BRITISH PRIME minister David Cameron and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg insist they will deliver “a new politics” to the UK over the next five years.
During extraordinarily warm scenes in the garden of No 10 Downing Street Mr Cameron said the Conservative/Liberal Democrat alliance “is so much better” than the alternative of a minority Conservative government.
A minority government would, he said, have brought him into No 10, but without the ability to make the kind of changes to British society that are both necessary and possible, he told a joint press conference.
“Today we are not just announcing a new government and new ministers.
We are announcing a new politics. A new politics where the national interest is more important than party interest, where co-operation wins out over confrontation, where compromise, give-and-take, reasonable, civilised, grown-up behaviour is not a sign of weakness but of strength,” Mr Cameron said.
The Liberal Democrat leader said: “Until today, we have been rivals: now we are colleagues. That says a lot about the scale of the new politics which is now beginning to unfold. This is a new government and a new kind of government.”
Acknowledging the doubts that many in the public will have about the alliance, which they insist will last for five years, Mr Clegg said it will “succeed by its success” in reforming society and providing reassurance and stability for those who need it.
Mr Cameron made his ministerial appointments, which included the surprising choice of Theresa May as home secretary, though this job is no longer as important as it once was.
Liberal Democrats’ Vince Cable did not become chief secretary to the treasury, as had been expected – partly on the grounds that relations between him and chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne are not good. Instead Mr Cable has been appointed secretary of state for business.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan-Smith, who has impressed Mr Cameron, has been appointed to the department of work and pensions, soothing Conservative right-wingers.
Liberal MP Chris Huhne will become climate change secretary, while David Laws will be chief secretary to the treasury – the man who will handle the detail of the spending cuts to come.
Owen Paterson has been confirmed as Northern Secretary. He has been the shadow minister for the past three years and replaces Shaun Woodward at Hillsborough. His appointment, which was widely expected, has led to renewed speculation that Northern Ireland could suffer under the Conservative plan to cut some £6 billion from public spending. This is a key element of the joint Liberal Democrat-Conservative policy to address the UKs massive deficit.
The 38-year-old Danny Alexander will have the equivalent Scottish job and Cheryl Gillian will become secretary of state for Wales.
The prime minister is likely to face criticism over the lack of women in the cabinet, particularly as Theresa May will have responsibility for women and equality issues, as well as the Home Office. Caroline Spelman will become environment secretary.
Baroness Warsi, the new Conservative party chairwoman, is minister without portfolio in an unpaid capacity, while Oliver Letwin, a key negotiator for the Liberal Democrats, will also be a minister without portfolio.
Questioned about the delayed election for the Thirsk and Maldon constituency, Mr Cameron said both parties would fight separate campaigns, but he joked that he and Mr Clegg might share a car to save petrol.