David Cameron and Nick Clegg lead coalition into power.

Wednesday 12 May 10

Britain took a leap into the political unknown last night when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed the first full coalition government in Britain since 1945, with David Cameron serving as the country's 52nd prime minister and Nick Clegg becoming his deputy.

The end of Gordon Brown's premiership and 13 years of Labour rule followed the collapse of efforts to forge a progressive government of Labour and the Lib Dems, provoking bitter recriminations on both sides.

The Lib Dems rounded on Labour negotiators, accusing them of not being serious in the talks, and preferring opposition as more attractive than the challenges of creating a coalition.

Cameron finally entered Downing Street after seeing the Queen at Buckingham Palace last night – concluding a remarkable five-day political tug of war.

On the steps of Downing Street, Cameron, Britain's youngest prime minister since 1812, said: "This is going to be hard and difficult work. A coalition will throw up all sorts of challenges. But I believe that together we can provide that strong and stable government that our country needs."

The deal with the Lib Dems, ensuring a 77-seat majority, was finally agreed after Clegg decided he could not create a stable coalition with Labour, partly due to a revolt inside the parliamentary Labour party at the concept of a deal, as well as its likely terms.

If the deal works, it will change the shape of the Conservative party – and if it fails, the Lib Dems could find themselves rubbed out as a progressive force.

The Lib Dems secured five cabinet posts and a commitment to 15 other ministerial jobs across Whitehall. On the Conservative side, George Osborne will be chancellor of the exchequer and William Hague foreign secretary.

Arriving in Downing Street at 8.40pm as prime minister, Cameron looked overawed as he admitted that his new government had "some deep and pressing problems – a huge deficit, deep social problems and a political system in need of reform". He said he and Clegg wanted "to put aside party differences and work hard for the national interest".

Once the Lib Dem-Conservative deal was secured, Gordon Brown went to the Queen to tender his resignation.

In a graceful and moving statement, accompanied by his wife and two sons, John and Fraser, Brown told the nation he was leaving a job that was the most important after being a father and husband.

"Only those who have held the office of prime minister can understand the full weight of its responsibilities and its great capacity for good," he said. "I've been privileged to learn much about the very best in human nature, and a fair amount, too, about its frailties, including my own."

Barack Obama was among the first of the world leaders to call Cameron after the Tory leader had entered Downing Street.

In a statement, Obama said he looked forward to meeting the new UK prime minister: "As I told the prime minister, the United States has no closer friend and ally than the United Kingdom, and I reiterated my deep and personal commitment to the special relationship between our two countries."

Source - The Guardian