The coalition is most fragile when both party leaders feel that they have a point to prove to their own side. We are, post the Lords reform rebellion, in one of those moments.
Nick Clegg has to show the Liberal Democrats that he’s no push-over, that he’ll exact something from the Tories for the death of Lords reform. In the last few days the Clegg circle have been suggesting that not only will there be no boundary changes if there is no Lords reform but that the deputy Prime Minister also has fresh resolve to fight the green agenda’s corner in government.
For his part, the Prime Minister is trying to reestablish his authority in his party. A large part of this is going to involve reassuring his MPs that he is one of them and that he gets the need for a grittier Conservatism. Opposing wind farm subsidies ticks both these boxes, they’re unpopular with his MPs and the subsidies for them drive up energy prices.
This is the backdrop to the current row over wind farm subsidies. Despite all the honeyed words between Cameron and Clegg in the railway siding last week, this issues is fast threatening to turn into a coalition trial of strength. How the two sides handle it from here will be a real test of how much they meant what they said last week about the supposed benefits of coalition.
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