Election 2010 Coalition Government : Civil Liberties

We will be strong in defence of freedom. The Government believes that the British state has become too authoritarian, and that over the past decade it has abused and eroded fundamental human freedoms and historic civil liberties. We need to restore the rights of individuals in the face of encroaching state power, in keeping with Britain’s tradition of freedom and fairness.

* We will implement a full programme of measures to reverse the substantial erosion of civil liberties and roll back state intrusion.

* We will introduce a Freedom Bill.

* We will scrap the ID card scheme, the National Identity register and the ContactPoint database, and halt the next generation of biometric passports.

* We will outlaw the finger-printing of children at school without parental permission.

* We will extend the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to provide greater transparency.

* We will adopt the protections of the Scottish model for the DNA database.

* We will protect historic freedoms through the defence of trial by jury.

* We will restore rights to non-violent protest.

* We will review libel laws to protect freedom of speech.

* We will introduce safeguards against the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation.

* We will further regulate CCTV.

* We will end the storage of internet and email records without good reason.

* We will introduce a new mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new criminal offences.

* We will establish a Commission to investigate the creation of a British Bill of Rights that incorporates and builds on all our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, ensures that these rights continue to be enshrined in British law, and protects and extends British liberties. We will seek to promote a better understanding of the true scope of these obligations and liberties.

Full Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition Government Agreement

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Banking

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Business

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Civil Liberties

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Communities and Local Government

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Consumer Protection

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Crime and Policing

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Defence

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Deficit Reduction

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Energy and Climate Change

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Equalities

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Europe

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Families and Children

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Foreign Affairs

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Government Transparency

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Immigration

Election 2010 Coalition Government : International Development

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Jobs and Welfare

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Justice

Election 2010 Coalition Government : National Security

Election 2010 Coalition Government : NHS

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Pensions and Older People

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Political Reform

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Public Health

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Schools

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Social Action

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Social Care and Disability

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Taxation

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Transport

Election 2010 Coalition Government : Universities and Further Education

The Coalition: our programme for government © Crown copyright 2010