UK Lib Dems, Tories Form Coalition Government

The new British Prime Minister David Cameron (L) and his Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg held on Wednesday the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed Conservative-Liberal Democrats coalition government. Photo by BGNES/ EPA

Five days of unprecedented wrangling ended when British Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives finally reached an agreement and formed a coalition government.

Tory leader David Cameron was appointed Britain's prime minister – the youngest in 200 years' time – while the leader of the UK liberal democrats, Nick Clegg became deputy prime minster.

In a joint press conference Wednesday, the new British PM said that “This is the first coalition government in Britain for 65 years. It will be an administration united behind one key purpose – that is, to give our country a strong and stable and determined leadership that we need for the long term." He added that "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 the party interest."

Britain's Deputy Pm Nick Clegg supported the stand of his new coalition partner by saying that . "This is a new government and it is a new kind of government. Our ambition is simple and yet profound," he added. "Our ambition is to put real power and opportunity into the hands of people, families and communities, to change their lives and our country for the better.“

Details were beginning to emerge of the parties' compromises on policy and the share-out of government minister seats.

Clegg, as Deputy Prime Minister, serves as one of five Lib Dems around the Cabinet table, including his party deputy Vince Cable, who was named Business Secretary.

The key jobs of Chancellor and Foreign Secretary went, as expected, to the Tories George Osborne and William Hague, while Ken Clarke, who had been shadowing Lord Mandelson in the business portfolio, was to take over as Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor. Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Liam Fox was confirmed as Defence Secretary.

There are expected to be about 20 Lib Dems - more than a third of their MPs - in government jobs in total.

The Tories who came in first in Britain's general elections (June 6, 2010), gained 302 votes but failed short of a majority.

The Libs Dems fell back with a loss of 5 seats in parliament and gained just 50 seats, ended up with more power than in Britain’s previous elections, as they became the king-makers in a cliff-hanging election.

In the last five days Gordon Brown's Labor party (286 seats) as well as the Tories have been holding talks with the Lib Dems in an attempt to form a coalition government.

Despite Brown's conviction that the Labor party and the Liberal Democrats have “many concerns in common – political reform and dealing with the economic challenges ahead,” Nick Glegg decided to enter into coalition with the conservatives, for according to him “they had the moral obligation” to form a government with the party that won the most votes in the election.

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