Conservative leader David Cameron is now Britain’s Prime Minister

david cameron

After days of uncertainty Conservative leader David Cameron became Britain’s youngest prime minister in almost two hundred years, putting an end to thirteen years of Labour government. The Conservatives are forming a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats since they did not get a majority in last week’s elections. Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats has been named Deputy Prime Minister in the deal that is being worked out and includes five Cabinet posts. Cameron visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace and then headed to Ten Downing Street, the official residence of Britain’s Prime Minister. In his first statement as PM, Cameron said it would be difficult to govern as a coalition but that the best days lie ahead for Britain.

David Cameron, New British Prime Minister

“Our country has a hung Parliament where no party has an overall majority and we have some deep and pressing problems, a huge deficit, deep social problems and a political system in need of reform.  For those reasons, I aim to form a proper and full coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.  I believe that is the right way to provide this country with the strong, the stable, the good and decent Government that I think we need so badly. Nick Clegg and I are both political leaders who want to put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and for the national interest.”

“This is going to be hard and difficult work.  A coalition will throw up all sorts of challenges, but I believe together we can provide that strong and stable Government that our country needs. I love this country.  I think its best days still lie ahead and I believe deeply in public service.  And I think the service our country needs right now is to face up to our really big challenges to confront our problems, to take difficult decisions, to lead people through those difficult decisions so that together we can reach better times ahead.”

Two top Cabinet appointments have been announced. The first is George Osborne as the Chancellor of the Exchequer and William Hague as Foreign Affairs Secretary. Hague, we can report, has close ties with Lord Michael Ashcroft, the deputy chairman of the Conservative party who delivered on a number of marginal seats in the elections. He accompanied Hague on visits abroad while the Tories prepared to assume government. On Wednesday’s Open Your Eyes, the British High Commissioner will be discussing the developments in Britain.