This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jul/16/david-cameron-nick-clegg-coalition-last

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
David Cameron and Nick Clegg: coalition will last five-year term David Cameron and Nick Clegg: coalition will last five-year term
(about 6 hours later)
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have challenged critics in both their parties by declaring that the coalition will last until the next general election in 2015, as they insisted the row over House of Lords reform would not be allowed to disrupt the work of the government.David Cameron and Nick Clegg have challenged critics in both their parties by declaring that the coalition will last until the next general election in 2015, as they insisted the row over House of Lords reform would not be allowed to disrupt the work of the government.
In a joint appearance at a railway depot at Smethwick as the cabinet met to announce a £9bn investment in the rail network, the deputy prime minister said he was speaking for both men when he said they would not lose their nerve. In a joint appearance at a railway depot at Smethwick, West Midlands, as the cabinet met to announce a £9bn investment in the rail network, the deputy prime minister said the coalition had faced much more serious economic headwinds than it could have expected two years ago.
"Clearly we have faced much more serious economic headwinds than we could possibly have expected two years ago," Clegg said. "It is no wonder there are some people who lose their nerve at this stage but I can speak for both of us – we are not going to lose our nerve." "It is no wonder there are some people who lose their nerve at this stage," Clegg said. "But I can speak for both of us – we are not going to lose our nerve."
In an attempt to show a renewed sense of purpose they announced the publication in the early autumn of a mid-term review of the coalition. This was described as a "stocktaking" exercise that will review progress on the coalition agreement. The review will not outline new policy areas.In an attempt to show a renewed sense of purpose they announced the publication in the early autumn of a mid-term review of the coalition. This was described as a "stocktaking" exercise that will review progress on the coalition agreement. The review will not outline new policy areas.
Cameron and Clegg moved to shore up the coalition after a bumpy week in which Graham Brady, the chairman of the Conservative 1922 committee, suggested it could end before the next general election. Brady spoke out on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour on Sunday after 91 Tory MPs rebelled against the coalition's plans to reform the House of Lords.Cameron and Clegg moved to shore up the coalition after a bumpy week in which Graham Brady, the chairman of the Conservative 1922 committee, suggested it could end before the next general election. Brady spoke out on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour on Sunday after 91 Tory MPs rebelled against the coalition's plans to reform the House of Lords.
The prime minister rejected Brady's intervention. Standing next to Clegg in Smethwick, he said: "I am even more committed to coalition government, to making this coalition government today, than I was in May 2010 when Nick Clegg and I formed this government. It has real purpose, a real mission." The PM rejected Brady's intervention. Standing next to Clegg in Smethwick, he said: "I am even more committed to coalition government, to making this coalition government today, than I was in May 2010 when Nick Clegg and I formed this government. It has real purpose, a real mission."
In a message directed at the Tory right, many of whose supporters have never accepted the coalition, the prime minister said: "In a world of uncertain markets does anyone think we would be better off with a minority government that couldn't carry its legislation, that couldn't make rapid decisions?"In a message directed at the Tory right, many of whose supporters have never accepted the coalition, the prime minister said: "In a world of uncertain markets does anyone think we would be better off with a minority government that couldn't carry its legislation, that couldn't make rapid decisions?"
Cameron insisted the coalition would last until the next general election in 2015. "I say this parliamentary term because that is what this government is for. It is important we have that fixed term, that fixed government. People know, the markets know, businesses know that there is strong, decisive government throughout this term."Cameron insisted the coalition would last until the next general election in 2015. "I say this parliamentary term because that is what this government is for. It is important we have that fixed term, that fixed government. People know, the markets know, businesses know that there is strong, decisive government throughout this term."
Asked what odds he would give on the survival of the coalition, the prime minister said: "I am not a big betting man but I wouldn't bet against it."Asked what odds he would give on the survival of the coalition, the prime minister said: "I am not a big betting man but I wouldn't bet against it."
Clegg said: "I'd put a considerable amount of money on us seeing it through to 2015 because that is what we are committed to doing and that is what we will do."Clegg said: "I'd put a considerable amount of money on us seeing it through to 2015 because that is what we are committed to doing and that is what we will do."
