London

The Westminster government retains sovereignty over important issues for the entire UK such as defence, foreign affairs, transport, and so on. In the aftermath of the banking crisis and the economic problems which have subsequently beset the UK, the 2010 General Election resulted in no overall majority for any party, and after extensive discussions, a coalition was formed between the Conservatives and the liberal democrats. The UK government has promised to treat the Scottish Government with respect...

Recent developments in the scandal which began with allegations of phone hacking by agents for the News International-owned ‘News of the World’ and which have now widened to include further alleged illegal activities by that and other newspapers, have had a negative impact upon the Coalition government; Andy Coulson, a media advisor to Prime Minister David Camerson, is at the centre of the story as a former editor of the newspaper at the heart of the allegations, and many commentators are already suggesting that, should this barrage of allegations and investigations continue, the PM’s position (or even the government’s) may become untenable.

With live television and ongoing newspaper coverage of Parliamentary Inquiries into every aspect of the issue and allegations that NewsCorp may not emerge as ‘fit and proper’ people to control large parts of the UK media, the government have been damaged by these events.

Since assuming power in May 2010, the ‘ConDem’ coalition has sought to cut public expenditure and reorganise taxation and services in an attempt to clear the costs incurred during the banking crisis which affected the country in the two years before the election,.

These policies are controversial among politicians of all parties and with the general public. High-profile demonstrations by Trade Unions and students have been a feature of the early months of this government.

Members of both partners to the coalition agreement have expressed their respective dissatisfaction - some Lib Dems worry that they will never recover their popularity with the electorate, feeling that they are being used by the Conservatives as camouflage for the public sector cuts which are a feature of their policies, and many Conservatives are unhappy at implementing some Lib Dem sponsored policies which are more centre-left in their origins…

Further complications have arisen for the new government in their management of, and alleged involvement in, the phone-hacking scandals which currently feature daily in the media…