Inclusion, exclusion or obscurity? The 2010 general election and the implications of the Con–Lib coalition for third-party politics in Britain

The Liberal Democrats performance in the 2010 general election is something of an enigma. In historical terms the party fared well but the promise that the party displayed during the campaign was unfulfilled. In the hung parliament, the Liberal Democrats played a pivotal role in the post-election negotiations with both main parties. The outcome of these negotiations, a Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition and a Liberal Democrat leader, Deputy Prime Minister was surprising. This article assesses the role of the Liberal Democrats in the campaign and the coalition, as well as the party's future prospects as they face the challenge of benefitting, electorally, from the coalition deal.