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auditing the PM's legacy

How has Britain changed in the six years David Cameron was Prime Minister?

House prices and immigration are among the risers while unemployment and the Government deficit are among the fallers

David Cameron

AS DAVID Cameron gets ready to leave 10 Downing Street this afternoon for the last time we take a look at how Britain has changed during his six years as Prime Minister.

Despite hoping he would have had until the 2020 election to deliver his programme on social reform, he has managed to make big inroads into issues like cutting the unemployment rate and has halved the national deficit.

 

Things that went up during David Cameron’s six years as PM

 

Population

Population
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Many more people now live in Britain than when David Cameron became Prime MinisterCredit: Getty Images

Britain’s population has gone up by 3.7%.
Back in 2010 the figure was 62,759,500 and it was 65,110,000 in 2015, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)

 

Net migration

Privatise passport and immigration control, think-tank urges
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According to the ONS this was 244,000 in the year to June 2010 and went up to 333,000 in the year to December 2015.

It fell during Cameron's early years as Prime Minister, reaching 154,000 in the year to September 2012.

In 2013 it began to rise, hitting a record high of 336,000 in the year to March 2015.

 

House prices

House prices
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It has become a lot moire expensive to buy a house since David Cameron became PMCredit: PA

The cost of buying a home has gone up by 22% - from £170,846 in May 2010, to £209,054 in April 2016, according to the ONS.

 

Tax-free personal allowances

Tax free personal allowances
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Since David Cameron became PM the tax free personal allowances have gone up by £4,525Credit: Corbis

People now have more money in their pockets thanks to the flagship reforms of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.

Tax free personal allowances have increased by more than two-thirds, from £6,475 in 2010-11 to £11,000 in 2016-17.

That's an increase of £4,525.

 

Employment levels

Nissan production line
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Employment has been one of David Cameron's many success stories during his six years as Prime MinisterCredit: PA

In the three months to April 2016 there were 31.59 million people in employment in the UK.

This is 2.45million more than when Cameron became Prime Minister.

reports the ONS estimates the current employment rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 in work) is 74.2%.

This is the joint highest since comparable records began in 1971.

 

National debt

National debt
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During the last six years the level of national debt has sharply increasedCredit: Alamy

The size of Britain’s national debt has risen during Cameron’s leadership, from £1trillion in May 2010 to £1.61trillion in May 2016.

As a percentage of the UK's economic growth (GDP), debt has increased from 71.7 per cent in 2010-11 to the current level of 83.7%.

According to the ONS this is net debt and excludes public sector banks.

 

Women in the Cabinet

David Cameron's Cabinet
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David Cameron's Cabinet had the highest percentage of women in British political historyCredit: Getty Images

In Cameron’s first Cabinet 14% of the posts were held by women.
The figure is now 33%, which is the highest percentage in history.

Incoming PM Theresa May is expected to increase this figure even further when she announces her first Cabinet.

 

Online Britain

Broadband
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Britain is now a lot better connected online than it was when David Cameron took officeCredit: PA

The number of adults in the UK who regularly use the internet has gone up from 79% in 2011 to 88% today.

Almost everyone aged 16-24 is now online (99 per cent), the ONS says.

The ONS says the equivalent number for people aged 75 and over is 39%, up from 20% in 2011.

Things that went down during David Cameron’s time as PM

 

Unemployment

Unemployment figures
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The queues outside job centres are now a lot shorter than they were when David Cameron first became Prime MinisterCredit: Getty Images

The number of unemployed people has gone down from the 2.51million in the three months to May 2010 to 1.67million in the three months to April 2016.
According to the ONS the unemployment rate is 5% - the lowest since the three months to October 2005.

 

Petrol

Petrol pump
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The cost of filling up a car has dropped, with unleaded petrol now at 111.9p a litreCredit: PA

The price of filling up a car with unleaded petrol is now a lot cheaper than when David Cameron became Prime Minister.
Back during that week in May 2010 the price of a litre was 121.3p and it is now 111.9p (according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change).

 

Dollar vs the Pound

Dollar vs Pounds
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Holidaymakers now get fewer dollars for their moneyCredit: AP

The value of the pound against the American dollar has fallen by about 10 per cent since May 2010.

When David Cameron took on the top job £1 was worth $1.45, and it is now worth about $1.31.
The steepest fall has occurred since Britain voted for Brexit on June 23.

 

Government Deficit

George Osborne
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Chancellor George Osborne and David Cameron have worked together over the last six years to bring the deficit downCredit: Getty Images

Cutting the deficit was one of Cameron’s key policy pledges and he has got it down to less than half of what it was since he took office.

Back in May 2010 it was £154.8billion and it is now £74.9billion, according to the ONS.

 

Income tax

Tax rate
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Big spenders have had a lot more to spend as the top tax rate has dropped by 5% since David Cameron took the keys to No10Credit: PA

The top rate has gone down from 50% in 2010 to 2011 to its current level of 45%.

Both the standard rate of 20% and the higher rate of 40% have remained the same throughout Cameron's premiership.



Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368

 

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