Cameron new Prime Minister – what the papers say

Thirteen years of New Labour came to a dramatic end yesterday as David Cameron was declared Prime Minister and head of Britain’s first coalition government for 70 years. Here’s what the papers say about the new man at number 10.

The Times

David Cameron will begin today to forge the first peacetime coalition for more than 80 years after becoming Britain's 53rd Prime Minister.

The Conservative leader opened a new political era by cautioning that "hard and difficult work" lay ahead for the new Government that will include five Liberal Democrats in Cabinet and some 15 others in ministerial jobs. Nick Clegg was last night confirmed by the Queen as Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Cameron struck a businesslike tone devoid of triumphalism as he arrived in Downing Street to end five days of post-election uncertainty and become the first Tory for 31 years to depose a Labour prime minister.

He and Mr Clegg would "put political differences aside" as they moved to tackle the deficit, ease deep social problems, rebuild public trust in politics and bring about a more responsible society. The maxim of his Government would be: "Those who can, should, those who cannot, we will always help." He promised that the elderly, frail and poorest would not be forgotten.

FULL STORY

The Telegraph

Mr Cameron, 43, becomes the youngest premier since Lord Liverpool almost 200 years ago, and the first Conservative in No 10 since John Major departed 13 years ago.

He promised there would be "hard and difficult work" ahead and said his administration would focus on "rebuilding family, rebuilding community, above all, rebuilding responsibility in our country".

His appointment followed Gordon Brown's resignation and brought to an end five days of tortuous negotiations in the wake of last week's election, which resulted in a hung parliament.

After falling 20 seats short of a majority, Mr Cameron was forced to accept a deal to lead a coalition government with the Lib Dems.

It means that five Lib Dems will hold Cabinet posts and a number of high-profile Tory policies will be shelved. The Conservatives have also been forced to offer the Lib Dems a referendum on voting reform.

There will be five-year fixed-term parliaments. The Tories will increase capital gains tax sharply on the sale of second homes, shares and other "non business" assets to fund income tax cuts for lower-paid workers, which were demanded by the Lib Dems. The move is likely to prove highly controversial with core Tory supporters.

FULL STORY

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.

FULL STORY

The Guardian

Britain took a leap into the political unknown last night when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed the first full coalition government in Britain since 1945, with David Cameron serving as the country's 52nd prime minister and Nick Clegg becoming his deputy.

The ending of Gordon Brown's premiership and 13 years of Labour rule followed the collapse of last-ditch efforts to forge a progressive government of Labour and the Lib Dems, provoking bitter recriminations on both sides over how Clegg's party arrived at the decision to decide to prop up a Tory government on what will be a five year fixed term .

Cameron finally entered Downing Street after seeing the Queen at Buckingham Palace last night - concluding a remarkable five-day political tug of war.

On the steps of Downing Street, Cameron, Britain's youngest prime minister since 1812, said: "This is going to be hard and difficult work. A coalition will throw up all sorts of challenges. But I believe that together we can provide that strong and stable government that our country needs."

FULL STORY

The Daily Mail

His hand resting gently on his pregnant wife's bump, David Cameron stood on the steps of Number 10 last night to face a country desperate for change.

And the new Prime Minister, who finally swept to power in a ground-breaking coalition deal, promised Britain a new type of leadership.

Echoing the words of John F Kennedy, Mr Cameron urged voters no longer to ask 'just what you are owed, but what can I give'.

On the most momentous day in modern British political history, the 43-year-old became the youngest Premier since Lord Liverpool in 1812.
He hailed the extraordinary power-sharing deal with the Liberal Democrats that ushers in the first coalition administration since the Second World War.

Speaking in Downing Street, Mr Cameron warned the country faced 'deep and pressing problems', but vowed a 'proper and full coalition' government with the Liberal Democrats would focus on 'rebuilding family, rebuilding community and above all rebuilding responsibility in our country'.

FULL STORY

The BBC

New UK Prime Minister David Cameron is beginning to shape his government, after the Conservatives agreed to form a historic coalition with the Lib Dems.

Mr Cameron, 43, was installed as PM on a dramatic day that saw Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg announced as his deputy.

Four other Lib Dems will take cabinet posts in what is the first coalition government in the UK for 70 years.

Mr Cameron vowed to set aside party differences and Mr Clegg urged doubting Lib Dem voters to "keep faith with us".

The coalition is the first time the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have had a power-sharing deal at Westminster.

The Conservatives won the most seats in last week's general election, but not enough to secure an overall Commons majority, resulting in a hung Parliament.

FULL STORY