DAVID CAMERON and Nick Clegg insist their coalition is “steadfast and united” as they mark the halfway point in their Government with a raft of pledges.
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister are due to make a rare joint appearance where, in an echo of the rose garden press conference that launched the power-sharing Government, they will set their new priorities for the next two and a half years.
They will insist their sense of shared purpose on the big issues has “grown over time” as they publish a mid-term review that looks back at how successful the Government has been.
In a joint forward to the report, the PM and Deputy Prime Minister wrote: “We are dealing with the deficit, rebuilding the economy, reforming welfare and education and supporting hard-working families through tough times.
“And on all of these key aims, our parties, after 32 months of coalition, remain steadfast and united.
“Of course there have been some issues on which we have not seen eye to eye and no doubt there will be more. That is the nature of coalition.
“But on the things that matter most the big structural reforms needed to secure our country’s long-term future our resolve and sense of shared purpose have, if anything, grown over time.”
The review promises to help families with their childcare costs, amid speculation working parents with children under five will receive financial support.
It also pledges to “provide dignity in old age” with an improved state pension and help towards the cost of long-term care.
That follows a review by economist Andrew Dilnot, which recommended setting a care bill limit of between £25,000 and £50,000 to stop pensioners being forced to sell their homes to cover costs but the Government has looked at a number of options, including a £75,000 limit.
The joint forward says: “We will support working families with their childcare costs. We will build more houses and make the dream of home ownership a reality for more people. We will set out plans for long-term investment in Britain’s transport infrastructure.
“We will set out two big reforms to provide dignity in old age an improved state pension that rewards saving and more help with the costs of long-term care.
“Our mission is clear to get Britain living within its means and earning its way in the world once again. Our approach is consistent to help hard-working families get by and get on, so everyone can reach their full potential.
“And our resolve is unwavering. We will continue to put political partisanship to one side to govern in the long-term interests of the country.”
It comes after Mr Cameron insisted the coalition had a “full tank of gas” and indicated he wanted to remain as Prime Minister until 2020.
He said: “I want to fight the next election as the leader of the Conservative Party, I want to win a Conservative majority and I want to serve.”
Asked whether that meant staying for five years he replied: “That’s exactly what I have said.”
He added: “Far from running out of ideas, we have got a packed agenda.”
The Prime Minister also defended controversial cuts to child benefit payments for higher earners that came into effect at midnight, insisting the reforms were “fundamentally fair”.