The Coalition: 100 Not Out

When the Coalition was formed back in May, the cynics said it wouldn't last. The media have spent the last three months vainly searching for signs of splits and laying bets as to who might be the first Cabinet Minister to resign. Every minute mistake was analysed to the 'n'th degree. Every prime ministerial comment was rated on a 'gaffe-ometer'.

And meanwhile the media missed the real story, which was that what Tim Montgomerie has accurately described as the "Breakneck Coalition" has quietly got on with running the country and making huge changes in the way we are governed.

Francis Maude and his implementation team ought to feel proud of themselves. They prepared for government in a way no previous Opposition had done. They and David Cameron were paranoid about throwing away the first term, just like Tony Blair had done. Blair was so intoxicated by the fact that Labour had managed to win an election, that he didn't get on with the reforms that had been promised until way into their second term. Cameron was determined not to make that mistake.

If you look at what's happened in virtually every government department, there have been a huge number of initiatives and reforms. Look at Eric Pickles at the DCLG. The way he has gripped his department and driven through a whole series of measures has been hugely impressive. He is the undoubted star of the first 100 days of the coalition. No Cabinet Minister has made such as massive impact on his area of policy as Pickles. A close second is Theresa May at the Home Office, always a difficult department to grip. May hasn't been slow in imposing her will and someone who many observers felt might struggle, has instead impressed hugely. Some people fit government like a glove, and she seems to be one.

There are two further reasons for the Coalition's success. Firstly, they have managed to persuade the public of the seriousness of the deficit and managed to take the public with them in their quest to improve the public finances. This will be increasingly important after the CSR takes place on 20 October.

Secondly, the strong interpersonal relationships between the coalition partners has been a vital part in its smooth running. The initial press conference by Clegg and Cameron in the Downing Street Rose Garden set the agenda for their ministerial colleagues to follow. Chris Huhne told me that he felt it was working well because they were all positive, got on with each other on a personal level, but perhaps more importantly were all learning the ministerial ropes at the same time.

There have obviously been glitches. Any new government will make small mistakes. The most important thing is to avoid big mistakes, and thinking back, it's difficult to think of any.

I'd give the Coalition 7 or 8 out of ten for their first hundred days. Even huge critics of the Conservatives and LibDems must surely agree that it has hit the ground running, imposed its agenda and looks set to last far longer than most commentators predicted at the start.

* From 9pm tonight I will be holding an hour long panel discussion into the Coalition's first 100 days. All I have to do is mull over who to invite to be the guests. Any ideas?