Andrew Adonis

Fascinating book about the formation of the Conservative/Lib-Dem coalition government, told from from a Labour insider's point of view. Andrew Adonis was a senior Labour politician near the center of Labour's negotiations, and is apparently keen to ensure that history is not always written by the victors. The major part of the book is an engrossing account of the 5 days, complete with the deals, sniping, politicking and big characters that you would expect, and this was written shortly after show more the events related, even though Adonis didn't wish to publish then.

After that there are two short essays written three years later, which give a very interesting perspective on the events. In reading the book, I felt that (Lib Dem leader) Nick Clegg and senior Lib Dems idealogically would have rather been with Labour, but felt that tying themselves to an unpopular party, weary from 13 years of government, might have been very damaging. In the later essay, Adonis believes that Clegg and one of his advisors, David Laws, shared the Tory outlook on an austerity economy (as opposed to the more Keynesian view of Labour, and many Lib Dems), and so cleaved to the Conservatives. In either case, the Lib Dems were at least partially keeping up the Labour negotiations to extract concessions from the Tories.

There is a simmering anger behind Adonis' detached prose, and there is certainly some bias involved too - perhaps some Lib Dem actions are interepreted uncharitably, some Labour arrogance downplayed. Still, it is difficult not to avoid the conclusion that the Lib Dems have probably done worse by throwing in with the Tories.

I applaud Adonis for keeping the book short - its impact is far greater for its brevity. An understatedly passionate, compelling account of real politics in action, a fascinating and important period in UK politics. show less

Andrew Adonis’ account of the interregnum between the 2010 General Election and the formation of the coalition. Captures the intensity of that period and details how Labour could feasibly have formed a coalition with the Lib Dems. Gordon Brown comes out of it particularly well, demonstrating a sharpness of his thinking and force of argument whereas Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems don’t, damned from the start as actively seeking to govern with the Conservatives. (It should of course be show more remembered that this is a shamelessly partisan Labour account).

Adonis has an excellent eye for detail on the mistakes Labour made at the time (and before), particularly with regards to Clegg’s background and that they failed to realise he’s essentially a pro-European Tory by inclination. Has to be read with the consideration that it’s self-admittedly shamelessly partial, but essential to anyone interested in modern British politics and the later postscript is a thoughtful take on the consequences of what happened in those ten days show less

At the time of writing this review in early April 2015, the polls are pointing strongly towards the next UK government consisting of a coalition, which until five years ago was something not seen in this country since the Second World War, and not seen for even longer in peacetime. This is a fascinating insider account written around the time by Labour's Lord Adonis of the five days of negotiations that took place between the parties immediately after the 2010 general election on Thursday 6 show more May and the formation of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition on the evening of Tuesday 11 May. The progress of the negotiations between Labour and the Liberal Democrats to prevent the Conservatives coming to power is clearly told here from Labour's perspective, but Adonis is quite well respected across the political spectrum and not generally seen as a tribal politician, so the account carries conviction.

The five days saw many twists and turns, but ultimately failed due a number of first and second order factors. Ultimately, Nick Clegg and David Laws saw themselves as more naturally Conservative-inclined on economic policy, as opposed to the social democratic Labour inclinations of figures like Vince Cable, Menzies Campbell and Paddy Ashdown. The premiership of Gordon Brown was seen as a major obstacle to the success of a Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition working, yet could also not even get off the ground without his being in charge as the existing Prime Minister for at least an initial period of some months. In addition, while Adonis is right to argue that: (a) the combined number of Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs slightly exceeded the number of Conservative MPs, and that: (b) the minor parties had little or no reason to vote to support the Conservatives against this outcome, I think that this putative coalition lacked conviction as a basis for "solid, stable and principled government", notwithstanding the potential for a progressive realignment that it might have afforded if the numbers had been different (if Labour had been the largest party in the hung parliament, and/or if the combined Labour/Liberal Democrat total had given an overall majority, or something very close to this).

The final quarter of this book was written nearly three years later and offers an insight on what Adonis sees as the successes and weaknesses of the current coalition government from the point of view of 2013, and of coalition governments in general, and offers some pointers to any future coalition, especially one between Labour and the Liberal Democrats (though if the 2015 outcome reflects the low current polling position of the Liberal Democrats, there may not be enough of the latter to make this viable, even if Labour were to emerge as the biggest single party).

Well, we'll find out in just over a month.... show less