The coalition parties have governed together for more than three years now, but they remain culturally very different beasts. When the Liberal Democrats held an away day last week, it was at a conference centre in Milton Keynes — picked, in the words of one Lib Dem, ‘because there are no distractions there’. The Tories are also conducting a bonding exercise: in the Downing Street garden and the chamber of the House of Commons.
No. 10’s decision to light the barbecue and put out the bunting for Tory MPs is typical of its new-found interest in party management. It had realised that it was in danger of a vote of no confidence through neglect of its MPs, and it is now trying to correct its past errors. Cameron is dispensing patronage in the manner of a medieval monarch. MPs are being made special envoys, vice chairmen and small-business ambassadors at an indecent speed, even before the reshuffle of the government’s junior ranks due in the next few weeks. One aide jokes that you can hardly move in No. 10 for MPs coming through the door. Another archly remarks, ‘They’re so obsessed with party management now that they’re in danger of forgetting about the voters.’
Those close to Cameron hope that Friday’s vote on an EU referendum will build Tory esprit de corps — marching through the lobby with the Prime Minister will remind them that they are all on the same side. The Cameroons are also increasingly hopeful that they can at least get this private member’s bill to the House of Lords. While Labour and the Lib Dem might not be for a referendum, they are not prepared to stand against it: hence their decision to stay away on Friday, leaving the chamber to the Tories.
Nick Clegg has indicated privately to Cameron that he will not oppose a money resolution for the bill — something that would almost certainly have killed it.
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