The Liberal Democrat Party Conference 2014 takes place in Glasgow from Sunday 4 October to Wednesday 8 October. Nick Clegg and his colleagues will be looking to impress and attract as many potential votes as possible, as support for the party dwindles. Here is our round up of 3 thought-provoking books on the Liberal Democrats and their time in the Coalition government.
Interested in an inside look at Coalition life for the Lib Dems?
In It Together: The Inside Story of the Coalition Government by Matthew d’Ancona
Matthew d’Ancona is the Sunday Telegraph’s chief political commentator, and a man with near unmatched access amongst the journalistic fraternity to George Osborne and David Cameron’s inner circle. As such, his detailed account of the first three years of the Coalition Government make for interesting reading, even if he declines to put the Government’s record under sustained scrutiny, writes Sean Kippin. Read the full review.
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Interested in Liberal Democrat party history?
Defectors and the Liberal Party 1910-2010 by Alun Wyburn-Powell
This book investigates all the Liberal/Liberal Democrat MPs and former MPs who defected from the party between the elections of December 1910 and May 2010 – around one sixth of all those elected – as well as the smaller number of inward defectors. The research investigates the timing and reasons for all the defections and aims to reveal long-term trends and underlying causes and apportions responsibility between leaders for them. Students of British political history will find much to enjoy here, writes Nicholas Thomason. Read the full review.
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Interested in Nick Clegg’s ideas and hopes?
Nick Clegg: The Biography by Chris Bowers
In early April 2010, Nick Clegg was fighting for recognition, even as the young, fresh and personable leader of Britain’s third political party. Two weeks later he was the focus of Cleggmania and his popularity was being compared with Churchill’s. Four weeks after that he became the second-most important figure in the government. But within a year he was ridiculed and reviled as popular hopes turned to disappointment. Chris Bowers attempts to uncover the real Nick Clegg in this biography, writes Alastair Hill. Read the full review.
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