Ephraim Hardcastle: What does Margaret Thatcher Think of the Con-Lib Coalition?
MAIL ONLINE: What does Margaret Thatcher think of the Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition? At 84, she isn't always au courant with the day's events but her friend and adviser, Tim Bell, says: 'I am absolutely certain she would have done exactly the same thing. Whilst she was principled and idealistic, she was also intensely pragmatic.' [Source: Mail Online] | Ephraim Hardcastle | Friday, May 14, 2010

Coalition Government: David Cameron Announces Pay Cut for Ministers
THE TELEGRAPH: David Cameron has announced that all ministers in his coalition Government have agreed to a five per cent pay cut and a further pay freeze for the rest of this Parliament.

For Mr Cameron, the cut means he will receive a salary of £142,500 - £7,500 less than the £150,000 Gordon Brown was receiving when he left office.

The salaries for other Cabinet ministers will be cut from £141,647 to £134,565, while the pay for a junior minister in the Commons will be reduced from £94,142 to £89,435.

No 10 estimates that the reductions will save £300,000 this year and around £3 million over the lifetime of the Parliament. >>> | Thursday, May 13, 2010

Coalition Government Angers Right-wing Conservatives
THE TELEGRAPH: Right-wing Conservatives are unhappy with David Cameron’s deal with the Liberal Democrats, privately expressing concern that he has given up too much to his coalition partners.

Some Conservatives have also predicted that the deal will quickly become strained over Britain’s relationship with the European Union. There is also anger among some Tories about being denied government posts to make way for Liberal Democrat ministers.

Mr Cameron has acknowledged that members of his party were uneasy about the deal, but insisted that the success of the coalition would assuage them.

“People of whatever wing of whatever party will see a good government and respect that,” the Prime Minister said at his joint press conference with Nick Clegg, his Liberal Democrat deputy.

Mr Cameron secured the agreement to share power by giving the smaller party five Cabinet seats. >>> James Kirkup, Political Correspondent | Thursday, May 13, 2010

Cameron Begins First Coalition Cabinet Since 1945
THE TELEGRAPH: Britain's first coalition Cabinet meeting since the Second World War has begun as David Cameron prepares to unveil the rest of his joint Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministerial team.

The Prime Minister sat next to William Hague, the new Foreign Secretary and opposite George Osborne, the Chancellor and Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister.

Vince Cable, the Lib Dem Business Secretary, arrived with his Tory deputy David Willetts and Liam Fox, the new Defence Secretary, pausing briefly at the door of No 10 before going inside.

Ken Clarke, the new Justice Secretary and one of the few to have any previous ministerial experience, arrived with Mr Hague. >>> Alastair Jamieson and Ben Leach | Thursday, May 13, 2010

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Britain's coalition leaders hail new era of politics: Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy, Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg, set about putting together a government. They vow to make Britain a freer, fairer, more responsible country. >>> Henry Chu | Wednesday, May 12, 2010

A Very British Revolution
Photograph: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: David Cameron and Nick Clegg introduced Britain to a radical new political landscape yesterday as they committed their parties to a five-year marriage of consensual government.

The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister ushered in an era of “new politics” as they promised a stable and durable coalition to take the country in an “historic new direction”.

The scale of their revolution became clear as the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders staged a remarkable show of jovial but determined unity in the Downing Street rose garden. Fresh from handing five Cabinet jobs to Lib Dems, including two key economic portfolios, and planning to give Mr Clegg a minister in every department, Mr Cameron vowed to place the national interest above party interest and co-operation above confrontation.

“Compromise, give and take, reasonable, civilised, grown-up behaviour is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength,” he said.

Mr Clegg said that there would be “bumps and scrapes” along the way as two parties with different instincts joined themselves at the hip for an experiment that risks angering right-wing Tories and left-wing Liberal Democrats. He added that both leaders had taken “big risks” in going into full-blown coalition, but he insisted: “This is a government that will last.” >>> Roland Watson, Political Editor | Thursday, May 13, 2010

David Cameron Hails 'Seismic Shift' in Politics
THE INDEPENDENT: David Cameron hailed "a historic and seismic shift" in Britain's political landscape today as he launched the country's first coalition government since the Second World War.

The new Prime Minister marked his inaugural day in office by handing two major economic portfolios to his Liberal Democrat allies, anointing Vince Cable as Business Secretary and David Laws as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

He also promised "very early legislation" to establish fixed-term Parliaments, effectively enshrining in law the Conservatives' five-year coalition deal with the Lib Dems.

