In the foreword to a 35-page document, which fleshes out the earlier seven-page one, David Cameron and Nick Clegg insist: “We have found a combination of our parties’ best ideas and attitudes has produced a programme for government that is more radical and comprehensive than our individual manifestos.”
At a press launch in the Treasury, the Prime Minister said it was “churlish” to concentrate on dividing lines between the two parties, saying: “It’s the shortage of commissions rather than the amount of them that Her Majesty’s press corps should be focusing on.”
Clegg made clear the coalition blueprint for government was defined by “freedom, fairness and responsibility” and based on “shared ambitions and shared goals”.
The Deputy Prime Minister accepted there had been compromises between the coalition partners but argued that they had, in fact, strengthened and not weakened the final result.
The agreement covers 31 areas ranging from banking and immigration to national security and political reform.
Key proposals include:
l significantly accelerating a reduction in the budget deficit with the burden falling on spending cuts rather than tax rises
l an autumn spending review to set out expenditure for the next three years
l a full defence and security review, including cutting Ministry of Defence running costs by 25%
l reform of the banks, including a banking levy
l seeking private capital for the Royal Mail, including opportunities for employee ownership
l reversing the erosion of civil liberties, including scrapping ID cards, and introducing a Freedom Bill to entrench citizens’ rights
l pushing the EU to increase its carbon emission reduction target to 30% by 2020;
l no further transfers of powers to Brussels in the next five years and
l supporting British troops in Afghanistan.
While policy differences have led to a string of reviews, in some areas one party has won out over the other. On immigration, the Tories have kept their annual cap on non-EU migrants while the LibDems have given up their amnesty.
On tax and spending, the Tories have kept their £6 billion in cuts this year but the LibDems have succeeded in getting personal allowances raised substantially, the details of which will come in next month’s Budget.
While the Conservatives have kept in their hope of a tax break for married couples, the LibDems will be allowed to abstain in any Westminster vote.
On Trident, the Tories keep their pledge on renewing it while the LibDems will “continue to make the case for alternatives”.
On fox hunting, the LibDems have effectively won given that there will be a decision to bring forward a motion on a free vote enabling MPs to express a view on repealing the Hunting Act, ie a vote on whether to have a vote.
Last night, Labour’s David Cairns, the former Scotland Office minister, told The
Herald: “So much for new politics. It’s the same old stitch-ups. There are incredibly important issues that demand immediate attention but instead we are getting the coalition Government kicking them into the long grass.”
The Inverclyde MP added: “They are hiding behind endless reviews to paper over the cracks.”
Significantly, the final page of the document makes clear that reducing the £163bn deficit “takes precedence” over everything else.
Bank break-up question among Government reviews
l Banking reform: Commission to look into splitting retail banks and investment banks. LibDems for policy, Tories against.
l British Bill of Rights: Com-mission to examine setting one up that “incorporates and builds on obligations under Euro-
pean Convention on Human Rights”. Tories for, LibDems against.
l West Lothian Question: Com-mission to consider issue. Ban on Scottish MPs voting on so-called English-only issues dropped for time being. Tories for, LibDems against.
l Control orders: Review issue as part of rethink of counter-terrorism laws. Tories for, LibDems against.
l UK Sovereignty Bill: Examine case for one to ensure “ultimate authority” remains at West-minster. Tories for, LibDems against.
l Defence: Review does not include Trident, which LibDems wanted. They had opposed its renewal.
l Post Office Bank: Consider proposal as part of examining case to develop new income sources for post offices in line with pledges made by Tories and LibDems in run-up to election.
