DAVID CAMERON and Nick Clegg have insisted the coalition Government will last until 2015, as they promised to go “full steam ahead”.
Appearing together at a rare joint press conference in 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister said the coalition will deliver on its five-year commitment to deliver “strong, stable and determined leadership”.
Over the coming weeks, they promised new policies to help voters with childcare, mortgages, personal freedom, pensions, social care and transport to provide new momentum as the Government formed in 2010 reaches its mid-point.
They released a 46-page mid-term review The Coalition: together in the National Interest listing dozens of measures the Government has already taken and action it has promised in the years to come.
They made it clear deficit reduction remains at the heart of their agenda and confirmed detailed spending plans expected to commit Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to a joint plan to extend austerity measures beyond the election.
Mr Cameron dismissed comparisons of the coalition to a marriage, describing it instead as a “Ronseal deal” which “does what it says on the tin” putting aside differences to form a stable government which can tackle Britain’s difficulties.
“Some people thought our coalition wouldn’t make it through our first Christmas but this Government is now well into its third year, because this coalition was not and is not some short-term arrangement,” he said.
“It is a serious five-year commitment to give our country strong, stable and determined leadership.”
Mr Clegg acknowledged the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have had differences over the past two and a half years, but said the “big purpose” of the coalition remained the building of “a stronger economy in a fairer society”.
They had already delivered “big, bold, long-lasting reforms” which would stand the test of time and their willingness to act in the long-term interests of the country will underpin policy initiatives for the second half of the Parliament, he said.
“It is a source of immense pride to me and I think everybody in the coalition we… have put partisan differences aside to act in the national interest and have acted fast and have acted boldly to deal with the economic challenges this country faces.”