What is a coalition government?

1. Whiteboard What is a coalition government? A coalition government is when several political parties cooperate, reducing the dominance of any one party. The usual reason for this is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament.

2. Society and politics Learning objective: To consider some of the difficulties facing politicians when deciding on policies To understand the meaning of the key words: coalition, policy, manifesto

3. It’s a time of change... Gordon Brown resigned as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party after the General Election. He has been replaced by Ed Miliband The Labour Party had been in power for 13 years.

4. It’s a time of change... David Cameron leader of the Conservative Party is now our Prime Minister. At 43, he is the youngest prime minister since Robert Banks Johnson, the 2nd Earl of Liverpool in 1812.

5. It’s a time of change... Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition with the Conservative party. This means that the Liberal Democrats helped the Conservatives gain power, but it also means the Liberal Democrats help run our country.

6. So what’s the big deal with the coalition government? The coalition government has led lots of changes for everyone in society: • Taxes • The National Health Service (NHS) • The Education system • The economy • The Welfare State (benefits system)

7. Whiteboard Starter: What do you know about the policies of the coalition government? On your whiteboards write a list of any policies you are familiar with.....

8. Whiteboard So what decision did the coalition government make? Policy: Cut funding for Higher Education Conservative = FOR Liberal Democrats = AGAINST There has been an increase in tuition fees

9. Whiteboard So what decision did the coalition government make? Policy: Limit on non-EU migrants Conservative = FOR Liberal Democrats = AGAINST There has been a limit on non-EU migrants

10. Whiteboard So what decision did the coalition government make? Policy: Third runway for Heathrow airport Conservative = AGAINST Liberal Democrats = AGAINST Plans for the third runway were revealed in July 2013

11. Your contribution...... If you could change three things about society, what would the changes be? Write down each idea in your book and explain why these issues are important to you. Be prepared to share with the class

12. Whiteboard What is a manifesto? A public declaration of policy and aims, especially one issued before an election by a political party or candidate.

13. Areas to consider...... • Health • Education • Transport • Crime • Environment To help you create your manifesto, watch the film extract which outlines some of the differences between the ideas of Cameron and Clegg, and look at the information on the following slide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB0LgmdWCgo

14. Manifesto for transport..... Transport • Invest £140 million in a bus scrappage scheme that helps bus companies to replace old polluting buses with new low-carbon ones and creates jobs. •  Make Network Rail refund a third of your ticket price if you have to take a rail replacement bus service. • Facilitate the switch to green cars by creating a national car recharging network.

15. YOUR turn to think about change • In pairs • Give your party a name • Read through the demographic (population) information for the UK • Discuss what you would like to happen for each area, e.g. Education, health, transport, crime and the environment • Write a policy for each area • Form a coalition (with another pair) • Discuss and agree (negotiate) what you would like to happen for each area, e.g. Education, health , transport, crime and the environment • Present your manifesto to the class (or to another group)

16. Health • Improve access to counselling for people with mental health problems, by continuing the roll-out of cognitive and behavioural therapies. • Increase spending on the NHS every year. • Make sure you have access to a GP in your area from 8am to 8pm seven days a week; • Education • We will give every child the fair start they deserve by providing cash to reduce class sizes and increase one-to-one tuition. • Create a General Diploma to bring GCSEs, A-Levels and high quality vocational qualifications together, enabling pupils to mix vocational and academic learning. • Restore discipline and order to the classroom.We will give teachers the tools and powers they need to keep order in the classroom. We will abolish the legal requirement of 24 hours’ notice for detentions; reform the exclusion process; and give headteachers the power to ban, search for, and confiscate any items they think may cause violence or disruption. • Transport • Invest £140 million in a bus scrappage scheme that helps bus companies to replace old polluting buses with new low-carbon ones and creates jobs. •  Make Network Rail refund a third of your ticket price if you have to take a rail replacement bus service. • Facilitate the switch to green cars by creating a national car recharging network. • Crime • Pay for 3,000 more police on the beat, affordable because we are cutting other spending, such as scrapping pointless ID cards. • Our aim is to restore responsibility and discretion to the police - getting them out of police stations and out onto the street fighting crime - while making them truly accountable to the people they serve. • Environment • Block any new coal-fired power stations – the most polluting form of power generation – unless they are accompanied by the highest level of carbon capture and storage facilities. • Create a ‘Green Deal’, giving every home up to £6,500 worth of energy improvement measures – paid for out of the savings made on fuel bills.

17. Meanwhile, details of the policy agreement between the parties have been published, including: • Trident: Lib Dems will drop opposition to replacing nuclear missile system but will be able to "make the case for alternatives" and funding will be scrutinised • Heathrow: Plans for third runway, opposed by both parties, will be scrapped • Nuclear: Lib Dem spokesman will be able to speak in opposition to new power stations - and Lib Dem MPs will abstain from vote • Higher education funding: Lib Dems allowed to abstain on votes - reflecting party's promise to abolish tuition fees in the long term • Spending cuts: Tory plans for £6bn cuts this financial year will go ahead • Tax: Tories sign up to Lib Dem plan to raise income tax threshold to £10,000 in the long term, which will "take priority" over Conservative inheritance tax cuts . • There will also be a "substantial increase" in personal tax allowances for lower and middle-income people from April 2011 - rather than the Conservative plan to raise employees' NI thresholds • But a plan to raise NI thresholds for employers will go ahead • Voting system: Bill will be brought forward for referendum on changing to AV but parties will be able to campaign on opposite sides of argument • Marriage/civil partnership tax breaks: Lib Dems will be allowed to abstain from votes • Europe: Both sides agreed there would be no transfer of powers to the EU over the course of the Parliament and Britain would not join the Euro during that period • Immigration cap: Lib Dems accept Tory plan for limit on non-EU economic migrants • House of Lords: Both parties to back plans for wholly/mainly elected chamber elected by proportional representation. MPs will not be able to throw out the government unless 55% vote to do so - a higher threshold than currently • 'Pupil premium': More funding for poorer children from outside schools budget, as demanded by Lib Dems

18. Your contribution.... You are going to work in groups to form your own political party. Your manifesto will include 5 policies, one for each of the different sections of society