[audioplayer src=’http://traffic.libsyn.com/spectator/TheViewFrom22_30_January_2014_v4.mp3′ title=’James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman discuss the state of the coalition’ startat=1275]
Listen
[/audioplayer]Without any fanfare or formal announcement, the government has moved into a new phase. ‘We’re not in a coalition now. We’re just cohabiting,’ says one Liberal Democrat. ‘We’re a sexless couple. We live in the same house but sleep in separate bedrooms.’
The two parties are governing together but pursuing increasingly separate agendas. As this Lib Dem source puts it, ‘They’re doing what they want and we’re doing what we want.’
This separation is a product of the fact that both sides want to fight the next election as distinct parties. This is particularly imperative for the Liberal Democrats. If they want to go into the 2015 campaign as potential partners for either major party, they can hardly synchronise policies with the Tories right up until next spring.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in