Alex Massie Alex Massie

Playing for Keeps

So will it work? I’m more optimistic than Fraser and, unlike him, think that this really could, for reasons I’ll get to in a minute, be a “new era”. Of course, Fraser is not alone in questioning the long-term viability of the coalition. The excellent Steve Richards also thinks it cannae last. The sceptics may yet be proved right.

Nevertheless, it strikes me that viewing this government as an awkward marriage of convenience between a left-wing party and a right-wing party is a mistaken or less than wholly useful approach. Is opposing ID cards a left-wing or right-wing position? Is the localism agenda owned by the right or by the left? Is placing a greater emphasis on the environment and conservation a left-wing or a right-wing issue (especially for younger voters)? For many – and perhaps an increasing number – these labels don’t carry much meaning.

Naturally there will be policy differences. But these can be smoothed over, compromised, fudged or ignored. In any case, in terms of outlook and philosophy the parties have much more in common than is sometimes appreciated. Or to put it another way, in many respects David Cameron is closer to Nick Clegg than he is to Lord Tebbit and Clegg is closer to Cameron than he is to, say, Shirley Williams. Yes there will be disagreements and sometimes these will be difficult and, at times, painful to reconcile. But as a general rule personality matters as much as, and perhaps more than, policy.

The key to the coalition’s health and longevity is the relationship between Cameron and Clegg. That’s much more important than just about any policy problem that might have the potential to wreck the partnership. I would caution that the way to destabilise the coalition is to treat the Lib Dems as, in Fraser’s words, nothing more than “backing vocals”.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in