| ID | 138277 |
| Title Proper | Unity and distinctiveness in UK coalition government |
| Other Title Information | lessons for junior partners |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | McEnhill, Libby |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Parties in coalition governments must address the ‘unity/distinctiveness’ dilemma: how to maintain governing cohesion, while sustaining individual identities. Within the Cameron–Clegg government this is a challenge for both parties, but it is more so for the Liberal Democrats as the junior partner. This paper considers how the Liberal Democrats negotiated this dilemma in relation to ministerial portfolio allocations. While the Liberal Democrat strategy of placing ministers in almost all departments has served the Coalition well in terms of governing unity, it has limited the extent to which they have been able to assert their distinctive contribution to Coalition policy-making. This is demonstrated through an examination of the Liberal Democrats' influence on Coalition welfare policy. A lack of clear policy contributions is potentially highly damaging to the Liberal Democrats electorally, as it suggests that they have made little substantive contribution to the Coalition beyond propping up their Conservative partners. Accordingly, the paper reflects on lessons for junior partners in future UK coalition governments, suggesting that concentrating ministers within one or two departments may provide a more viable means of carving out a distinctive governing legacy. |
| `In' analytical Note | Political Quarterly Vol. 86, No.1; Jan/Mar 2015: p.101-109 |
| Journal Source | Political Quarterly 2015-03 86, 1 |
| Key Words | United Kingdom ; Coalition Government ; Welfare Reform ; Liberal Democrats ; Portfolio Allocation ; Unity/Distinctiveness Dilemma |