At a joint news conference with new Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg - held in the garden of No 10 - Mr Cameron said the award of a total of five Cabinet jobs to Lib Dems underlined the parties' "sincere determination" to work together. >>> PA | Wednesday, May 12, 2010

New Style of Politics in Britain

Nick Clegg and David Cameron: 'We Have One Key Purpose'
THE INDEPENDENT: Prime Minister David Cameron today declared that his new coalition with the Liberal Democrats would be united behind the "one key purpose" of giving the country strong and stable leadership for the long term.

With his new Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg standing alongside him in the Downing Street garden, he said that their alliance represented a "historic and seismic shift" in the political landscape.

"It will be administration united behind three key principles: freedom, fairness and repsonsibility," he told their first joint news conference.

"And it will be an administration united behind one key purpose and that is to give our country the strong and stable and determined leadership that we need for the long-term."

Mr Cameron said the appointment of six Liberal Democrats, including Mr Clegg, to the Cabinet was "a sign of the strength and depth of the coalition and our sincere determination to work together constructively to make this coalition work in our national interest". >>> PA | Wednesday, May 12, 2010

TIMES ONLINE: In full: the Con-Lib-Dem coalition document >>> | Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Cameron Faces Challenges Beyond His Coalition
THE NEW YORK TIMES: LONDON — The Conservative Party that David Cameron inherited in 2005 was a disoriented shadow of its once mighty self, riven by ideological disarray, wounded by endless power struggles and facing the bleak prospect of long-term unelectability.

As leader, the smooth, self-assured Mr. Cameron, who became Britain’s new prime minister on Tuesday, moved swiftly to weed out the old guard, replacing the party’s mean-spirited image with a kinder, more socially progressive philosophy that he called compassionate Conservatism. That he succeeded is a reflection of his toughness, acumen and resolve.

He will need those qualities now. As prime minister in charge of Britain’s first coalition government in 65 years, Mr. Cameron will have to contend not only with the tensions within his own party, but also with the dueling demands of his Liberal Democratic partners. He will also face an electorate likely to respond unhappily to the deep and painful budget cuts the government will need to impose to fix Britain’s ailing finances.

“It’s going to be a very interesting and hairy ride,” said Steven Fielding, director of the Center for British Politics at Nottingham University. “We’ve got a set of politicians who aren’t used to coalition government and who are going to have to learn on the job, in the midst of one of the worst economic crises we’ve ever lived through.” >>> Sarah Lyall | Tuesday, May 11, 2010

‘I Hope It’s the Start of the New Politics I’ve Always Believed In’
TIMES ONLINE: Nick Clegg was granted overwhelming approval from his party last night to embark upon a “new type of politics” and take them into government.

The leader, whose appointment as Deputy Prime Minister had been approved by the Queen earlier, secured near-unanimous approval for the coalition with the Conservatives from his parliamentary party and its federal executive at a late-night meeting.

The meeting broke up after midnight and he addressed the country about 20 minutes later.

Mr Clegg attempted to reassure the party’s voters — nervous about a formal tie-up with a Conservative Party that days ago they were fighting against — that he was convinced that this was a unique opportunity. “There will of course be problems, there will of course be glitches,” he said. “But I will always do my best to prove that new politics is not only possible, it is better.”

He said that the alliance with the Tories would lead to “fair taxes, a fair start for every child” as well as reforms to a discredited banking system, green, sustainable growth to the economy and “a new, open politics”. >>> David Sanderson | Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Youngest PM for 200 Years – and a Milestone for the Lib Dems
THE INDEPENDENT: David Cameron has become Britain's youngest Prime Minister in almost 200 years as the head of a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition which was agreed during a day of extraordinary drama in Westminster.

The new coalition is Britain's first since the Second World War. Mr Cameron's 23-strong Cabinet will include five Liberal Democrats, giving the party their first taste of real power for 70 years. Nick Clegg, their leader, becomes Deputy Prime Minister.

The Tory leader was formally appointed by the Queen just minutes after Gordon Brown met her to tender his resignation, following the collapse of Labour's talks with the Liberal Democrats aimed at keeping the Conservatives out of power.

The 43-year-old Mr Cameron is the youngest Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812. He is six months younger than Tony Blair was in 1997. After a long, five-day wait since last Thursday's election, Mr Cameron finally went to Buckingham Palace last night when Mr Brown brought down the curtain on New Labour's 13 years in power.

As the first Cabinet appointments emerged, George Osborne became Chancellor; William Hague was confirmed as Foreign Secretary, Andrew Lansley as Health Secretary and Liam Fox as Defence Secretary. For the Liberal Democrats, Mr Cable is expected to become Chief Treasury Secretary, David Laws the Schools Secretary and Danny Alexander the Schools Secretary. The Liberal Democrats are likely to have at least one minister in each Whitehall department, giving them about 20 posts. Their appointments will leave some Tory MPs who were frontbench spokesmen in opposition out in the cold.

