Cameron and the Conservatives The Transition to Coalition Government

by Heppell, Timothy; Seawright, David

• ISBN13: 9781137515582
• ISBN10: 1137515589
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2015-02-24
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

This edited volume, now with a fully revised preface, brings together leading specialists in Conservative Party politics to examine the effectiveness with which the Cameron led coalition has adapted to the demands of government. While the main focus is on the first year in office, there are insights into why a Conservative modernisation statecraft strategy resulted in a hung Parliament and the need to form a coalition. The coherence of the policy agenda that informs 'liberal conservatism' is analyzed and the impact of the coalition on party policy across a range of social and foreign areas is examined; including economic, European and immigration policies, as well as territorial politics. The contributors also consider how cohesive and unified the coalition actually is in parliamentary terms and the effectiveness of Cameron as leader and Prime Minister. They also evaluate the impact of the coalition on wider perceptions of party politics and on 'New' Labour and how it has adapted to opposition.

Author Biography

Timothy Heppell is Associate Professor of British Politics within the School of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at the University of Leeds, UK. He is the author of Choosing the Tory Leader: From Heath to Cameron (2008) and Choosing the Labour Leader: From Wilson to Brown (2010).

David Seawright is Senior Lecturer in British Politics within the School of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at the University of Leeds, UK. He is the author of The British Conservative Party and One Nation Politics (2010) and An Important Matter of Principle (1999).

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; T.Heppell and D.Seawright
2. Understanding Conservative Modernisation; C.Byrne, E.Foster and P.Kerr
3. The Conservative Election Campaign; D.Seawright
4. The Conservatives and the Electorate; D.Denver
5. Economic Policy; A.Gamble
6. European Policy; P.Lynch
7. Immigration Policy; T.Bale and J.Hampshire
8. Territorial Politics; N.Randall and D.Seawright
9. Foreign Policy; V.Honeyman
10. Fixing Broken Britain; R.Hayton
11. Women and Feminisation; V.Bryson
12. Liberal Conservatism: Ideological Coherence?; S.McAnulla
13. Coalition Cohesion; P.Norton
14. David Cameron as Prime Minister; K.Theakston
15. Labour in Opposition; T.Heppell and M.Hill
16. Conclusion; T.Heppell and D.Seawright