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Without a coherent ideology, it is hard to give shape to government; and without shape, it's hard to convey direction

Summer beckons to exhausted MPs and raddled political hacks. Everyone's staggering the last few yards, bleary and desperate for a break. Let the tourists have Westminster for August. Only Labour leadership contenders will need to stay on their feet. But all too soon, the party conference season will be here and so it feels the right moment for an up-sum.

The coalition marriage, which began in a honeymoon mood of mutual admiration, applauded by a public weary of...