“THE END OF THE ERA OF STRONG PARLIAMENTARY

The end of the era of strong parliamentary majorities demonstrated in the general election of May 2010

The end of the era of strong parliamentary majorities demonstrated in the general election of May 2010

Introduction

The formation of the coalition has reinforced democracy in the sense that, oddly for the UK, government now rests on a 'popular' most (the blended support for the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats on May 6 was 59 per cent). Members and supporters of the coalition have also proclaimed the emergence of the so-called 'new government' of joint venture, compromise and non-partisanship, equipped (supposedly) towards the nationwide interest rather than narrow party interests. This resembles the 'big tent' government of the early Blair period. Liberal Democrats have sometimes referred to such developments as the 'Europeanization' of UK politics, in that it places an emphasis on consensus-building rather than adversarial conflict.

Background

Coalition government as a threat to democracy - Why

While the majority of electors voted for one of the parties that are now in government, it is very difficult to make out the case that most voters supported the formation of a coalition and its policies. It is in the nature of any coalition government that its principle events is less easily connected to the election manifestos of the participating parties than concerns in the case of single-party government. This is because of the inescapable compromises that are negotiated after the election in alignment to pattern the coalition. In the case of the Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition not only did the Conservatives campaign strongly against a 'hung' Parliament and the principle of coalition government, but, within weeks, a range of major policies emerged - 33-40 per cent cuts in public spending across departments, an increase in VAT, a major restructuring of the NHS, and so on - that had features in neither the Conservative nor the Liberal Democrat manifestos. Liberal Democrat participation in the coalition absolutely creates the impression of very wide popular support, and assists the coalition government to 'sell' its principles to the electorate (assisted by a largely agreeable publish newspapers) - but this is regardless far from a clear-cut reflection of the electoral conclusion on May 6.

The turnout on May 6 was 65 per cent, 4 per cent higher than in 2005 and 7 per cent higher than in 2001. How can this improvement be explained? The two main reasons would appear to be the role played by the televised leaders' debates in awakening public interest in the election and the fact that in 2010 there was a proper contest. In fact, the outcome of the election was uncertain until the election day itself (in contrast to the 2001 and 2005 elections when the consistently poor poll showing of the Conservatives in the run up created the impression that the outcomes of these elections was pre-determined). However, a 65 per cent turnout is still low by comparison with the levels customarily achieved through most of the post-1945 period (turnout has generally ...