The success of Britain’s coalition government over the last two years has been extraordinary. That two parties could come together, in Westminster’s adversarial system, was itself unusual. That they could agree a radical programme of government: school reform and welfare reform, was exceptional. But in my Telegraph column today, I say suggest that the battles over the spending review suggest that this spirit of co-operation is ending – and that the condition might be terminal. Here are my main points:
1. The constructive phase of coalition. When I served a tour of duty in the Scottish Parliament, I was struck by how the LibDems profited from coalition with Labour. They had control of departments: justice and rural affairs. They handled these well, thanks were judged by what they could build and ended up with more votes and seats. The Westminster model of coalition was wrong. Cameron erred, I believe, in flicking the parties into a blender and trying to press the ‘on’ switch.
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