Coalition Government

• When did the coalition government come to power in the UK?

  2010
• Why did the Conservatives form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats?

  They failed to get a majority in parliament
• What was the Conservatives' approach during the coalition government?

  Mix of New Right and modern attitudes
• What family type did the Liberal Democrats accept?

  Alternative family types
• What policies did the coalition government pursue to promote the nuclear family?

  • Removing the couples' penalty
  • Shared parental leave
  • Equal marriage
• What was the purpose of removing the couples' penalty?

  To avoid incentivizing couples to break up
• What was the aim of shared parental leave?

  To allow equal sharing between men and women
• When was same-sex marriage introduced in the UK?

  2013
• What opposition did the coalition government face regarding same-sex marriage?

  Opposition from traditionalists and religious organizations
• What exception did the Church of England establish regarding same-sex marriage?

  It is illegal to conduct same-sex marriages
• What choice did the legislation provide for religious organizations regarding same-sex marriage?

  They could choose not to host it legally
• How did the coalition government acknowledge modern family life?

  • Introduced same-sex marriage
  • Maintained civil partnerships
  • Promoted shared parental leave
• What was the main focus of the coalition government from 2010 to 2015?

  Reducing public spending to cut the deficit
• What unusual inequality was created by the introduction of same-sex marriages?

  Same-sex couples had options not available to heterosexuals
• When were civil partnerships equalized for heterosexual couples?

  2019
• What percentage of couples share parental leave?

  2%
• What percentage of fathers used the two weeks of parental leave they were entitled to?

  40%
• What questions does the low uptake of parental leave raise?

  Questions about attitudes to family and parenthood