Coalition Government in the UK
We are now beginning a new study of coalition governance in the UK. Examining how the new coalition government works is vital, as the UK appears to be moving toward a multiparty system, making hung parliaments more likely in the future. Thus, these formative years may determine how future coalitions are perceived and governed. Practitioners will want to know how best to manage coalitions; and later coalitions tend to draw on the experience of previous coalitions.
Coalition governments face two sets of difficulties. One is instability: coalition governments in Europe are more short lived than single party majority governments; and half of coalition governments end because of conflict between the governing parties or within them. So procedures to manage conflict and resolve disputes between the coalition partners are particularly important.
The second difficulty is the unity/distinctiveness dilemma. A coalition must devise means of ensuring its constituent parts remain coordinated and coherent if it is to govern effectively—this is the problem of unity. But coalitions are also composed of separate political parties. They must try to ensure that their own policies and values are implemented, to satisfy internal factions and party supporters. In short, parties to the coalition must also preserve their identity—this is the problem of distinctiveness. These competing considerations are fundamental to understanding how a coalition government acts in relation to administration and policy-making.
Thus, our central research questions are:
- How can coalition government remain stable?
- How can coalition government reconcile unity in government with the need for the parties to project distinct identities?
We will engage with politicians and senior officials throughout the project, through private seminars and meetings. We hope that the project will result in better preparedness for the next coalition government, whenever that comes; better Whitehall guidance; better understanding in Parliament of the requirements of coalition government; and better understanding of how coalition government works by the media and the general public.
This project is funded by the Nuffield Foundation. It has also received the approval of both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. It will run for 12 months, from January to December 2011. The project is led by Professor Robert Hazell and Dr Ben Yong, and is supported by Peter Waller and Brian Walker, two of the Unit's honorary Senior Research Fellows, and an intern, Robbie Fergusson. David Busfield-Birch also helps with coalition updates. If you are interested in any aspect of this project, please contact either Professor Hazell or Dr Yong.
Documents
The Politics of Coalition: How the Conservative-Lib Dem Government Works Robert Hazell & Ben Yong (forthcoming, Hart Publishing, 2012)
The
Politics of Coalition is the tale of two parties struggling to maintain
the first coalition government at Westminster for over 60 years. What
have been the challenges they have faced in the first 15 months, and
how have they managed it?
With the authorisation of Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O’Donnell, Robert Hazell and Ben Yong have interviewed over 140 ministers, MPs, Lords, civil servants, party officials and interest groups about the coalition and what impact coalition government has had upon Westminster and Whitehall.
The Politics of Coalition tells how the Coalition has fared 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.
Interim Report: Inside Story: How Coalition Government Works
Summary of key points
The Coalition in Whitehall
- Finding a balance between unity and distinctiveness is the key problem for coalition government. The current coalition has successfully ensured unity, and stability; but struggles to allow the two parties to express their distinctiveness.
- Formal cabinet government has been revived: Cabinet and cabinet committees now meet regularly, but these are mostly forums for dealing with interdepartmental issues rather than specifically coalition issues.
- The main forums for reaching agreement between coalition partners are informal. Coalition issues are often dealt with before they reach the formal machinery of government.
- This informality of coalition decision making is based on high levels of trust between the leadership of the two parties. Trust, and the importance of compatible personalities, are essential for coalition government.
- However, this informality has one drawback: it means that the Lib Dems are often unable to demonstrate their influence in government.
- Some machinery has surprisingly not been effective in coalition brokerage—in particular, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, special advisers, and Liberal Democrat junior ministers.
The Coalition in Westminster
- Flexibility within the executive is not always matched by flexibility in parliament. Compromise hammered out in government has led to excessive rigidity when policies are introduced into Parliament.
- The informality and relatively close relationships in the executive are not matched by similar relationships within Parliament. In both houses, the coalition is tolerated rather than embraced.
- Coalition governments often lead to a divide between the frontbench and backbench. Rebellions in this parliament are historically at record highs.
- The parliamentary parties have begun to modify their backbench committees to prevent the divide between frontbench and backbench widening.
The Dilemmas for the Junior Partner
- The Lib Dems are still reeling from the loss of their state funding, given only to opposition parties. This has led to the loss of many of their staff. It may help explain their under powered performance, particularly with the media.
- By going for breadth over depth, the Lib Dems have spread themselves too thinly. They need to prioritise. Given the numbers they have, what can they realistically do which will have an impact with the public?
- In a future coalition, the junior partner might seek to specify the support to be made available to them, in terms of special advisers, expanded Private Offices, and additional support for the parliamentary party.
