Biteback publishing have announced that David Laws will be writing a book for them on the inside story of the coalition:
Iain Dale, MD of Biteback Publishing, has acquired world rights to Coalition, the inside story of the Cameron-Clegg Coalition by David Laws, the former senior Liberal Democrat MP, and author of the bestselling 22 Days in May: The Birth of the Lib Dem-Conservative Coalition (Biteback, 2010).
David Laws is well placed to provide a real insider’s account, shedding light on much that has not yet made it into the public domain. He took part in the key Coalition negotiations in 2010, was the Coalition’s first Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and returned to the Government in key posts in the Education Department and at the heart of Government – in the Cabinet Office.
This book will tell the inside story of the Conservative-Lib Dem Coalition from its birth in 2010 through to its demise in May 2015. It will show how key decisions were made, lay bare divisions between and within the Coalition parties, provide sketches of all the key players on both sides of the Government, and assess the Coalition’s successes and failures.
Iain Dale said: ‘The Conservative-Lib Dem Coalition was a fascinating chapter in recent British politics, and David Laws was uniquely positioned to write about it from within. 22 Days in May was essential reading for politics fans, and I’m thrilled that David is returning to Biteback with this revealing account.’
David Laws said: ‘Working in the coalition government was a fascinating and productive experience. This account will, I hope, not just be of historic value but will also touch on many of the issues and challenges which will confront all political parties in the years ahead. I am delighted that Biteback is publishing this account. ‘
Coalition will be published in Spring 2016, and supported by a major press campaign.
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26 Comments
Sorry, but one Orange Book was more than enough……. and the people of Yeovil gave their verdict.
As political manifestos go, the Orange Book was rather lacklustre… However, this doesn’t sound like a manifesto. It looks set to be a sad attempt to define history from the perspective of someone who served the Coalition/Country/Party rather poorly.
True……, but we might find out how he can reconcile cutting public expenditure to 35% of GDP with his Commons suspension on six counts of breaking expenses rules by over £ 40,000 (funded by the rest of us).
“Friends of the MP were saddened, but also astonished, by the scandal. To a man whose has a personal wealth estimated at several million pounds, £40,000 would seem a trivial sum to jeopardise his political career”. …Daily Telegraph, 24 June, 2012.
Time for the Party – and Laws – to move on……
The Lib Dems are very fortunate to be rid of David Laws. The man assisted in nearly destroying your party. Why help promote any book deal he has. Ignore him and his fellow party wreckers don’t reward him with publicity.
Paul Walter | Thu 30th July 2015 – 12:45 pm in a concurrent thread concerning “Please Mister Postman” by Alan Johnson writes: “There are two types of memoirs by politicians: boring self-justification and interesting, good reads.”
I have to wonder which category this one will fall into?
David Laws being quoted as saying, “Working in the coalition Government was a fascinating and productive experience.” does not bode especially well.
I do however hope that it falls in to Paul’s ‘interesting’ category because if anyone must learn how not to work in a coalition, it is our party. Through his book, David Laws will have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the future of British politics in a hopefully post two party era.
This could be an interesting book. We probably know where we are likely to differ.
Over the years I have disagreed with David but was anxious that he remained with the Party. I gather there were quite a lot of unsolicited emails to Yeovil. Mine was one. He could explain budgets.
I will be interested in his account.
David,
To be fair to David Laws, he was able to show that his breaking of the expenses rules did not lead to any personal enrichment at the expense of the taxpayer, and apparently the commissioner accepted that…
“The commissioner accepted that Mr Laws’ claims would have been “considerably more” if he had stuck to the rules, and he agreed that there was no loss to the taxpayer from the breaches.” quoted from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13371746
“Coalition will be published in Spring 2016”
Well that is good.
All those other books being published by former Lib Dem ministers in time for the autum 2015 conference will be more than enough.
I will probably read the Laws book. If it is as unintentionally revealing as ’22 days’ it will provide further ammunition for those who share the views expressed earlier in comments by David Raw and Silvio.
Andrew,
I don’t suppose £ 40,000 plus would make much difference to a multimillionaire in terms of personal enrichment – my point was that his economics were pure Thatcherite (he might just have crept into an early Gladstonian administration to count the candle ends) and as such he was hypocritical when it came to the conduct of his personal expense claims.
