Based on my own experiences in England and parts nearby:

I'd include the LeathermanTool.  I predict that you will use it at least twice.

I don't think you'll need that speech.  The people I met weren't really interested in starting political discussions with tourist strangers.

-- Brent

:I'm not planning on checking the bag (unless at the gate, after I've gone through security). A Leatherman tool is, among other nifty things, a couple inches of knife and assorted pointy implements. But yeah, for sheer usefulness I like to have it along on pretty much any trip. Mostly for the knife and the bottle opener, but the rest comes in handy once in a while.

:I don't expect any static from random strangers, but I'm going to be hanging out with university people. Moderate experience suggests I'm going to have some nonzero number of political conversations. I'm cool with that. I'm kind of looking forward to some perspective. It won't by definition be less biased than what I get right here in Nebraska - but it'll be different bias.