A group of charities, including the Equality Trust, Child Poverty Action Group, Barnardo's and the TUC are asking the coalition government to commit to a Fairness Test on any tax rises or spending cuts they introduce.

The Fairness Test would be developed by the Treasury, and would ensure that decisions taken to reduce the deficit do not unfairly impact on the poorest in society.

Introductory one-page briefing:
The Fairness Test

Letter to the Guardian:
First audit on the coalition - 18 August 2010

The Equality Trust and One Society's budget submission:
Budget submission

Press coverage:
Danny Alexander defends budget cuts
George Osborne facing budget backlash
Editorial: The Emergency Budget - fair shares of a big bill
The rich, not the poor, must shoulder the burden of national debt

The letters

The reply from the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, 10th January 2011
The letter sent to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, 23rd Dec 2010
The letter sent to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, 27th August 2010
The letter sent to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, 19th May 2010
The reply from Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, 3rd August 2010

Before the general election:
Letter to David Cameron and his reply
Letter to Gordon Brown and his reply
Letter to Nick Clegg and his reply (pt 1 and pt 2)

Left Foot Forward article:
Policies must be subjected to a “fairness test”

The group is made up of:
End Child Poverty campaign
Child Poverty Action Group
TUC
Save the Children
Oxfam
Family Action
Barnardo’s
Ruth Lister
UK Women’s Budget Group
Disability Alliance
RADAR
Church Action on Poverty
Gingerbread
London Play
The Equality Trust
One Society Campaign
Community Links

Press releases:
Monday 21 June 2010
Monday 26th April 2010