Speaking outside No 10, Mr Cameron said that a "proper and full coalition" between the Tories and Liberal Democrats would bring "the strong, stable, good and decent government we need so badly". He admitted it would be "hard and difficult work" and that the coalition deal would "throw up all sorts of challenges". He said it would be built on the values of "fairness and responsibility". >>> Andrew Grice, Political Editor | Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Youngest PM for 200 Years – and a Milestone for the Lib Dems
THE INDEPENDENT: David Cameron has become Britain's youngest Prime Minister in almost 200 years as the head of a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition which was agreed during a day of extraordinary drama in Westminster.

The new coalition is Britain's first since the Second World War. Mr Cameron's 23-strong Cabinet will include five Liberal Democrats, giving the party their first taste of real power for 70 years. Nick Clegg, their leader, becomes Deputy Prime Minister.

The Tory leader was formally appointed by the Queen just minutes after Gordon Brown met her to tender his resignation, following the collapse of Labour's talks with the Liberal Democrats aimed at keeping the Conservatives out of power.

The 43-year-old Mr Cameron is the youngest Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812. He is six months younger than Tony Blair was in 1997. After a long, five-day wait since last Thursday's election, Mr Cameron finally went to Buckingham Palace last night when Mr Brown brought down the curtain on New Labour's 13 years in power.

As the first Cabinet appointments emerged, George Osborne became Chancellor; William Hague was confirmed as Foreign Secretary, Andrew Lansley as Health Secretary and Liam Fox as Defence Secretary. For the Liberal Democrats, Mr Cable is expected to become Chief Treasury Secretary, David Laws the Schools Secretary and Danny Alexander the Schools Secretary. The Liberal Democrats are likely to have at least one minister in each Whitehall department, giving them about 20 posts. Their appointments will leave some Tory MPs who were frontbench spokesmen in opposition out in the cold.

Speaking outside No 10, Mr Cameron said that a "proper and full coalition" between the Tories and Liberal Democrats would bring "the strong, stable, good and decent government we need so badly". He admitted it would be "hard and difficult work" and that the coalition deal would "throw up all sorts of challenges". He said it would be built on the values of "fairness and responsibility". >>> Andrew Grice, Political Editor | Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Clegg Braced for Revolt from Sceptical Lib Dems as He Tries to Sell Tory Deal to Party
MAIL ONLINE: Nick Clegg is bracing himself for a revolt from the grassroots party as he tried to sell a historic deal with the Tories to sceptical Lib Dem MPs

Sources close to the Lib Dem leader said he was confident of winning the support of most of his parliamentary party and senior officials.

But senior party activists were also trying to organise a revolt to force his deal to the vote of a special conference.

The Lib Dem leader has come under fire for playing both Labour and the Tories off against each other during protracted negotiations over the past week.

Some in the party fear that the Lib Dems could face a wipe out if the coalition flounders and the country faces another election in a few months time.

Historically minor coalition partners are punished at the ballot box for propping up unpopular governments. >>> Gerri Peev | Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Tory-Lib Dem Deal Edges Closer
THE INDEPENDENT: Liberal Democrat and Conservative negotiations were locked in talks at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall tonight which could lead to a coalition between the two parties putting David Cameron in Number 10.

And an unconfirmed report in the Evening Standard suggested that Gordon Brown might stand down as Prime Minister as early as this evening, while the BBC reported that cases were being packed into vehicles at the rear of Downing Street.

Meanwhile, Labour hopes of a coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats appeared to be fading this afternoon, as a Cabinet minister went public with his misgivings about the idea.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham - tipped by some as a potential successor to Gordon Brown as Labour leader - said the party had to "respect" the result of last week's General Election in which Conservatives won most seats and votes. >>> Press Association | Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Benedict Brogan: Con-Lib Is Back On, Which May Be Why Vince Cable Has Just Been Seen in the Treasury
THE TELEGRAPH – BLOGS: Things are moving towards a deal between David Cameron and Nick Clegg. The Tory leader walked through Portcullis House a short while ago wearing a big smile and with his chief whip by his side. Word is a coalition is about to be agreed with a programme and seats around the Cabinet table for the Lib Dems. More intriguing are reports that Tories have offered policy concessions to sweeten the deal, including parking recognition of marriage in the tax system and inheritance tax. Can’t see it myself, but that’s the word around the rented trees of Port Ho. Read on and comment >>> Benedict Brogan | Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Talks Between Labour and Liberal Democrats Break Down
THE TELEGRAPH: Coalition talks between Labour and the Liberal Democrats have broken down with Gordon Brown reporting to be quitting as prime minister.

