the law as it is at the time". Regulation and units of measure In the original case, several statutes were cited including Magna Carta, the Acts of Union 1707 and European Communities Act 1972. Since medieval times, The Crown has asserted the right to regulate weights and measures in the market place. Even though the barons forced King John to accept Magna Carta in 1215, it was issued in the name of the king. Article 35 stated: Prior to England and Scotland uniting in 1707, each kingdom enforced their own system of weights and measures. Article 17 of the Act of Union ensured that there was a single system of weights and measures across the newly created United Kingdom by requiring that both nations adopted the English system. The concept of a single system of measures under government control continues. In 2003 the summary of a government report stated: See also Directive 80/181/EEC Metrication in the United Kingdom Metrication opposition Thoburn v Sunderland City Council Notes References External links Metric Martyrs website Metrication in the United Kingdom Legal history of the United Kingdom Metrication opposition Political advocacy groups in the United Kingdom