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Coalition will go the distance, say Cameron and Clegg Coalition will go the distance, say Cameron and Clegg
(about 5 hours later)
David Cameron has sought to reassert his authority after a weeks of damaging rows by insisting the coalition will stay together until the 2015 election.David Cameron has sought to reassert his authority after a weeks of damaging rows by insisting the coalition will stay together until the 2015 election.
But he said the government would focus exclusively on "big picture" issues such as the economy from now on.But he said the government would focus exclusively on "big picture" issues such as the economy from now on.
His message was echoed by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg who said he "could not envisage any circumstances" in which there would be an early election. His message was echoed by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, who said he "could not envisage any circumstances" in which there would be an early election.
Mr Cameron has faced revolts from his own MPs on Europe and gay marriage.Mr Cameron has faced revolts from his own MPs on Europe and gay marriage.
The prime minister and his deputy have never set out details of how the coalition will formally come to an end, enabling the Lib Dems and Conservatives to mount separate general election campaigns.The prime minister and his deputy have never set out details of how the coalition will formally come to an end, enabling the Lib Dems and Conservatives to mount separate general election campaigns.
'Sense of mission''Sense of mission'
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said some Conservatives are questioning whether Mr Clegg could survive as Lib Dem leader, if, after potentially difficult 2014 elections, others within his party insisted on splitting the coalition early. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said some Conservatives were questioning whether Mr Clegg could survive as Lib Dem leader, if, after potentially difficult European and local elections in 2014, others within his party insisted on splitting the coalition early.
Mr Cameron has also been the subject of leadership speculation after revolts from his own backbenchers over Europe and same sex marriage. Mr Cameron has also been the subject of leadership speculation after revolts from his own backbenchers over Europe and same-sex marriage.
Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme his task now was to deliver a "sense of mission" that the government was focused on issues that were "squarely in the national interest". Mr Cameron told BBC Radio 4's Today programme his task now was to deliver a "sense of mission" that the government was focused on issues "squarely in the national interest".
He admitted the issue of same-sex marriage, opposed by some of his MPs and activists, was divisive but said he was proud the new law had been passed by MPs. He admitted same-sex marriage, opposed by some of his MPs and activists, was divisive but said he was proud the new law had been passed by MPs.
The Conservative Party was a "broad church" and would continue to be under his leadership, he said. The Conservative Party was a "broad church" which, on Europe, had managed to have "a disagreement... about an issue we actually agree about" - the need for reform and an in-out EU referendum.
On Europe, he said his party had managed to have "a disagreement... about an issue we actually agree about" - the need for reform and an in-out referendum. Mr Cameron's interview with Total Politics magazine raised questions about the longevity of the coalition.
But he said his planned date for a referendum - by the end of 2017 - would not change and he believed he could reform the European Union, despite doubts expressed by some some within his party.
It was Mr Cameron's interview with Total Politics magazine, published at the weekend, that had raised questions about the longevity of the coalition.
In it, he said maintaining the coalition remained the best course of action over the next two years, but added that "if that wasn't the case then we'd have to face the new circumstances in whatever way we should".In it, he said maintaining the coalition remained the best course of action over the next two years, but added that "if that wasn't the case then we'd have to face the new circumstances in whatever way we should".
But asked about whether the coalition would survive until the 2015 election, he told the BBC on Wednesday: "That is absolutely my intention and has always been. This is a government that has an enormous programme of work... But asked about whether the coalition would survive until the 2015 general election, he told the BBC: "That is absolutely my intention and has always been. This is a government that has an enormous programme of work...
"To anyone who doubts the life the life left in the coalition, I would argue there is more to come, very bold reforming and strong government and that is what we'll be right up until polling day.""To anyone who doubts the life the life left in the coalition, I would argue there is more to come, very bold reforming and strong government and that is what we'll be right up until polling day."
And in a speech at Westminster, Mr Clegg criticised "rather creative coverage" of those comments, saying he and David Cameron remained "absolutely committed" to maintaining their partnership. And in a speech at Westminster, Mr Clegg criticised "rather creative coverage" by the media, saying he and Mr Cameron remained "absolutely committed" to maintaining their partnership.
"This coalition has been remarkably radical. It still has work to do and the best way for us to serve and improve Britain is by finishing what we started. He said: "This coalition has been remarkably radical. It still has work to do and the best way for us to serve and improve Britain is by finishing what we started.
"To those voices who say that it would be in either or both parties' interests to prematurely pull the plug, I couldn't disagree more.""To those voices who say that it would be in either or both parties' interests to prematurely pull the plug, I couldn't disagree more."
Voters would "not forgive either party if we call time ahead of the election that has been legislated for in 2015 - destabilising the nation in the vague hope of short-term political gain".Voters would "not forgive either party if we call time ahead of the election that has been legislated for in 2015 - destabilising the nation in the vague hope of short-term political gain".
It would not work for the Lib Dems to try to "pull the wool over people's eyes" and win back critics of the coalition deal by quitting six months early. Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman said the coalition was "breaking its promises and failing badly" to improve the economy.
But he criticised "Parliamentary game playing" over Europe and same-sex marriage as "an unwelcome distraction" and said it was "time to get back to governing". She added: "With the slowest recovery in a hundred years, millions of families feeling squeezed, while millionaires get a tax cut and with a crisis in accident and emergency departments.
He added: "I cannot envisage any circumstances where my party would think it is the right thing to do to force people to the ballot box before time is up or to start embroiling the country in a general election campaign when we have still got this urgent task at hand, to fix the economy." "Yet the prime minister and deputy prime minister have no answers and no new ideas - just the same failed plan."