Act now or risk controversy and conflict in 2015 election

10 Nov 2011 04:23 PM

A new report warns that the run up to the next General Election could be fractious with tensions growing amongst the Coalition partners as they step up campaigning. Ministers and officials need to begin re-examining established conventions to prepare for a range of new and unpredictable circumstances.

In Transitions: Lessons Learned Peter Riddell and Catherine Haddon revisit the General Election and its immediate aftermath. They reflect that without a clear winner in 2010, "the politicians resolved the situation within five days and the first coalition for 65 years was created". The Civil Service also adapted quickly to this unexpected situation so that the new Government could quickly get into its stride. However, the report argues if the election result had been slightly different, there could have been a long political stalemate and the impartiality of the Civil Service could have been compromised.

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