1. Political reform
The new government will adopt a radical, far-reaching agenda on political and constitutional renewal and reform. The programme for government will include:
1.1 Immediate legislation to:
set the date of the next election for the first Thursday in May 2014, and establish the principle of four-year fixed-term parliaments in future;
1.2 bring forward a post-legislative multi-option referendum on alternate voting systems, to include the option of the Single Transferable Vote, no later than May 2011.
1.3 A party funding bill to introduce caps on donations and spending limits as proposed by the Hayden Phillips Committee, as part of wider party-funding reform.
1.4 Full implementation of the proposals of the Wright Commission on reform of the House of Commons.
1.5 The early introduction of a Power of Recall for MPs suspended for serious wrongdoing.
1.6 The implementation of the proposals of the Calman Commission and a referendum on increasing the powers of the Welsh Assembly to be called by 18 June.
1.7 A cut in the number of government ministers and in ministerial pay.
1.8 Regulation of lobbying to include a statutory register. A Freedom Bill to restore and protect British civil liberties and rights, to include the scrapping of the ID cards scheme and the National Identity Register in its entirety and reform to the National DNA database to match requirements in Scotland.
2. Economy
The new government will ensure that the health of the public finances is restored as quickly as possible while taking no action to jeopardise the recovery. In light of market concerns further and faster action on the deficit will be taken; this will include some in-year cuts.
2.1 An Emergency Budget will be presented within fifty days of the formation of this government. This Budget will:
• set out overall spending plans to eradicate the structural deficit over an expedited but responsible timescale;
• introduce a new Banking Levy;
• make plans to increase the income tax personal allowance to £10,000 by the end of the parliament, with a significant increase in the personal allowance in 2011–12;
• set out new net lending arrangements with the semi-nationalised banks and make provision for a major loan guarantee scheme;
• set up a commission to investigate the separation of high-risk and low-risk banking;
• make proposals to tackle irresponsible bonuses within the banking sector including a one-year continuation of the bonus tax;
• ensure a portion of identified in-year savings to be spent promoting growth and jobs including the implementation of an eco-cashback scheme and protections for young jobseekers;
• include proposals for the roll-out of green mortgages to improve home insulation;
• include proposals to widen the scale and remit of a national infrastructure bank.
2.2 Following an Emergency Budget a Comprehensive Spending Review will be held throughout the summer, reporting in autumn 2010. This CSR will consult widely throughout the public sector, the private sector and with other interested stakeholders.
2.3 A strategic Defence Review will be held alongside the CSR; this will include a decision on Trident renewal. While ensuring that the UK maintains an independent deterrent, alternatives to the like-for-like replacement of Trident will be considered. This Defence Review will have strong Treasury input.
3. Wider social, environmental and public service reform
The new government will adopt a decentralising, reforming agenda in relation to Britain’s public services and welfare. It will put the environment and tackling climate change at the heart of its programme. And it will place a high premium on restoring Britain’s reputation around the world.
The government programme will include:
3.1 The immediate restoration of the earnings link for pensions, with a triple guarantee, so pensions are uprated from April 2011 in line with earnings, prices or a floor of 2.5 per cent.
3.2 A pupil premium to target additional funding to the million most deprived children. This will be fully funded within three years.
3.3 Substantial increases in freedom for schools and hospitals, devolving accountability through our public services.
3.4 A commitment not to raise the cap on tuition fees.
3.5 A commitment to no public subsidy for nuclear power stations.
3.6 A new target of 40 per cent of energy to be from renewable sources by 2020.
3.7 A commitment to reduce carbon emissions from the public sector by 10 per cent within twelve months.
3.8 A cross-party commission on finding a sustainable settlement on the funding and provision of social care.
3.9 The ending of plans for a third runway at Heathrow and any further expansion of airports in the South East and continuation of plans for High Speed Rail.
3.10 Extensive roll-out, through local government, of Neighbourhood Justice Panels to widen the use of restorative justice.
3.11 A full public inquiry into allegations of British complicity in torture.
3.12 Localisation of business rates as part of a fundamental review of local government finance reform, which will include review of the House Revenue Account.
An updated version of this document was tabled on 10 May 2010. It included: