Richard Benyon's Westminster Diary, January 6, 2011
Richard Benyon MP • Published 6 Jan 2011 09:30
<p>A YEAR AGO I was involved in the usual pre-election tussles with my closest rivals in West Berkshire, the Liberal Democrats. Now I am in Government with them. </p>
<p>So far I have fought four elections against them, losing two and winning two. Each election was, to say the least, a spirited battle and many people ask me how I find it now being in league with them. The truth is that it is just fine. I am genuinely enjoying it and find the able Liberal Democrats in Government good to work with.</p>
<p>Does this mean that all those forebodings about hung Parliaments I was going on about a year ago were wrong? Well I have had to change my view in one perspective because this coalition is working. It is doing so because it is well led and because of the unique circumstances that created it. Those circumstances are the state of our economy and the disconnect that people felt with the politics of the past few years. </p>
<p>Hung Parliaments are not always in Britain's best interests but I am happy to concede that the result of the 2010 election has provided the circumstances for just the Government that Britain needs at this difficult time.</p>
<p>I have said that the coalition is well led and it really is about leadership. If a pact had been cobbled together by two party leaders who shared a mutual distrust of each other but were doing it because it offered the promise of political advantage in the short term, it would be doomed to fail. Both sides acted in the national interest and showed courage in those heady days after the election and continue to show it today.</p>
<p>A bit of mid-air turbulence is a feature of all governments and the temporary merger of two political tribes will perhaps result in a bit more of that than is usual, but at the heart of the project is a good working relationship that is still very popular with most people in the country. If you doubt this, look no further than Ed Miliband's edict to his front bench to avoid the use of the word "coalition". </p>
<p>2011 will be a tough year but I believe the Coalition will survive and prosper as time goes on.</p>
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