Coalition Govt: What the papers say

A brave new world of politics or a wishy-washy sellout? Cameron and Clegg outlined their vision for coalition Government yesterday. Here's how today's papers reported it.

Guardian

Nick Clegg is to take personal charge of a massive programme of constitutional renewal, including a referendum bill on electoral reform passed by summer 2011, in what the prime minister, David Cameron, described yesterday as a Liberal-Conservative government that marks a "historic and seismic shift" in British politics.

Cameron will chair his first full cabinet meeting this morning before putting the finishing touches to the coalition government with the announcement of junior ministerial positions, which will include a number of Lib Dems.

The new leadership was unveiled yesterday on yet another breathless day at Westminster, when Cameron and his deputy prime minister Clegg held a joint press conference in which both displayed equal enthusiasm for turning their shotgun marriage brought about by a hung parliament, into a genuine partnership.

Cameron said the government would end the chronic short-termism in British politics

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Telegraph

Theresa May and Iain Duncan Smith were the surprise winners in the new Cabinet line-up announced.

Mrs May, the new Home Secretary, and Mr Duncan Smith, the new Work and Pensions Secretary, joined a compromise government team that puts five Liberal Democrats at the Cabinet table.

Several leading Conservatives were moved, demoted or denied jobs altogether to make way for Lib Dems.

Mr Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader who was deposed in 2003, has been charged with implementing tougher welfare rules. The work of his Centre for Social Justice has underpinned Mr Cameron's analysis of Britain's "broken society".

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Independent

David Cameron and Nick Clegg promised a "new politics" that would transform the political landscape yesterday as they launched their coalition government.

The new Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister issued their policy prospectus for a full five-year parliament as they promised to bury the past differences between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in a move that could create a permanent realignment in British politics.

With the hopes of Blairites for a Lib-Lab "progressive alliance" in ruins, some Tories said Mr Cameron saw his partnership with the Liberal Democrats as the next stage of his crusade to modernise the Conservative Party.

His close allies believe the Tories' failure to win an overall majority in last week's general election shows they have not yet "detoxified" the party's brand - and hope that the unexpected alliance with the centrist third party will enable him to complete his project.

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Times

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.

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Daily Mail

David Cameron and Nick Clegg will try to put the high drama of the past week behind them today as they oversee the first Cabinet meeting of the new coalition government.

Just seven days ago, millions were going to the polls to cast their votes but since then Britain's political map has been redrawn - putting Conservatives and Liberal Democrats round the same table.

Today's Cabinet meeting will focus on the economy as the new double act of British politics try to hit the ground running on the greatest challenge their administration faces.

More junior roles in the administration will also be unveiled, with yet more places for Liberal Democrats - which could anger senior Conservatives being left out in the cold.

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