The coalition agreement stated that the two parties’ share of ministerial posts would be ‘approximately in proportion to the size of the two parliamentary parties’. Was this agreement honoured – and did it change? Emily Andrews examines the coalition government’s ministerial balancing act.
At the end of this Parliament, the Lib Dems in government were overrepresented by seat share, but underrepresented by vote share.
- Three departments – BIS, DECC and the Scotland Office – have had Lib Dem secretaries of state (SoS). Three others – the Treasury through the Chief Secretary, and DfE and Cabinet Office through joint Minister of State David Laws – have provided Lib Dem members of the Cabinet.
- Ten departments have had a Lib Dem Minister of State (MoS): HMT, HO, FCO, MoJ, MoD, DWP, DH, DfT, Defra, CO.
- Nine have had Lib Dems serve as parliamentary Under secretaries of state(PUSS): HO, BIS, DCLG, DfE, DfID, DfT, Wales, DCMS, Defra.
Most Liberal Democrats ministers were alone in their department.
- Topic
- Ministers