The deputy prime minister said that coalition was "not always a walk … in the Rose Garden" – a reference to the launch of the coalition agreement in May 2010. "It is tough to be in government in difficult times, it is not always a walk in the park or in the Rose Garden," he said. "Of course you get some bumps in the road in the Westminster village, as we did last week on House of Lords reform."The deputy prime minister said that coalition was "not always a walk … in the Rose Garden" – a reference to the launch of the coalition agreement in May 2010. "It is tough to be in government in difficult times, it is not always a walk in the park or in the Rose Garden," he said. "Of course you get some bumps in the road in the Westminster village, as we did last week on House of Lords reform."
But Clegg indicated that he was in no mood to abandon the coalition if Lords reform fails. "None of that will stop us from continuing to govern in the national interest for the whole country. Above all, that means accepting that there are no simple, quick, easy shortcuts which secure instant political popularity. Clegg indicated he was in no mood to abandon the coalition if Lords reform fails. "None of that will stop us from continuing to govern in the national interest for the whole country. Above all, that means accepting that there are no simple, quick, easy shortcuts which secure instant political popularity.
"We need to put short-term popularity to one side and get on with making the big long-term reforms and changes this country so desperately needs." Clegg cited economic and social reform as the two main priorities."We need to put short-term popularity to one side and get on with making the big long-term reforms and changes this country so desperately needs." Clegg cited economic and social reform as the two main priorities.
But David Laws, the former Lib Dem Treasury chief secretary who remains close to Clegg, indicated that the party may withdraw support for Tory plans to reduce the size of the Commons if Lords reform fails. "I don't think there is anybody in either party who thinks that either of the coalition parties cannot deliver on the pledges made in May 2010 without there being consequences of that," Laws told Radio 4's PM programme. But David Laws, the former Lib Dem Treasury chief secretary who remains close to Clegg, indicated the party may withdraw support for Tory plans to reduce the size of the Commons if Lords reform fails.
"I don't think there is anybody in either party who thinks that either of the coalition parties cannot deliver on the pledges made in May 2010 without there being consequences of that," Laws told Radio 4's PM programme.
The Tory right warned the prime minister that he should be prepared to end the coalition, and lead a minority Conservative government, if the Lib Dems refuse to support the boundary commission review to shrink the commons from 650 to 600 MPs.The Tory right warned the prime minister that he should be prepared to end the coalition, and lead a minority Conservative government, if the Lib Dems refuse to support the boundary commission review to shrink the commons from 650 to 600 MPs.
Stewart Jackson, who resigned as a ministerial aide last year over a possible EU referendum, told Radio 4's The World at One: "If they do do that ... that would be such an egregious breach of faith that David Cameron would be needing to think about a minority Conservative government, a growth bill, putting forward marriage tax breaks, UK Bill of Rights – things we would want to do on our own. That breach of faith would end the coalition government."Stewart Jackson, who resigned as a ministerial aide last year over a possible EU referendum, told Radio 4's The World at One: "If they do do that ... that would be such an egregious breach of faith that David Cameron would be needing to think about a minority Conservative government, a growth bill, putting forward marriage tax breaks, UK Bill of Rights – things we would want to do on our own. That breach of faith would end the coalition government."
Cameron depicted the mid-term review as a "slimmed-down" version of the coalition agreement, which would look back at achievements and highlight the main themes for the last two and a half years of the coalition. Clegg said: "The mid-term review is not another great tablet of stone, as per the original coalition agreement. But it will be a really useful reminder of quite how much we have done and what is left to do."Cameron depicted the mid-term review as a "slimmed-down" version of the coalition agreement, which would look back at achievements and highlight the main themes for the last two and a half years of the coalition. Clegg said: "The mid-term review is not another great tablet of stone, as per the original coalition agreement. But it will be a really useful reminder of quite how much we have done and what is left to do."
In a Populous poll for the Times, Labour was seen as the most competent of the three main parties for the first time since the coalition began. Asked whether they think each party is "competent and capable", the Tories plunge from a rating of 46% in March to 34%, falling behind Labour on 36%.