Editing Conservative Party (UK) (section)

====2010–2016: David Cameron====
{{Main article|Premiership of David Cameron}}
[[File:Prime Minister David Cameron - official photograph (8947770804).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[David Cameron]]]]The 2010 election resulted in a [[hung parliament]] with the Conservatives having the most seats but short of an overall majority.<ref name="2010GEresults">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8677552.stm |title=Election 2010 Timeline: How coalition was agreed |publisher=BBC News |date=13 May 2010 |access-date=14 August 2023 |archive-date=6 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906140456/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8677552.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the resignation of [[Gordon Brown]], Cameron was named Prime Minister, and the Conservatives [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|entered government in a coalition]] with the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]—the first postwar [[coalition government]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-10109774 |title=Election 2010: David Cameron becomes new UK Prime Minister |author=Robin Brant |publisher=BBC News |date=12 May 2010 |access-date=14 August 2023 |archive-date=14 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814120214/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-10109774 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-01-07/timeline-coalition-tensions-since-may-2010/ |title=Top Tory admits Govt 'broken' |publisher=ITV |date=7 January 2013 |access-date=14 August 2023 |archive-date=14 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814120215/https://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-01-07/timeline-coalition-tensions-since-may-2010/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cameron's premiership was marked by the effects of the [[2008 financial crisis]]; these involved a large deficit in government finances that his government sought to reduce through controversial [[United Kingdom government austerity programme|austerity measures]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/63304224 |title=What is austerity and where could 'eye-watering' cuts fall now? |publisher=BBC News |date=17 November 2022 |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804095005/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/63304224 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43254809 |title=David Cameron and George Osborne hail plan after UK deficit target met |publisher=BBC News |date=2 March 2018 |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804095003/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43254809 |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2014, the Unionist side, championed by Labour as well as by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, won in the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|Scottish Independence referendum]] by 55% No to 45% Yes on the question "Should Scotland be an independent country".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16503307 |title=Cameron and Miliband unite to oppose Scots independence |publisher=BBC News |date=11 January 2012 |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=15 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815114900/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16503307 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/scotland-decides/results |title=Scottish independence referendum Results |publisher=BBC News |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918212409/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/scotland-decides/results |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], the Conservatives formed a majority government under Cameron.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/db4d60b2-f574-11e4-bc6d-00144feab7de.html#axzz4ACNy4msM | title=It is 1992 all over again for David Cameron's Conservatives | publisher=[[The Nikkei|Nikkei]] | work=[[Financial Times]] | date=8 May 2015 | access-date=31 May 2016 | author=Parker, George | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625075156/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/db4d60b2-f574-11e4-bc6d-00144feab7de.html#axzz4ACNy4msM | archive-date=25 June 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> After speculation of a referendum on the UK's EU membership throughout his premiership, a vote was announced for June 2016 in which Cameron campaigned to remain in the EU.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-19741561 |title=David Cameron considers a referendum on Europe |author=Nick Robinson |publisher=BBC News |date=27 September 2012 |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804095003/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-19741561 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-33141819 |title=EU referendum timeline: Countdown to the vote |publisher=BBC News |date=20 February 2016 |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=23 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123151409/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-33141819 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 24 June 2016, Cameron announced his intention to resign as Prime Minister, after he failed to convince the British public to [[EU Referendum UK|stay in the European Union]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-cameron-idUSKCN0ZA11H |title=UK PM Cameron says will step down by October after Brexit vote |author=William James |publisher=Reuters |date=24 June 2016 |access-date=4 August 2023 |archive-date=4 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804095004/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-cameron-idUSKCN0ZA11H |url-status=live }}</ref>