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Coalition to go the distance, Cameron and Clegg insist Coalition to go the distance, Cameron and Clegg insist
(35 minutes later)
  
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have set out initiatives to mark the halfway point in their government. David Cameron and Nick Clegg have said their coalition will last a full five years, giving Britain "strong, stable and determined leadership".
Mr Cameron promised more help on childcare costs, help towards care costs for the elderly and investment in roads and high-speed rail. Mr Cameron promised help on childcare costs, care costs for the elderly and investment in roads as they marked the halfway point of their government.
The PM insisted the coalition was a "serious five-year commitment" to give Britain "strong, stable and determined leadership". The PM and deputy PM described their agreement as a "Ronseal deal" which "does what it says on the tin".
Labour has dismissed the review as "another relaunch".Labour has dismissed the review as "another relaunch".
Nick Clegg said the coalition had brought about "big, bold reforms" that would stand the test of time.Nick Clegg said the coalition had brought about "big, bold reforms" that would stand the test of time.
Described by Downing Street as a "stock take", the mid-term review also looks at how successful the government has been in meeting its coalition agreement promises and commits them to further reforms. Before the Budget
Described by Downing Street as a "stock take", the 46-page Mid-Term Review lists what the government says it has achieved in meeting its coalition agreement and outlines further reforms to come.
The full document was presented to the cabinet for the first time on Monday morning.The full document was presented to the cabinet for the first time on Monday morning.
During a joint press conference with his deputy, Mr Cameron said: "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."During a joint press conference with his deputy, Mr Cameron said: "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 the government would set out further reforms before the Budget including: Asked if their coalition was like a marriage, Mr Cameron said: "To me it's not a marriage, it is if you like it's a Ronseal deal, it does what it says on the tin - we said we would come together, we said we would form a government, we said we would tackle these problems, we said we would get on with it in a mature and sensible way, and that is exactly what we've done."
Mr Clegg added: "Ronseal deal, you could call it the unvarnished truth."
A number of future plans which had been expected to be included in the Mid-Term Review document after being trailed in the media, are mentioned only briefly in the foreword.
But Mr Cameron said that before the Budget in March the government would set out details, including:
  • New investment to help working families cut the cost of childcare.
  • More help for families who cannot raise a deposit for a mortgage.
  • Measures to limit state powers and extend personal freedoms.
  • "Big new steps" on issues including pensions and "capping the potentially huge cost" of social care.
  • Consulting on how to get private investment into motorways and trunk roads.
  • Extending the HS2 high-speed rail line from Birmingham to the north of England.
  • New investment to help working families cut the cost of childcare.
  • More help for families who cannot raise a deposit for a mortgage.
  • Measures to limit state powers and extend personal freedoms.
  • "Big new steps" on issues including pensions and "capping the potentially huge cost" of social care.
  • Consulting on how to get private investment into motorways and trunk roads.
  • Extending the HS2 high-speed rail line from Birmingham to the north of England.
He promised the coalition would continue to go "full steam ahead" in reforming the economy and tackling the deficit.He promised the coalition would continue to go "full steam ahead" in reforming the economy and tackling the deficit.
Mr Clegg said it was right that the coalition parties had set aside their differences in the national interest and insisted the government was making the right reforms to help the economy continue to heal.Mr Clegg said it was right that the coalition parties had set aside their differences in the national interest and insisted the government was making the right reforms to help the economy continue to heal.
'Full tank'
"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," Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg write in a joint foreword to the review."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," Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg write in a joint foreword to the review.
"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."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.
Each standing in front of a lectern sporting the slogan "Coalition Government: Mid Term Review," David Cameron and Nick Clegg published their 46 page document.
It amounts to the Westminster equivalent of a domestic 'to do' list: some items ticked off, others not.
The half time score card is actually longer than the Coalition Agreement itself.
It trots through the staples of government: the economy, schools, the NHS, defence, etc.
But there is very, very, little detail.
Those in Downing Street had emphasised in advance that today wasn't meant to be about the nuts and bolts of specific policy detail, but instead about illustrating drive and direction.
The challenge now will be translating that rhetoric into policies both Conservative and Liberal Democrat backbenchers can support.
"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."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.
"Our mission is clear: to get Britain living within its means and earning its way in the world once again.""Our mission is clear: to get Britain living within its means and earning its way in the world once again."
'Full tank' Mr Cameron highlighted education reform, the changes to university funding, transport modernisation, public sector pensions and banking regulation as examples of the coalition's achievements.
Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg highlighted education reform, the changes to university funding, transport modernisation, public sector pensions and banking regulation as examples of the coalition's achievements. The deputy prime minister championed changes to the tax allowance, closing tax loopholes and the pupil premium, which provides additional money for the poorest children.
In the review's foreword they add: "Two-and-a-half years ago, our parties came together in the national interest and formed a coalition at a time of real economic danger.In the review's foreword they add: "Two-and-a-half years ago, our parties came together in the national interest and formed a coalition at a time of real economic danger.
"The deficit was spiralling out of control, confidence was plummeting, and the world was looking to Britain with growing anxiety about our ability to service our debts."The deficit was spiralling out of control, confidence was plummeting, and the world was looking to Britain with growing anxiety about our ability to service our debts.
"This government's most urgent job was to restore stability in our public finances and confidence in the British economy. In just two years we have cut the deficit by a quarter and have set out a credible path towards our goal to balance the current budget over the economic cycle.""This government's most urgent job was to restore stability in our public finances and confidence in the British economy. In just two years we have cut the deficit by a quarter and have set out a credible path towards our goal to balance the current budget over the economic cycle."
The review comes after Mr Cameron said the coalition had a "full tank of gas" and a "packed agenda". He also indicated he wanted to remain as prime minister until 2020.The review comes after Mr Cameron said the coalition had a "full tank of gas" and a "packed agenda". He also indicated he wanted to remain as prime minister until 2020.
"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," he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show."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," he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show.