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Revision as of 02:46, 5 October 2012 editRGloucester (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Pending changes reviewers38,757 edits Scandals: moved to Premiership of David Cameron as part of merger per conventions for British ministry articles← Previous edit Revision as of 03:06, 5 October 2012 edit undoRGloucester (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Pending changes reviewers38,757 edits Public spending cuts: moving to United Kingdom government austerity programme as part of gradual mergerNext edit →
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{{Main|June 2010 United Kingdom Budget}} {{Main|June 2010 United Kingdom Budget}}
{{Expand section|date = August 2010}} {{Expand section|date = August 2010}}

===Public spending cuts===
{{main|United Kingdom Conservative-Liberal coalition government austerity programme}}
] closed due to spending cuts]]
The coalition has instituted public spending cuts, in an attempt to reduce the ongoing deficit of the UK government. The closure programme was initially focused upon public bodies funded by government, often known as ], which were abolished or merged. By July 2010, a total of 54 such bodies had either been abolished or had their funding withdrawn.<ref name=ind20100727>Nigel Morris The Independent, 27 July 2010</ref> In October 2010 a list of 192 quangos to be abolished was officially released, with 118 to be merged.<ref>{{cite news |title=Quango list shows 192 to be axed |author=Staff writer |newspaper=] |date=14 October 2010 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11538534 |accessdate=23 October 2010}}</ref> These include:

{{div col|3}}
*]
*]
*] (HPA)
*] (NPSA)
*]
*] (by end of this Parliament)
*]
*] (to be made a self-funding body by charging a levy on regulators)
*]
*]
*]
*] (BECTA)
*]
*Eight out of nine ] (excluding London)
*]
*UfI/]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*] (withdrawn funding)
*]
*]
*]
*] - functions will transfer to ]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*] - will become a charity similar to the National Trust
*]
*]
*]

In addition, several agencies will merge:<ref name=ind20100727/>
*] will merge with the ]
*] will merge with ] after the ]
*] will merge with the ]
*] has merged with the ]
*] will merge into the newly created ]
*] will merge with the ] ]

{{div col end}}

A number of agencies including the ] and the ] were marked 'Under consideration' in the official Government release, subject to future reviews by the end of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191543.pdf |title=PUBLIC BODIES REFORM – PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE |author=] |date=14 October 2010 |work= |publisher=] |accessdate=23 October 2010}}</ref>

{{Expand section|date = August 2010}}

The coalition has also closed a number of programmes or services provided directly by Government Departments, such as the public health ].


===Legislation enacted=== ===Legislation enacted===

Revision as of 03:06, 5 October 2012

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Find sources: "United Kingdom coalition government" 2010–2015 – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
See also: Cameron Ministry

The Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition is the present Government of the United Kingdom, formed after the 2010 general election, which had ended in a hung parliament with the Conservatives having the most seats but no party having an overall majority.

The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats entered into discussions which culminated in the 2010 coalition agreement, setting out a programme for government until the next general election, scheduled for 2015. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both wanted to be 'green governments' with Nick Clegg spearheading electoral reform. Michael Gove led efforts to reform education to 'drive up education standards'. The Coalition Government also led efforts to help the Arab Spring, most notably pushing for NATO action on the Libyan civil war. In 2012, a consultation to legalize same-sex marriage was opened. In 2012, the coalition government also introduced plans to monitor the emails of all UK citizens.

Following two consecutive quarters of negative growth, the UK entered a double-dip recession in the first quarter of 2012.

Coalition agreement

Main article: Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement

The initial agreement between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats spelled out eleven key areas on which the coalition would focus.

  1. Deficit reduction
  2. A spending review - concerning the National Health Service, schools and a "fairer society"
  3. Tax measures
  4. Banking reform
  5. Immigration
  6. Political reform (including changes to the electoral system)
  7. Pensions and welfare
  8. Education
  9. The UK's relationship with the European Union
  10. Civil liberties
  11. The environment

A final agreement followed.

Coalition members

Main articles: Cameron ministry and Premiership of David Cameron

Following the general election on 6 May 2010 ending in a hung parliament, negotiations took place between the Liberal Democrats and the governing Labour Party (led by Gordon Brown), and between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. It became clear that Labour and the Liberal Democrats could not form a coalition government, while David Cameron made a "big, open, comprehensive offer" to the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition with them. Having agreed on a coalition, David Cameron (Con) accepted the Queen's invitation on 11 May 2010 to form the government as Prime Minister, with George Osborne (Con) as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Hague (Con) as the Foreign Secretary, Theresa May (Con) as Home Secretary, while other key positions went to Nick Clegg (LibDem) as the Deputy Prime Minister, Liam Fox (Con) as Defence Secretary, Michael Gove (Con) as Education Secretary, Andrew Lansley (Con) as Health Secretary, Vince Cable (LibDem) as Business Secretary and Kenneth Clarke (Con) as Justice Secretary. The Constitution Unit conducted a year-long research project into the coalition, interviewing 120 Parliamentarians, civil servants and ministers, and concluded that the coalition hasn’t been beset by partisan rancour but has been remarkably stable and decisive.

Policy changes introduced

2010 budget

Main article: June 2010 United Kingdom Budget
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2010)

Legislation enacted

The following acts have been passed:

Legislation proposed

The following bills have been introduced:

See also

References

  1. "UK economy in double-dip recession". BBC News. 25 April 2012.
  2. Interim agreement (pdf).
  3. Final agreement (pdf)
  4. http://www.ethosjournal.com/home/item/269-ruling-by-consensus
  5. "Government Bills before Parliament 2010-12". UK Parliament Website.
  6. "Government Bills before Parliament 2010-11". UK Parliament Website.

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