The Politics of Coalition

How the Conservative - Liberal Democrat Government Works

Robert Hazell, Ben Yong

• Publisher: Hart Publishing
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781847319661
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Law
• Subtopic: Public Law
• Index: Law

The Politics of Coalition is the tale of two parties embarking on the first coalition government at Westminster for over 60 years. What challenges did they face in the first couple of years, and how did they deal with them? With the authorisation of Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the then Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, the Constitution Unit has interviewed over 140 ministers, MPs, Lords, civil servants, party officials and interest groups about the Coalition and the impact coalition government has had upon Westminster and Whitehall. The Politics of Coalition tells how the Coalition has operated in the different arenas of the British political system: at the Centre; within the Departments; in Parliament; in the parties outside Parliament; and in the media. It will be of interest to politicians, policy makers, academics, students and anyone interested in how the UK Coalition works in practice and not just in theory. The research for the book was funded by the Nuffield Foundation. 'An essential resource for anyone with an interest in the Coalition, its workings behind the scenes, and its prospects for the future. Packed with facts, insights and telling detail.'
Benedict Brogan, The Telegraph 'The Politics of Coalition provides an invaluable route map to the way the Conservative/Liberal Government works - and identifies important lessons to guide politicians, officials and the media if no party wins an overall majority at the next election.'
Rt Hon Peter Riddell, Director, Institute for Government 'This book is pure gold - contemporary history at its best. It will fascinate those inside the Coalition, those who witness its developing emotional geography from Parliament and the general public keen to know how - what is, for the British - a very peculiar practice, is working out.'
Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield, Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History, Queen Mary, University of London

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• List of Figures and Tables
• List of Abbreviations
• 1. Introduction: Why Study the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition?
• 2. The Experience of Coalition: Domestic and Abroad
• 3. Formation of the Coalition
• 4. How the Coalition Works at the Centre
• 5. Departments: Ministers and the Civil Service
• 6. The Coalition in Parliament
• 7. The Political Parties
• 8. The Coalition and the Media
• 9. Case Study I: Constitutional Reform
• 10. Case Studies II: Tuition Fees, NHS Reform, and Nuclear Policy
• 11. Lessons for the Future
• Appendix 1: Party Breakdown of the Coalition Agreements
• Appendix 2: Opinion Polls on the Coalition and the Political Parties, 2010–11
• Appendix 3: Coalition Government Chronology, 2010–11
• Appendix 4: Coalition Agreement for Stability and Reform
• Appendix 5: Letter from Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell on Coalition Government
• Appendix 6: Guidance on Liaison between Departments and Coalition Backbenchers, July 2010
• Appendix 7: No 10 Policy and Implementation Unit: Who’s Who, Summer 2011
• Appendix 8: Glossary
• Bibliography
• Index