The New UK Coalition Government After 11 May 2010

May 11, 2010
Martin Oldfield

UK's Coalition Government - Martin Oldfield

This is the first two-party coalition since the 1930s. Tories and Lib Dems say that this will be a stable government ruling in the national interest

For the first time since 1922 (apart from the three-party 1940-45 War Cabinet) Liberals will be involved in contributing to a government in the UK. This coalition will be reflected in the composition of the ministry posts allocated to each party. The collaborative nature of the new government will also be reflected in the proposed policies agreed by both sides.

The Key Cabinet Ministers in the New Government

The Prime Minister will be David Cameron and the Deputy Prime Minister will be Nick Clegg. .

In addition to Clegg, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet ministers will be:

Vince Cable (Secretary of State for Business).
David Laws (Chief Secretary to the Treasury).
Danny Alexander (Secretary of State for Scotland).
Chris Huhne (Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change).

The Conservatives are:

George Osborne (Chancellor of the Exchequer).
William Hague (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary).
Theresa May (Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality).
Kenneth Clarke (Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor).
Iain Duncan Smith (Work and Pensions Secretary).
Liam Fox (Defence Secretary).
Sir George Young (Leader of the Commons).
Eric Pickles (Communities and Local Government Secretary).
Michael Gove (Education Secretary).
Jeremy Hunt (Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Secretary).
Andrew Lansley (Health Secretary).
Dominic Grieve (Attorney General).
Baroness Warsi (Conservative Party Chairman).
Cheryl Gillan (Welsh Secretary).
Andrew Mitchell (International Development Secretary).
Caroline Spelman (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary).
Philip Hammond (Transport Secretary).
Owen Paterson (Northern Ireland Secretary).
Lord Strathclyde (Leader of the Lords).

Also Attending Cabinet Meeetings

The Rt Hon Francis Maude MP (Minister for the Cabinet Office, Paymaster General).
The Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP (Minister of State – Cabinet Office (providing policy advice to the Prime Minister).
David Willetts MP (Minister of State (Universities and Science) – Department for Business, Innovation and Skills).
The Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP (Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal).
The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip).

For more more information on the leading ministers go to the BBC site.

The junior ministers (including approximately 20 Liberal Democrats) will be appointed during the next few days.

The Policies Agreed by Both Parties

During the negotiations in the days following the general election, both parties made a number compromises on their election manifesto proposals.

A first document outlining the basis of the coalition was published on May 12. A second document will be published, within ten days, giving greater detail of the new government's policy plans.

Liberal Democrats Policies Which Have Been Adopted

Both parties have agreed to a referendum on whether the Alternative Vote (AV) system should be introduced for elections to the House of Commons. The Conservatives have agreed to whip the vote enabling the referendum, but will allow their own MPs to campaign against any change in the current (First Past The Post) system, if they so wish.
The Conservatives would also adopt the Liberal Democrat plan to increase the tax-free allowance on income tax to £10,000. A meaningful initial rise in the allowance would come quickly, with a clear timetable announced to get to the full £10,000.
There will be a rise in the Capital Gains Tax.
There will not be a significant increase in the Inheritance Tax threshold outlined in the Conservative manifesto during the next parliament.
Both parties want pupils' premiums to help disadvantaged children and also further schools reforms.
Cleaning up politics is also near the top of the agenda and there are a range of measures from fixed term Parliaments (likely to be 5 years), banning non-domiciled peers, curbs on lobbyists and recalling MPs.
There is going to be wholesale reform of the House of Lords, early in the parliament, to make it fully elected. The method they're going to use is Proportional Representation, the system the Liberal Democrats have supported for so long.
The Lib Dem policy of taxing planes rather than passengers has been adopted.

The Conservatives Insist On A Range of Policies

The two sides agreed a commitment to a replacement for the Trident nuclear missile system but the programme will be scrutinised for value for money.
The Liberal Democrats have agreed to a cap on non-E.U. immigration and a commitment not to join the euro for the lifetime of this parliament.
The Tory plan to make £6 billion of cuts this year has been accepted, but the Lib Dems have won a concession that part of that £6 billion will be redeployed for job creation and will not involve front-line services. The UK has a £153bn deficit.
The Liberal Democrats have agreed to drop plans for a "mansion tax" on properties costing over £2 million.
A married couples tax allowance will be introduced. The Liberal Democrats will be allowed to abstain during the legislative process for its likely introduction.
The planned rise in National Insurance will not go ahead.
The new National Security Council - a commitment in the Conservative manifesto - met for first time on May 12 to discuss Afghanistan.

One of the most difficult areas of negotiation between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives was on nuclear power, where the Liberal Democrats believe thatnew nuclear power should not receive a public subsidy. Nuclear power is one of those areas where the two parties have agreed to disagree.

There will be an emergency Budget on June 22.

Under the new agreement for fixed-term parliaments, the only way to remove the government between elections would be a vote of no confidence with the support of 55% of MPs. At present, any no-confidence vote requires only 50%, plus one MP.

The next General Election will be held on Thursday, 7 May 2015.

This coalition is a radical experiment in a new form of politics in the UK. It remains to be seen if it results in a strong, stable and determined government.

For further details: The Coalition Cabinet Ministers and their Responsibilities

Martin Oldfield - Martin Oldfield I have worked as a Tour Leader taking groups of travellers to a range of countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and ...