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Britain embraces new PM in new coalition era


http://en.youth.cn   2010-05-12 13:20:00

 

Britain's new Prime Minister Conservative party leader David Cameron (L) and his wife Samantha arrive at 10 Downing Street in London, on May 11, 2010. Cameron was appointed by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as new prime minister. (Xinhua/Zeng Yi)

 

Britain on Tuesday ushered in a new political era, with new Prime Minister David Cameron leading the first ruling coalition in decades.

Five days after the general election, Cameron's Conservatives sealed a coalition deal with Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats, the third largest party in the British political realm, which became the kingmaker due to the inconclusive result of Thursday's vote.

The alliance marks an historic moment in Britain's political history, as it is the first time since Winston Churchill's wartime government during the Second World War that the country has a coalition government and that the Liberal Democrats are part of the government. It is also the first time that the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats join hands in governing the country.

Meanwhile, the 43-year-old new leader is the youngest British prime minister for nearly 200 years, and is also the 12th prime minister under the Queen's reign. He is also the first prime minister in over 40 years who was educated at the prestigious school, the Eton College, which now boasts 19 British prime ministers, out of a total of 53.

Queen Elizabeth II invited Cameron to the Buckingham Palace and confirmed him as prime minister, shortly after his predecessor Gordon Brown announced his immediate resignation as prime minister and Labour party leader in the early evening.

Speaking at No. 10 Downing Street, the official prime ministerial office and residence, Cameron noted that his country is faced with "some deep and pressing problems -- a huge deficit, deep social problems, 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," he said.

Cameron also pledged to care for the needy and to "take everyone through with us on some of the difficult decisions we have ahead."

 
source : Xinhua     editor:: Isabella
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