Tory-LibDem coalition agreement: full programme for government

20 May 2010 

The UK government has today published its full programme for government. This expands on the original publication on 12 May although it is still full of vague commitments, reviews and commissions. There are a few opt-outs for Lib-Dem MPs, but the parliamentary arithmetic means that the Tory plans on these issues should go through.  

Much in this agreement applies only to England, but here are some of the headlines that will impact on UNISON members in Scotland:

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Tory-LibDem coalition agreement: impact on Scotland

12 May 2010

The new UK Government formed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats has published its coalition agreement this afternoon. This is a brief summary of the impact it will have on Scotland. A more detailed P&I Briefing will follow.

Direct impact on Scotland

• Emergency budget – further £6bn of cuts. Barnett consequentials not clear although NHS funding (in England) to increase in ‘real’ terms.
• Establishing an independent commission to review the long term affordability of public sector pensions, while protecting accrued rights.
• Annual limit on non-EU economic migrants. Ending detention of children for immigration purposes.
• Commission to consider the ‘West Lothian’ question.
• Implementation of the Calman commission proposals.
• Working to limit the application of the Working Time Directive
• A partial fudge on nuclear power stations. The Liberal Democrats will abstain on Tory plans to build them, so the parliamentary arithmetic means they will proceed. Still need planning consent in Scotland.

Broader UK proposals that apply to Scotland

• Vague phrase on arrangements to protect those on low incomes from the effect of public sector pay constraint, but no definition of what that constraint will be.
• Trident will be renewed.
• Unspecified increase in the personal allowance from April 2011 with a long term policy objective of increasing the allowance to £10k.
• Tax allowances for married couples. The Lib-Dems will abstain but that simply means they go ahead.
• Vague commitment to tackle tax avoidance.
• 5 year fixed parliament and a referendum on the Alternative Vote. Establishing a committee to reform of the Lords based on wholly or mainly elected by PR.
• State pension age to rise to 66, not sooner than 2016 for men and 2020 for women.
• A range of civil liberties legislation including scrapping ID cards.
• Programme of measures to promote a low carbon economy including smart metering and feed-in tariffs. Air flight duty and no new runways at London airports.

Full text is available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8677933.stm

See also Dave Watson's comment at his blog: http://unisondave.blogspot.com/2010/05/coalition-agreement.html

Prentis: We face our biggest challenge ever

12 May 2010

Statement by UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis in response to the Tory/LibDem coalition government:

"We now face our biggest challenge ever. Without a strong union, no public service will be safe from privatisation and cuts. Without a strong union, no public service worker’s pay and pension will be secure.

The LibDems have already ditched their promise to oppose the Tories' plans for £6bn cuts this year. This will put the recovery at risk, and cost thousands of jobs. Plans for more cuts will follow, hitting communities hard.

We will fight tooth and nail to protect our members and the vital jobs they do.

We will seek to build strong alliances, particularly with local communities and service users, to campaign against cuts and privatisation.

I call on every member and activist – however you voted at the general election – to join us in the fight of our lives to defend our vital public services."


UNISON | The public service trade union
UNISON Scotland website



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