| The Coalition: Our Programme for Government | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Coalition government |
| Context | Hung parliament following the2010 general election |
| Effective | 12 May 2010 (initial agreement) 20 May 2010 (final agreement) |
| Expiration | 30 March 2015 |
| Parties | Conservative Party Liberal Democrats |
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|---|---|---|
Leader of theLiberal Democrats (2007–2015) Deputy Prime Minister (2010–2015)
Post-Deputy Prime Minister
_(St_Edwards_Crown).svg) | ||
TheConservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement (officially known asThe Coalition: Our Programme for Government) was a policy document drawn up following the2010 general election in the United Kingdom. It formed the terms of reference governing theCameron–Clegg coalition, thecoalition government comprising MPs from theConservative Party and theLiberal Democrats.[1][2][3]
The general election resulted in ahung parliament, with no party emerging with an overall majority in theHouse of Commons, for the first time in 36 years since February 1974. As a result, the first and third parties in terms of votes and seats, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats respectively, entered into negotiations with the aim of forming a full coalition, the first since theSecond World War.
The initialagreement was published on 12 May 2010 (dated 11 May), detailing what had been agreed in the various policy areas, in order for a coalition government to be able to be formed, with a final agreement published on 20 May.[4]
The initial agreement was published on 12 May 2010. It consisted of a seven-page document, in 11 sections. In the foreword, it stated "These are the issues that needed to be resolved between us in order for us to work together as a strong and stable government". Of the 57 Liberal Democrat MPs, only two refused to support the Conservative Coalition agreement, with former party leaderCharles Kennedy andManchester Withington MPJohn Leech both rebelling against.[5] The 11 sections were as follows:
To tackle thebudget deficit andnational debt, the agreement detailed "significantly accelerated reduction in the structural deficit" over the Parliament, with £6,000,000,000 cuts to be made in the financial year 2010–11, with plans to be published in anemergency budget within fifty days.
In spending, the agreement committed the government to a full Spending Review of government including a full Strategic Security andDefence Review to be completed by the Autumn, an increase inNational Health Service funding in real terms and funding of disadvantaged pupils from outside the normal education budget. It would also establish an independent commission to review the long term affordability of public sector pensions, and restore the earnings link for the basic state pension from April 2011. Britain'sindependent nuclear deterrent would be maintained, but the proposedreplacement of the Trident system would be reviewed for value for money.
Intaxation, the agreement committed to increasing the personal income tax allowance to £10,000 by 2015 to take many of those on the lowest salaries out of the tax system. The de-prioritisingInheritance Tax cuts, and also laid out measures and arrangements on the issues of marriage, aviation, non-business capital gains taxes, andtax avoidance. The planned 1% rise inNational Insurance will be partially scrapped.
In thebanking system, the agreement announced various reforms to "avoid a repeat of Labour's financial crisis" and stimulate the flow of credit, including the introduction of a banking levy, and controlling unacceptablebankers' bonuses and regulatory reform.
The section regardingimmigration, markedly shorter than all others, merely stated in one paragraph that there would be an annual cap on the number of non-EU workers admitted to live and work in the UK, with the mechanism decided later. The practice of child detention for immigration purposes would also be ended.
As part of reform of the political system, the parties agreed to creatingfixed-term parliaments. An early motion would set the date of thenext general election as the first Thursday of May 2015, with later legislation establishing five-year fixed terms and introducing a new minimum of 55% of MPs supporting a motion beforeParliament could be dissolved outside this timetable.
Both parties wouldensure their MPs voted for the introduction of aReferendum Bill onthe question of whether the electoral system for electing MPs to theHouse of Commons should change fromfirst-past-the-post toalternative vote, and whether MPs constituencies should be changed in size or number.
On the issue ofdevolution, the parties agreed to establish a committee on theWest Lothian question (Scottish MPs in Westminster voting on English issue), implement theCommission on Scottish Devolution proposals, and offer a referendum on further devolution forWales.
