is set by UK law, and any change would need new legislation.
Clock change guides
- What Is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? A Plain-English GuideWhat daylight saving time is, how it works in the UK, Europe and the US, why it exists, its history, who uses it and the argument over scrapping it.
- Why Do the Clocks Go Back in October? The Real ReasonThe clocks go back in autumn to return the UK to GMT, so winter mornings are lighter. The history, the rule, what time it happens and what changes for you.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward Again After Going Back?When the UK clocks go forward again after the autumn change, how long the UK stays on GMT, when evenings get lighter and how to remember to reset your clocks.