Lib-Con policy: The full picture
By politics.co.uk staff
The coalition’s full programme for government has been published, with concessions on matters such as the Human Rights Act and fox hunting finally becoming clear.
An early document was published last week just before David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s Rose Garden press conference, but today’s document clarifies policy on a whole slate of issues not yet addressed.
“Even if you’ve read a hundred party manifestos you’ve never read a document like this one,” Mr Clegg said.
Lib-Con policy document: Key points
“Compromises have of course have been made on both sides, but those compromises have strengthened, not weakened us.
“From now on we get back to work.”
The document is framed around the principles of ‘freedom, fairness and responsibility’.
Click here to see the full document
Mr Clegg added: “This joint programme is the first step on that road. It’s a road we look forward to travelling together.”
Parliamentary observers were looking for results on the twin areas of the Human Rights Act (HRA) and fox hunting as evidence of the success of the negotiations.
The Tory commitment to scrap the Human Rights Act (HRA) appears to have won the day over the Liberal Democrat’s desire to keep it. But the document promises that all the legal obligations in the HRA will be transposed to a British Bill of Rights, indicating the change is merely aesthetic.
On fox hunting, the government will press ahead with a free vote on legalising fox hunting with hounds.
Home Information packs (Hips) have been scrapped, but energy performance certificates will be retained.
The document also confirmed that the government intends to part-privatise Royal Mail, setting up another battle with the trade unions.
The document was launched with a series of Cabinet ministers, including Theresa May, home secretary, Vince Cable, business secretary and George Osborne, chancellor.
That approach contrasted with the Rose Garden press conference, which focused on Mr Clegg and David Cameron. This morning’s event was clearly designed to showcase the Cabinet and accentuate the team behind the two leaders.
“Power lies in clarity about what you want to do and in determination about seeing it through,” Mr Cameron said.
“That’s what this document is all about. The events of the last two weeks have been extraordinary. Along the way the circumstances in which we have been finding ourselves in are not ones I originally planned for.
“But I approached each turn in the road with a gritty realism of what we should do. I’ve done what I’ve done because I thought it was the right thing to do.
He continued: “Some policies have been lost on all sides. To the millions who voted Conservative at the last general election, the good news is we will deliver our policies. But the bad news is some policies have been changed.
“But aside from the good new or bad news is the real news, which is that Britain has something that Conservatives really believe in: strong and stable government.”
The document comes on the same day that Mr Cameron faced down a rebellion from his backbenchers following an attempt to change the rules of the 1922 committee so ministers can also vote for the chairman.
Many backbench Tories, already irritated by the concessions made to the Lib Dems, reacted angrily to the move which they interpreted as an attempt to neutralise backbench opposition in the early days of the administration.
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