Other political reform measures included introducing the power to recall MPs, bringing forward theWright Committee proposals for Commons reform, and introducing proposals for reform of theHouse of Lords by December 2010, review local government and voter registration.
In pensions, compulsory retirement at sixty-five years of age would be abolished, although the earliest age for the state pension would be increased from 65 to 66, from a date no earlier than 2016 for men, 2020 for women. Changes would be made to theJobseeker's Allowance and welfare to work systems, including a rule that receipt of benefits would be conditional on willingness to work. Payments would be made toEquitable Life policy holders.
A "significant" funding premium for children from poorer backgrounds will be established, incentivising schools to take them in and giving them more resources to devote to them. Inschools,new providers would be allowed to enter the state schooling system where demanded, schools would be granted greater freedom over theNational Curriculum, and schools would be "held properly accountable." The parties would awaitLord Browne's proposals forhigher education with the agreement stating the Liberal Democrats may abstain if they do not like proposed changes (i.e. if there was to be an increase in tuition fees).
As part of the agreement the parties ruled out joining theeuro while the coalition was in force. The parties agreed Britain would be a "positive participant" in theEuropean Union, although there would be "no further transfer of sovereignty or powers over the course of the next Parliament", ensured by amendment of the1972 European Communities Act requiring referendums on future treaties, and requiringprimary legislation before anyPasserelle clause could be enacted, and through examination of a possible United Kingdom sovereignty bill. Other measures include non-participation in establishment of aEuropean Public Prosecutor's Office, limiting theWorking Time Directive, deciding the stance on the forthcoming EU budget, and pressuring theEuropean Parliament to abolish itsseat in Strasbourg and maintain only asingle seat inBrussels.
Agreement oncivil liberties included measures to "reverse the substantial erosion of civil liberties under theLabour Government and roll back state intrusion." This included: the scrapping of theNational Identity Card and register, thenext generation biometric passport and theContactPoint database. The Scottish model of implementation of theUnited Kingdom National DNA Database was to be extended to the whole of the United Kingdom. TheFreedom of Information Act would be extended, and a Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill is to be introduced. Other reviews, reinforcements and repeals would take place in the fields of the right totrial by jury, the right tonon-violent protest,libel laws andfreedom of speech,anti-terrorism legislation, regulation ofCCTV, storage of internet and email records, and creation of newcriminal offences. Fingerprinting of children at school without parental permission was to be outlawed.
In pursuit of the parties' policies on creation of "a low carbon and eco-friendly economy", a range of measures would be adopted.
Intransport, ahigh speed rail network would be established, while theproposed third runway atHeathrow Airport would be cancelled, and no new runways would be approved forGatwick Airport orLondon Stansted Airport.
The legislation required for thebuilding new nuclear power stations would proceed, without public subsidy for the projects. Any newcoal-fired power stations would be required to implementcarbon capture and storage, while the targets for energy from renewable sources would be increased, subject to the advice of theClimate Change Committee.
Other measures include asmart grid,smart meters andfeed-in tariffs, a green investment bank would be created, and promotion ofanaerobic digestion of waste for energy,marine energy, home energy improvement, green spaces and wildlife corridors, and electric car recharging networks.Home Information Packs would be abolished, albeit retaining the energy performance certificates. Import or export of illegal timber would be criminalised.
The initial agreement published on 12 May 2010 stated that it would be followed "in due course by a final Coalition Agreement, covering the full range of policy and including foreign, defence and domestic policy issues" which were not covered in the initial agreement.David Cameron,Nick Clegg,George Osborne,Theresa May andVince Cable held a press conference atHM Treasury to unveil the final Coalition Agreement. The final agreement is based on three core values shared by both parties "Freedom, fairness and responsibility". Of the 57 Liberal Democrat MPs, only two refused to support the Conservative Coalition agreement, with former leaderCharles Kennedy and Manchester Withington MPJohn Leech both rebelling.[5]
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