Abstract
In terms of foreign policy, David Cameron had often spoken of a more mature or realistic relationship with the United States, rather than eulogising the ‘special relationship’ which previous governments and premiers had treated as a mantra. Instead, Cameron spoke warmly of developing new relationships in foreign affairs, most notably with emerging powers like India. Elsewhere, Britain’s military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq was greatly reduced, but new sources of international tension and conflict emerged: Libya, Putin’s Russia, Syria and the rise of ISIS. Meanwhile, Conservative hard-line Euro-sceptics continually caused problems for Cameron, prompting rebellions and occasional government defeats on votes in Parliament, and eventually compelling Cameron to promise a referendum on Britain’s continued membership, something he had hoped to avoid.
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Dorey, P., Garnett, M. (2016). Foreign Policy and the EU. In: The British Coalition Government, 2010-2015. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-02377-3_7
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