This book examines the
formation and operation of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition
government from May 2010 to May 2015. The authors outline the factors that
enabled the union, including economic circumstances, parliamentary politics,
the initially amicable relationship established between David Cameron and Nick
Clegg, and the apparent ideological closeness of Conservative modernisers and
Orange Book Liberal Democrats. The authors then analyse how these factors
shaped the policy agenda pursued over the five years, including the issues of
deficit reduction, public sector reform, and welfare reduction, before
discussing the tensions that developed as a result of these decisions.
Ultimately, relations between the coalition partners steadily became less
amicable and more acrimonious, as mutual respect gave way to mutual
recrimination.