Photograph: The Telegraph
The development paves the way for the Conservatives to agree a power-sharing deal with Nick Clegg's party.

It comes after senior Labour figures urged Gordon Brown to "call it quits" on efforts to form a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats.

There were reports that Mr Brown was set to resign as prime minister on Tuesday night.

The Lib Dems opened up talks with Labour yesterday morning but at a meeting late last night, some Lib Dem MPs shifted back towards a Tory deal.

One senior Lib Dem said: "There is a sense that the party has realised that the Conservative deal is the best deal on offer. The Tories are desperate and they've improved their offer a lot.

"As long as the party can get over the emotional hurdle of backing the Tories, that's where we'll end up."

A Tory close to the talks said: "They've realised a deal with Labour would be a disaster for them. We're optimistic." >>> | Tuesday, May 11, 2010

UK Credit Rating Set for Downgrade Under Lib-Lab Deal, City Analysts Warn
THE GUARDIAN: Lab-Lib government the least liked option by markets and would almost guarantee a downgrade of UK debt – BNP Paribas

Britain would most likely suffer an expensive and potentially damaging downgrade to its debt rating if the Liberal Democrats form a coalition with Labour, City analysts warned today amid ongoing uncertainty about the creation of a new government.

As the Institute of Directors called on political parties to focus on the economy rather than the need for electoral reform, analysts at BNP Paribas reckoned that a "Lab-Lib government is the least liked option by markets and would almost guarantee a downgrade of the UK sovereign [debt]".

The top-notch AAA debt rating that the UK currently holds ensures that the country achieves the most competitive rates when raising money on the financial markets. If the rating is cut then the country would be forced to pay more to borrow money - although it has a long way to fall before reaching the junk status assigned to Greece, the recipient of a €110bn (£94bn) bailout package from the International Monetary Fund and eurozone countries. >>> Jill Treanor | Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Lib Dems Return to Talks with Tories
THE INDEPENDENT: Liberal Democrat negotiators were this afternoon returning to discussions with Conservatives after spending the morning locked in talks with Labour over a possible coalition deal, it was announced today.

It was revealed that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg this morning met David Cameron privately for an hour while the Lib Dem/Labour discussions were under way.

Labour's Ed Miliband described this morning's meeting, which lasted almost three hours, as "constructive", but reports in Westminster suggested the Lib Dems remain cautious about a pact.

A Lib Dem spokesman said that the party would resume talks with Conservatives at 2pm at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague put out a message on Twitter to say: "Will be returning to the Cabinet Office shortly to resume negotiations with the Liberal Democrats."

Tories yesterday made what they described as their "final offer" to the Lib Dems, under which the parties would make a formal coalition with a referendum on the alternative vote system for Westminster elections. >>> Daniel Bentley and Joe Sinclair, PA | Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Liberal Democrats Pave Way for Labour Coalition as Recriminations Grow
THE TELEGRAPH: The prospect of the Liberal Democrat coalition with Labour moved a step closer as Lord Ashdown set out the case for a pact between Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg.

Describing the Conservatives as "rabidly anti-European", the former Lib Dem leader and close friend and mentor of Mr Clegg defended the legitimacy and stability of a deal with Labour.

He stressed that such a government would have the backing of 51 per cent of voters, dismissing accusations that it would be a "coalition of the defeated".

His comments come as Nick Clegg was attacked from both sides of the political spectrum for making overtures to Gordon Brown even as he continued talks with David Cameron. >>> Andrew Porter, Political Editor | Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Are Lib Dems Going to Symbolize Dishonour from Now On?
MAIL ONLINE: Nick Clegg was at the mercy of his party last night after his MPs and officials refused to back a deal with the Tories.

Following four days of tortuous negotiations with the Conservatives, the Lib Dem leader was ready to strike a power-sharing agreement.

But this was scuppered by his parliamentary party and ruling federal executive, who are holding out for proper voting reform. Under the party's internal rules three-quarters of MPs and officials have to rubber-stamp deals made with other parties.

A three and a half hour meeting in the House of Commons with Lib Dem MPs yesterday ended with Mr Clegg being told to open talks with Gordon Brown and Labour. How Nick Clegg was tripped up by his own side as Lib Dem MPs refused to back deal with Tories >>> Daily Mail Reporter | Tuesday, May 11, 2010

A Labour-Lib Dem Coalition Is Not What We Voted For


THE TELEGRAPH: A Labour-Lib Dem coalition is not what we voted for: If the abuse of expenses was a scandal, then what should we make of this abuse of trust, asks Benedict Brogan. >>> Benedict Brogan | Monday, May 10, 2010