He and his ilk – certainly in the view of the mass of the electorate – did more to destroy the party’s credibility than LL.G did in 1918. I’m sure he’d be much happier joining the Tories – and the rest of us would heave a sigh of relief.
A sweepstake on how long it will be before we see remainder copies on that other low taxation enterprise – Amazon ?
I look forwards to his account; he was involved closely in the Coalition’s formation and latter years, and I’m sure he’ll provide excellent insights. Going to have to get a copy and read it over 🙂
There is a lot of hindsight here.
Are you saying the majority of comments on here are evidence based, Richard ?
David,
My point was only that it is always best to attack people for truthful reasons… You and the Daily Telegraph both seemed to be suggesting that he broke the rules on expenses to gain £40,000, whereas it was to avoid drawing attention to his personal life. Claiming nothing would have invited that attention, I imagine…
So by all means have a go at David Laws for pushing the party to the right (I agree…), but he was yet another MP who did not feel able to be open about his personal life and we should not attack him for that…
David Laws’ book on the start of the coalition “22 days in May” is a brilliant read. He is a good writer. Doesn’t waffle, which makes it hard to stop reading!
Those near the top always seem to get multiple chances to put their spin on history. However, the facts here are manifest. David was one of the architects of the biggest disaster to befall any political party ever. Silvio says quite rightly he assisted in nearly destroying the party. However the damage is so great that the situation may already be irrecoverable. In either case the title should be two just two words long, “Mea culpa”.
David Evans 30th Jul ’15 – 8:27pm
“Those near the top always seem to get multiple chances to put their spin on history.”
Indeed, but against the entire ebb and flow of written history, it appears to be the vanquished rather than the victors in this case.
By the way, whoever selected it, fantastic article/Rose Garden image. Absolutely crying out for caption suggestions.
David Evans:
You really cannot help yourself. What was all that about on the members” section about putting an end to ‘talking the Party down’ and showing support? Your memo to self did not last long.
Anybody who can call David Laws a Thatcherite has clearly never bothered to read the Orange Book; it dedicates a huge amount of its early chapters in particular to decrying Thatcherism.
@ “True……, but we might find out how he can reconcile cutting public expenditure to 35% of GDP with his Commons suspension on six counts of breaking expenses rules by over £ 40,000 (funded by the rest of us).”
Since no party has managed to persuade the electorate, sufficient to see them elected (or even prosper!), on the merits of allowing the exchequer to part them with a greater percentage of their income (in order that HMG can do more-good-things tm), I can only conclude that David Laws was on precisely the right track.
We (and i mean that collectively), have never been persuaded to part with more than 37% of GDP on any sustained basis, and if you choose to consider the lib-dem manifesto as a mandate for a higher tax platform then the result wou;d clearly indicate it to have been rejected.
@Andrew: ” whereas it was to avoid drawing attention to his personal life”
Oh, that’s all right then. A slap on the wrist for Mr. Laws, no police action and he got to keep his place in the Commons.
Imagine if someone on housing benefit had done the same: had their partner move in with them but didn’t notify the council because they didn’t want people to know they were gay. They very likely would’ve been charged with fraud and sent to prison.
One rule for the ruling class, another rule for those of us on the bottom. No wonder so many of the public view modern politicians and their parallel world with such contempt. Personally, I think he should’ve (at the very least) been forced to resign from the Commons and quite possibly been charged with defrauding the taxpayer.
David Laws and the Cameron-Clegg coalition was certainly better news than any Lib Dems who fancy going into coalition with Jeremy Corbyn.
@Simon Boyd: “David Laws and the Cameron-Clegg coalition was certainly better news than any Lib Dems who fancy going into coalition with Jeremy Corbyn.”
I know, right? Imagine going into coalition with a leader who has principles, is honest, genuinely listens to those who elect him, has an impeccable record on expenses and promises to do things the public actually want.
How horrible a prospect!
He should perhaps wait until after the EU referendum and the Scottish elections. Until the integrity of the UK and the EU issues are clearer any account will lack perspective for these are the deep questions the LD contribution to the coalition could have really influenced and imv fatally failed so to do: Without knowing more how serious, or not, this lacuna was, DL’s book will risk being mere journalism or apologia, not history, or real analysis.
May as well be titled “The Lib Dems and my part in their downfall”
John Stevens 1st Aug ’15 – 12:28pm Please call us by our own name/s. Liberal Democrat or Lib Dem in a headline.
RU 1/08/15 apologies for precision.