Can the Coalition last past 2015
Before 2010 a coalition was a very rare and special thing in
UK politics only really seen in the world wars, but as the 2015 election creeps
closer it is likely, there will be another coalition. The current coalition is
a strained affair and Lib Dems and Conservatives genuinely seem to dislike each
other, and if it was not for Nick Clegg, it is not farfetched to say that the
coalition would have broken down. And
although pressure on the governing party leaders has lessened of late due to
positive economic news it seems the Lib Dems still are not keen on continuing
the coalition beyond 2015.
A poll of Lib Dem members found that they still are willing
to be in a coalition after 2015 but not with the Conservatives, 39% are in
favour of a Lib Lab coalition while only 15% would welcome the idea of another
Con Dem coalition. Those numbers taken
alongside Nick Clegg claiming the party would “die in a trench” over the
Mansion tax policy makes a Con Dem coalition look increasingly unlikely.
It is not just the Lib Dems who are cool on the idea of renewing the coalition after 2015, Conservative back benchers have been very upset about some of the Lib Dems policies. And some have said they will not support another coalition government. The coalition has also seen many Conservative party members fleeing to UKIP and the Conservative membership drop to below 100,000. The Coalition deal is sapping the moral of both parties which has lead David Cameron to say he will allow his MP’s to vote on a future coalition deal rather than just spring it on them like he did in 2010. It is fair to say no party has a real appetite to continue the coalition but if the 2015 produces another hung parliament then it might be the only way for the UK to have a stable government.
It is not just the Lib Dems who are cool on the idea of renewing the coalition after 2015, Conservative back benchers have been very upset about some of the Lib Dems policies. And some have said they will not support another coalition government. The coalition has also seen many Conservative party members fleeing to UKIP and the Conservative membership drop to below 100,000. The Coalition deal is sapping the moral of both parties which has lead David Cameron to say he will allow his MP’s to vote on a future coalition deal rather than just spring it on them like he did in 2010. It is fair to say no party has a real appetite to continue the coalition but if the 2015 produces another hung parliament then it might be the only way for the UK to have a stable government.
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