Further Information:
- Read the interim report (pdf)
Unit Seminars:
- The Conservatives and Coalition Discipline Prof Tim Heppell (November 2011)
- The Coalition & the Constitution Prof Vernon Bogdanor, chaired by Robert Hazell (June 2011)
- The Black Widow Effect? A Pessimist's Take on the Coalition for Clegg & Co. Prof Tim Bale, chaired by Ben Yong (March 2011)
Other Seminars & Lectures:
- School of Public Policy Seminar Series: Inside Story: How the Coalition Government Works (November 2011)
- The Hansard Society: Are Westminster and Whitehall Coping with the Coalition? Robert Hazell & Ben Yong (June 2011)
NOTE: The Coalition Government Project has now ended. We will leave these updates here as a selective record of media coverage of the Coalition in 2011.
Coalition Update: 27 December 2011-2 January 2012
Conservative Identity and Issues
61% of Tory members think early General Election would produce a majority for Cameron (ConservativeHome, 27 December)
Tim Montgomerie: An appetite for conservatism that the PM doesn't always satisfy (Independent, 28 December)
Cameron's position has strengthened after he has acted in recognisably conservative ways
Before we build Cameron's big society, we'll need to know what it is (Guardian, 31 December 2011)
Cameron's close adviser Steve Hilton, deputy chief of staff Kate Fall, director of strategy Andrew Cooper, and his head of communications Craig Oliver, have now been asked to draw up a creative strategy for the second half of this parliament which raises the Conservative agenda beyond merely the economics of deficit reduction.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/dec/31/big-society-david-cameron-royal-society-of-arts-uk
Order, order! Why the newest Tories are a major headache for Cameron (Independent, 30 December)
Phil Cowley and Mark Stuart speak! "Over time the ranks of the rebellious new MPs will swell, unless the Government can create a raft of new jobs to keep its backbenchers occupied. We find it difficult to imagine the rate of rebellion remaining quite so high over the entire Parliament – the Whips will certainly hope not – but in parliamentary terms the Government needs to brace itself."
The Lib Dems
Britain's poorest hit by £2.5bn 'stealth tax' (Independent, 27 December)
The Government's flagship policy of raising income-tax thresholds has been trumpeted by the Liberal Democrats as their main achievement since the Coalition was formed last year – and a major boost for the low-paid. But tax cuts for low and middle-income families in April will be dwarfed by hidden reductions in tax credits
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britains-poorest-hit-by-25bn-stealth-tax-6281832.html
Recovery in Clegg’s ratings amongst party members confirmed but not back to 2010 levels (Lib Dem Voice, 27 December)
Lib Dem president accused of 'slagging off the coalition' (Independent, 1 January 2012)
“Officially, Mr Farron's pithy putdowns about the Conservatives are part of his party's "differentiation strategy". But to Baroness Warsi it is "bad taste and mean". The war of words from the senior figures who voice the concerns of their parties' rank and file comes as Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg try to present a more united front after weeks of public division over Britain's relationship with Europe.”
Labour
How Labour can avoid the Tory trap (Guardian, 28 December)
Miliband's party should focus on growth and improving living standards for the majority, and not get caught up in the cuts
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/28/labour-avoid-tory-trap-growth?INTCMP=SRCH
Labour turns on BBC over 'pro-coalition coverage' (Guardian, 31 December)
“party officials have monitored invitations, and time given, to senior Tory and Liberal Democrat figures on the BBC's main news outlets against that allotted to Labour counterparts. Their analysis has shown that Labour has been represented less than half as often as the coalition. While acknowledging that the Tories and Lib Dems are in government and should therefore take precedence, they believe the imbalance has left Labour struggling to get its messages across.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/dec/31/ed-miliband-labour-bbc-bias
Labour is trailing the Tories, and here are the reasons why (Telegraph, 1 January 2012)
“Voters do not trust the party on the central issue of the moment: the economy. And to say the electorate has not taken to the party’s young leader is an understatement.”
Miscellaneous
Let’s be honest. How did the leaders do in 2011? (Times, 27 December) ££
Mehdi Hasan, Tim Montgomerie and Mark Pack evaluation the leaders of the three main parties. Verdict: Cameron triumphant; Miliband and Clegg struggling
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article3269035.ece
Divorce isn’t an option for David Cameron and Nick Clegg (Telegraph, 29 December)
To take the radical step of giving Clegg’s party a majority stake in some departments would be risky. But by signalling who lives where in the household, it would perhaps create conditions for a truce. Far more important, it could allow Conservatives to consolidate their grip on the economic departments – and unleash pro-growth measures that have been blocked.
Clegg clashes with PM over fears of top Mandarin's 'bias' in Cameron's favour (Mail, 1 January 2012)
“The Liberal Democrat leader demanded assurances from Jeremy Heywood, who takes over as Cabinet Secretary this week, that he will not give special treatment to Mr Cameron.”
