One year on
Last week saw the 1st anniversary of the Conservative led coalition government. The launch of David Cameron’s and Nick Clegg’s ConLib Coalition agreement 12 May 2010 in the Downing Street rose garden was sold as the political marriage of the century. But 52 weeks later the relationship is currently going through a bad patch with Cameron’s junior partner feeling unloved and unwanted, and that is his own party that is telling him that.
Challenge
The worse kept secret in Whitehall is that the Lib/Dems are getting ready to dump Clegg, if not this year, in 2012/13. The bookies are said to have stopped taking bets on a Lib/Dem leadership challenge before the next election. Until this week the clever money was on the Lib/Dem Energy Secretary Chris Huhne MP who Clegg only beat by a few votes to take the Lib/Dem leadership. Reports of an 8 year old speeding ticket allegation smacks of sinister Whitehall spinning, which if true indicates turmoil inside the Coalition.
Attack
Huhne’s attack on Cameron in Cabinet over the AV referendum was seen as him preparing the ground for a leadership challenge. Under normal Cabinet rules seeking to humiliate the PM in public can only end with being sacked. Cameron is powerless to sack him because of fears that Huhne would then mount a leadership challenge against Clegg that would weaken and/or destroy the Coalition.
One Year On
One year on
Last week saw the 1st anniversary of the Conservative led coalition government. The launch of David Cameron’s and Nick Clegg’s ConLib Coalition agreement 12 May 2010 in the Downing Street rose garden was sold as the political marriage of the century. But 52 weeks later the relationship is currently going through a bad patch with Cameron’s junior partner feeling unloved and unwanted, and that is his own party that is telling him that.
Challenge
The worse kept secret in Whitehall is that the Lib/Dems are getting ready to dump Clegg, if not this year, in 2012/13. The bookies are said to have stopped taking bets on a Lib/Dem leadership challenge before the next election. Until this week the clever money was on the Lib/Dem Energy Secretary Chris Huhne MP who Clegg only beat by a few votes to take the Lib/Dem leadership. Reports of an 8 year old speeding ticket allegation smacks of sinister Whitehall spinning, which if true indicates turmoil inside the Coalition.
Attack
Huhne’s attack on Cameron in Cabinet over the AV referendum was seen as him preparing the ground for a leadership challenge. Under normal Cabinet rules seeking to humiliate the PM in public can only end with being sacked. Cameron is powerless to sack him because of fears that Huhne would then mount a leadership challenge against Clegg that would weaken and/or destroy the Coalition.