James Forsyth James Forsyth

Politics: Just tiffs – or is the coalition headed for divorce?

When one half of a couple threatens to walk out if he doesn’t get his way and the other responds by threatening to call in the lawyers, it’s obvious that all is not well.

issue 16 April 2011

When one half of a couple threatens to walk out if he doesn’t get his way and the other responds by threatening to call in the lawyers, it’s obvious that all is not well.

When one half of a couple threatens to walk out if he doesn’t get his way and the other responds by threatening to call in the lawyers, it’s obvious that all is not well. But this is the state of the coalition at the moment. The row between the two parties over Andrew Lansley’s proposed reforms to the National Health Service is in danger of turning into an argument that neither side ever forgets — or forgives.

It was Sunday lunchtime when this row went fully public. Norman Lamb, Nick Clegg’s chief parliamentary and political adviser, went on television and announced that he would resign if substantial changes were not made to the coalition’s Health and Social Care Bill.

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