Previous Coalition Updates
Coalition Update: 20-26 December
Coalition Update: 13-19 December
Coalition Update: 6-12 December
Coalition Update: 29 November-5 December
Coalition Update: 22-28 November
Coalition Update: 15-21 November
Coalition Update: 8-14 November
Coalition Update: 1-7 November
Coalition Update: 25-31 October
Coalition Update: 18-24 October
Coalition Update: 11-17 October
Coalition Update: 4-10 October
Coalition Update: 27 September-3 October
Coalition Update: 20-26 September
Coalition Update: 13-19 September
Coalition Update: 6-12 September
Coalition Update: 30 August-5 September
Coalition Update: 23-29 August
Coalition Update: 16-22 August
Coalition Update: 26 July-1 August
Coalition Update: 28 June-4 July
Coalition Update: 31 May-6 June
Coalition Update: 24-30 May
Coalition Update: 17-23 May
Coalition Update: 26 April-2 May
Coalition Update: 29 March-4 April 2011
Coalition Update: 22-28 March 2011
Coalition Update: 15-21 March 2011
Coalition Update: 8-14 March 2011
Coalition Update: 1-7 March 2011
Coalition Update: 22-28 February 2011
Coalition Update: 15-21 February 2011
Coalition Update: 8-14 February 2011
Coalition Update: 1-7 February 2011
Coalition Update: 25-31 January 2011
In the run up to the election of 6 May 2010, the Unit commentated on the parties' campaigns and promises. We posted informative guides and forecast what might happen. All of the information we disseminated is collected here.
Press Releases
- Fixed-term parliaments and the 55% threshold (14.05.10)
- Constitutional reforms high on agenda of new coalition (12.05.10)
- Constitution Unit advice on coalition government (12.05.10)
- The Constitution Unit compares the Labour and Conservatives positions on electoral reform and their appeal to the Liberal Democrats (07.05.10)
- Conservative/Lib Dem negotiations on political reform: mission impossible? (07.05.10)
- Confusion over constitutional position in a hung Parliament (04.05.10)
- After the Rotten Parliament comes the Reform Parliament (09.04.10)
Constitution Reports & Briefings
- Coalition Government in Britain: Lessons from Overseas by Ben Seyd (republished version)
- Coalition reports republished for 2010: foreword by Robert Hazell
- 84: Coalition Government in Britain: Lessons from Overseas by Ben Seyd summary briefing
- 110: Coalition Government in Scotland and Wales by Ben Seyd
Constitution Unit Guides:
- Stabilising minority Parliaments and minority governments
- Votes at 16
- Fixed-term parliaments
- How the parties' manifestos compare
- The right of recall
- How the parties' political reforms compare
- Which of the parties' political reforms will be implemented?
Articles & Comment
- Meg Russell's research cited in the Guardian Plumping up House of Lords smacks of a political fix (17.05.10)
- Meg Russell's appearance on the Westminster Hour (16.05.10)
- Robert Hazell on Radio 4's Today programme (14.05.10)
- Robert Hazell cited in the Guardian Backbenchers gear up for first rebellion over 55% Commons plan (14.05.10)
- How to square the electoral reform circle Meg Russell writing in Comment is Free (10.05.10)
- Robert Hazell on the World at One (10.05.10)
- Robert Hazell writing in the Sunday Times Keep calm and carry on talking: Whitehall has been preparing for this for months (09.05.10)
- Don't get your hopes up for electoral reform within one parliament Robert Hazell writing on Comment is Free (08.05.10)
- Brown cannot just say 'I don't know Ma'am says Robert Hazell in the Financial Times (08.05.10)
- Wall Street Journal article Close election could 'hang' parliament (06.05.10)
- Scotsman article Broadcasters warned over hung parliament 'winner' and Financial Times article Scotland's lessons in leadership (06.05.10)
- Robert Hazell on Channel 4 News talking about a hung parliament (05.05.10)
- Mail on Sunday article by Robert Hazell Whichever way you look at it, Clegg calls the shots (02.05.10)
- Robert Hazell and Peter Riddell on the Westminster Hour (02.05.10)
- Mark Chalmers on The House, CBC (01.05.10)
- Multi-group letter to party leaders on a commitment to the Wright Committee reforms (27.04.10)
- Guardian pieces: A memo to Nick Clegg and letter advising on a hung parliament (26.04.10)
- Robert Hazell's appearance on the Daily Politics (26.04.10)
- Robert Hazell writing in the Guardian Nick Clegg: the power balancer (19.04.10)
- Comment: Party leaders should be challenged to respect the will of the House of Commons: reform to give backbenchers more power must be implemented (16.04.10)
The Unit has conducted previous research on coalition governments.
In 2009, the Institute for Government funded a Unit project looking into minority and multiparty government.
In 2002, the Unit looked at coalition governments overseas:
